Nutritional comparison of trending strawberry desserts

Nutritionist Priscilla Primi has compared two trending strawberry desserts: ‘morango do amor’ and ‘morango cravejado’. While she describes both as ‘caloric bombs’, the ‘morango do amor’ is the lower-calorie option.

The ‘morango do amor’ consists of a strawberry covered in white brigadeiro and a hard red caramel shell, estimated to contain between 120 and 200 calories. In contrast, the ‘morango cravejado’ uses white brigadeiro topped with a layer of melted white chocolate mixed with caramel crystals, which can reach approximately 280 calories. The higher calorie count in the ‘cravejado’ version is attributed to the fat content in the chocolate, as fat contains roughly 9 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for sugar.

In contrast to these processed sweets, fresh strawberries offer significant health benefits, including vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. According to the USDA, they are sources of potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus. Additionally, research from Harvard University suggests that consuming strawberries and blueberries may help reduce cognitive decline due to the presence of flavonoids and anthocyanidins.