Are bagels a healthy grain choice?
Bagels have become a preferred low-fat alternative to muffins and doughnuts. While most varieties are low in fat, they are not low in calories. An average size bagel contains approximately 300-400 calories providing the same number of calories as 3-4 slices of bread. Adding butter or cream cheese to your bagel increases the caloric content even further by a minimum of 100 calories and the fat content can increase by as much as 12 grams. When ordering a bagel next time, keep the calories and fat low by asking for the butter or light cream cheese “on the side” and spread it sparingly yourself. Choose whole wheat or multigrain bagels more often so to increase your fibre intake to about 4-8 grams.
Bagels have become a preferred low-fat alternative to muffins and doughnuts. While most varieties are low in fat, they are not low in calories. An average size bagel contains approximately 300-400 calories providing the same number of calories as 3-4 slices of bread. Adding butter or cream cheese to your bagel increases the caloric content even further by a minimum of 100 calories and the fat content can increase by as much as 12 grams. When ordering a bagel next time, keep the calories and fat low by asking for the butter or light cream cheese “on the side” and spread it sparingly yourself. Choose whole wheat or multigrain bagels more often so to increase your fibre intake to about 4-8 grams.
