I am greatly in favour of healthy eating. I'm also greatly in favour of "everything in moderation." So whenever I hear someone proclaim in horror: "Oh my God! I just ate an ENTIRE BAGEL!" I never quite know how to respond.
I remember 8 or 10 years ago, bagels were hot news. They were, dare I say, a breakfast craze. Bagels, we were told, were more nutrient-dense than ordinary bread. Bagels were, for a time, the breakfast bread of choice for energetic people dedicated to a healthy diet. Remember?
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Bagels today are probably best known for being 400 calories of evil carbohydrates. Today, bagels are an embarrassment, a shame. In a world where Bread is the 8th Deadly Sin, admitting to eating a bagel is akin to admitting to having eaten a bucket of fried chicken. Being spotted with a half dozen bagels in your shopping cart is as shameful as having a cartful of chips, Coke and - what the heck - cartons of cigarettes.
I'd like to take this opportunity celebrate the beautiful bagel, and to talk you down from the ledge if you happened to have accidentally ingested one recently. LIFE WILL GO ON.
The Bagel Manifesto
---- Bagels are real food. Eating a bagel will NOT derail your wellness goals, as long as you use common sense and moderation.
---- A bagel with cream cheese (full-fat cream-cheese, represent!) is a great treat once in a while. However, cream cheese has a hefty amount of fat in it, so simply save it for those days when you want to treat yourself, and all will be well.
---- Choose a whole grain bagel for a couple of servings of whole grains. Whole grains are an intergral part in keeping insulin levels in check, which is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight, as well as keeping up your energy levels.
---- 400-ish calories at breakfast is OKAY. Presuming you make smart food choices throughout the rest of your day, ingesting 400 calories of whole grains in the morning is not a bad idea, actually. It will satisfy you longer than 150 calories worth of yogurt will. It has less sugar than many fruits or fruit juices, so it will keep your energy levels up, rather than leaving you with that energy spike/energy drop for which sugar is so famous.
---- Carbohydrates are the fuel your brain needs in order to function, so eat 'em up, Smartypants.
The year 1999 called - it wanted to remind you that bagels can be an acceptable breakfast choice for energetic people living a happy and healthy life of balanced wellness.
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I know there are a lot of differing opinions out there on carbs and whole grains and insulin and bagels and the whole nine yards. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Or, email me at erin@thewellnessshift.com
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