Candies, MARS SNACKFOOD US, SKITTLES Original Bite Size Candies
Whole food · Sweets
Photo: Wikipedia
Skittles are small, chewy, fruit-flavored candies with a hard, crunchy sugar shell that gives way to a soft, gummy interior. Each piece bursts with a distinct, artificially sweetened fruit flavor, creating a rainbow of taste in every handful. Nutritionally, they are a source of pure energy, delivering 405 kcal and 75.84g of sugar per 100g with virtually no protein, fiber, or fat.
Calorie split: 0% protein · 90% carbs · 10% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love Skittles for their iconic 'Taste the Rainbow' marketing and the satisfying crunch of the shell followed by the chewy center. They are a nostalgic, fun candy often used in games, crafts, and as a quick sweet treat for all ages.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The extremely high sugar content (75.84g per 100g) can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes and crashes, making them unsuitable for those with diabetes or insulin resistance. To mitigate this, pair a small portion with a source of protein or healthy fat (like a handful of nuts) to slow sugar absorption, and practice strict portion control by sticking to a single serving size.
Key benefits
- Quick source of energy from simple carbohydrates
- Provides a rapid mood or energy boost due to high sugar content
- Offers a variety of fruit flavors in a single package
- Convenient, portable, and requires no preparation
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Skittles were first created in the UK in 1974 and didn't become widely available in the United States until 1981, initially as an import.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 3.8 g |
| Energy | 405 kcal |
| Energy | 1695 kj |
| Protein | 0.19 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 4.4 g |
| Ash | 0.97 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 90.8 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 75.8 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 0.00 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.00 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 1.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 1.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 12.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 15.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.02 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.04 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.06 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 1.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 66.8 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.02 mg |
| Niacin | 0.01 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.01 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 1.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.17 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 1.1 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 4.1 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.14 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.14 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 2.2 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.72 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.34 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.60 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.07 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Candies, honey-combed, with peanut butter — USDA does not publish this profile for Candies.
| Tryptophan | 0.09 g |
| Threonine | 0.21 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.24 g |
| Leucine | 0.61 g |
| Lysine | 0.27 g |
| Methionine | 0.10 g |
| Cystine | 0.09 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.47 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.33 g |
| Valine | 0.31 g |
| Arginine | 1.1 g |
| Histidine | 0.22 g |
| Alanine | 0.36 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.0 g |
| Glycine | 0.56 g |
| Proline | 0.55 g |
| Serine | 0.58 g |
FAQ
Are Skittles vegan?
Yes, Skittles are generally considered vegan as they do not contain animal-derived ingredients like gelatin. However, ingredients can vary by region, so it's always best to check the label.
Do Skittles contain gluten?
Skittles are not made with gluten-containing ingredients and are generally considered gluten-free, but they are not certified gluten-free and may be processed in facilities that handle wheat.
What gives Skittles their colors?
The colors come from artificial food dyes, such as Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 2, and Blue 1.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 4.05 kcal/g · 0% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 75.8 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 1.25 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.