How is Options hot chocolate so low in calories?

November 10, 2025 •

3 min read

Options hot chocolate is a low-calorie alternative to traditional sugary drinks, which can contain up to ten times as many calories, with only 40 calories per serving. This low-calorie count is achieved by replacing high-calorie ingredients like sugar and full-fat milk with carefully selected substitutes, including artificial sweeteners and milk permeate powder, without sacrificing flavor.

Quick Summary

Options hot chocolate's low calorie content stems from its unique ingredients. Aspartame sweetens the drink, while milk permeate powder and skimmed milk powder act as low-calorie milk alternatives, and xanthan gum improves the texture. It also contains a high proportion of fat-reduced cocoa powder with minimal calories. The drink is made with water.

Key Points

Artificial Sweeteners: Options uses aspartame to provide sweetness without adding significant calories, replacing the bulk of the sugar found in traditional hot chocolate mixes.
Fat-Reduced Cocoa Powder: A high concentration of fat-reduced cocoa powder delivers a rich, chocolatey flavor with minimal fat and caloric impact.
Water as a Base: Options is primarily designed to be made with hot water, which drastically reduces the calorie count compared to using full-fat or even skimmed milk.
Milk Permeate Powder: This dairy byproduct provides a creamy texture and mouthfeel at a fraction of the calories of regular milk powder.
Thickening Agents: Ingredients like xanthan gum are used to improve the viscosity and create a richer, thicker consistency that mimics higher-fat beverages.
Small Portion of Real Chocolate: A small percentage of actual Belgian chocolate and sugar is included for an authentic, high-quality flavor, but in amounts too small to significantly raise the calorie count.
Portion Control: The pre-measured sachets (or recommended serving sizes) help control portions, ensuring a consistent, low-calorie serving every time.

Options hot chocolate's low-calorie nature is a result of a formula that swaps high-calorie components for effective alternatives. Prioritizing fat-reduced cocoa powder and artificial sweeteners like aspartame helps cut down on sugar and fat content. Using a minimal amount of milk ingredients and relying on water for preparation, with the addition of thickeners, helps maintain a satisfying texture.

The Role of Aspartame and Reduced Sugars

One of the main reasons Options hot chocolate is low in calories is the use of aspartame, an artificial sweetener. Aspartame offers a high level of sweetness with virtually no calories, replacing a large portion of the traditional sugar content. A standard hot chocolate mix might contain over 50g of sugar per 100g, while Options typically has a significantly lower amount, relying on the potency of aspartame. The use of artificial sweeteners allows the manufacturer to maintain sweetness without adding to the total caloric load.

Low-Calorie Milk Alternatives and Cocoa

Instead of full-fat dairy, which would increase the calorie count, Options uses a combination of milk permeate powder and skimmed milk powder. Milk permeate powder is a dairy ingredient derived from whey that provides bulk and a creamy texture at a much lower calorie cost than full-fat milk. The flavor comes from a high concentration of fat-reduced cocoa powder, which contains rich chocolate flavor but minimal fat and calories. The recommended preparation method also involves mixing the powder with hot water, reducing the overall calorie count.

Achieving Creaminess with Thickeners

Even with water as the main liquid, Options hot chocolate maintains a satisfying texture, thanks to thickening agents like xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is a food additive that creates viscosity and a creamy mouthfeel, mimicking a hot chocolate made with milk. The use of a low-calorie thickener provides an indulgent experience consumers expect, while keeping the calorie count down.

Comparison of Low-Calorie Hot Chocolate Options

To understand how Options compares, consider a standard Options Belgian hot chocolate serving with other typical hot chocolate mixes and preparation methods.


Feature	Options Hot Chocolate (Prepared with water)	Standard Powdered Mix (Prepared with water)	Homemade with Skim Milk & Sugar	Cafe Hot Chocolate (Made with Whole Milk)
Calories	~40 kcal	~110-150 kcal	~120-150 kcal	~300-500 kcal
Primary Sweetener	Aspartame, Sugar	Sugar	Sugar	Sugar
Liquid Base	Water	Water	Milk	Milk
Creaminess	Xanthan gum for thickness	Sugar and powdered milk	Skim milk, low fat	Full fat milk, creams
Flavor Richness	Good, but can be less deep than richer varieties	Varies by brand	Often richer, depending on cocoa	Very rich, high sugar

How the Ingredients Work Together

The synergy of Options' ingredients is key to its success. The small amount of real sugar and Belgian chocolate (typically 7% or less) is enough to provide genuine chocolate flavor, while the bulk of the sweetness comes from aspartame, preventing a large calorie intake. The milk permeate and skimmed milk powder offer milky flavor and mouthfeel, and the xanthan gum ensures the final product isn't thin or watery. This formula delivers a palatable and low-calorie product that meets consumer demand.

Conclusion: The Secret to a Guilt-Free Treat

Options hot chocolate achieves its low-calorie count through a strategic combination of ingredient substitutions. The main drivers are the use of the zero-calorie artificial sweetener aspartame to replace most of the sugar, and the reliance on fat-reduced cocoa powder and water. The addition of thickeners like xanthan gum ensures that the drink has a creamy, satisfying texture despite the low-fat, low-sugar formula, making it a viable and popular choice for those seeking a guilt-free indulgence. The product represents a triumph of food science, balancing flavor and texture with significant calorie reduction.

Learn more about the differences between hot cocoa and hot chocolate here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Milk permeate powder is a dairy ingredient created from whey, used in Options hot chocolate to add a creamy texture and bulk with a much lower calorie count than whole milk. It helps create a satisfying mouthfeel without the high fat and calories.

Yes, Options hot chocolate contains a small amount of Belgian chocolate (typically around 7%) along with fat-reduced cocoa powder. This provides an authentic chocolate flavor while keeping the overall calorie count low.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used in Options to provide sweetness without adding significant calories. It replaces the sugar that would typically drive up the calorie count in a regular hot chocolate mix.

The creamy texture in Options hot chocolate is achieved by using thickening agents like xanthan gum, which helps create a smoother, richer mouthfeel, even when mixed with just water.

Yes, many variants of Options hot chocolate, including the Belgian chocolate flavor, are explicitly labeled as suitable for vegetarians.

Options hot chocolate contains only around 40 calories per serving when prepared with water, while a typical cafe hot chocolate made with whole milk can contain between 300 and 500 calories or more, depending on the size and ingredients.

Yes, the manufacturer suggests that for a creamier drink, you can add a dash of milk or a milk alternative. This will increase the calorie count, but allows for a more indulgent option.