It’s common knowledge that doughnuts aren’t the best breakfast food out there, and neither are sugary granola bars or greasy sausage sandwiches. In fact, healthy breakfast options can seem a bit bland in comparison. That’s where real NYC bagels come in!
A fresh, preservative-free bagel is tasty and guilt-free, so you don’t have to worry about breaking your diet in the morning. Whether you take a moment to toast and top them, or simply eat them on-the-go, they’re the perfect breakfast food.
That said, while a bagel itself don’t have as many calories as say, a bear claw, your toppings can tip the scales. Here’s where a lot of people go wrong while preparing their bagel, and how you can avoid piling on the calories while enjoying a healthy food.
- Less is more when working with butter. It’s just empty calories, so if you’re drenching your toasted bagel, you’re going to regret it later. Keep it light, and let the butter compliment the bagel, not overwhelm it. Flavored butter can make all the difference, so consider using garlic butter or honey butter.
- When made with low-calorie mayo, egg salad can be a great topping for bagels. Just make sure to limit yourself, and don’t go overboard. It might be salad, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have calories.
- Cream cheese has a similar conundrum to butter. People tend to schmear it on, reducing cream cheese’s effectiveness as a healthy food. Steady your knife, and try to keep your layers light.
- Peanut butter is a healthy option, especially low sugar, natural varieties. It offers flavor and protein without weighing you down, and it tastes great on bagels. Try it with a sliced banana!
- If actual cream cheese isn’t your favorite, tofu cream cheese is a delicious alternative. It also has fewer calories, so if you enjoy tofu, it’s a far better option than authentic cream cheese.
While these are some of the more health-oriented bagel toppings, you don’t have to stick to these all the time. Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and banana slices can be great compliments to a cream-cheese bagel, and you can top your toasted bagel with a fried egg if you’re feeling adventurous.
Bagels can be a healthy choice when toppings are chosen with an eye to nutrition. Counting calories doesn’t have to take the fun out of your breakfast. What are your favorite guilt free bagel toppings?