On a Diet? You can still enjoy a Bagel with These Low-Calorie Spreads
One of America’s favorite breakfast foods, the bagel has gotten a bad rap in recent years. Critics claim it has too many calories and carbohydrates to be considered a healthy choice. We would respectfully disagree. No, a bagel a day won’t keep the doctor away, and they probably shouldn’t be eaten every day. But bagels are not junk food, they aren’t donuts. As long as you know what to put on them, a warm, toasted bagel is can be enjoyed every now and then.
At around 250 to 300 calories, the average plain bagel can pass for a sensible breakfast meal, as long as you don’t load it with fatty, calorie-rich spreads. For example, a smear of cream crease will add about 100 calories to your morning treat,but butter can add almost twice as much! The good news is that there are many tasty substitutes for both classic spreads.
If you’re a cream cheese lover, try light cream cheese, which has 30 percent fewer calories and less fat. There is also fat-free cream cheese, which has 70 percent fewer calories and no fat, obviously. Both are available in whipped and original versions. And for butter, there’s always margarine!