Nutrition Question: Are bagels a healthy choice for breakfast? They are high in calories, sugar and carbs.
Bagels can absolutely be a part of a healthy breakfast. Choosing a whole grain bagel is important in order to get a boost of fiber. And what you eat it with is also important. Make sure there is a source of protein, maybe peanut butter or a boiled egg and have some fresh fruit or a glass of milk to round out the meal.
Bagels tend to get a bad reputation because of their size, keep in mind ½ of a small bagel counts as a serving from the Grains group from Canada’s Food Guide. That is not to say that you should only eat half, just make sure your servings from the grains group add up to your recommended amount at the end of the day. For adult females this is 6-7 servings per day and for adult males it is 8.
Look for bagels that provide at least 2 or more grams of fiber per bagel, and ones that are small to medium sized. Don’t be too concerned with the calorie or carbohydrate content – we need that energy especially when being active.