The calories of your pancake day party might surprise you…
Combinations of Brits’ favorite toppings, from chocolate spread and fruit to syrup and bacon, can add up to hundreds of calories on Shrove Tuesday.
Because a portion of American pancakes topped with syrup, butter and bacon contains more calories than a Big Mac from McDonald’s.
And a single crepe served with Nutella and strawberries contains half an adult’s recommended daily allowance of sugar.
To keep your waistline from taking a hit these days, nutritionists recommend people stick to fruit, nuts and Greek yogurt.
You can hover over MailOnline’s interactive tool to see how calorie-dense your favorite pancake combinations are.
Your browser does not support iframes.
This website’s review of more than thirty toppings and six pancake recipes revealed the shocking amount of sugar, fat and calories they contain.
A single Scottish pancake (121 calories) or French crepe (161 calories) is the least caloric base, while a large and fluffy American pancake has slightly more calories (178 calories), according to recipes on BBC Good Food.
Banana pancakes, popular among vegans and health fanatics who swap sugar for fruit, contain 161 calories per pancake.
Meanwhile, a vegan recipe, which replaces eggs and cow’s milk with vegetable oil and plant-based milk, contains only 90 calories per pancake, according to recipes.
But go-to toppings can spike the sweet treat to more than 500 calories.
One American pancake, topped with fried chicken and drizzled with maple syrup, contains 527 calories, which is more than a McDonald’s Big Mac (493 calories).
A crepe flavored with Nutella, which contains 8.4 g of sugar in a teaspoon, with strawberries containing about 4.9 g of sugar in a serving, a total of 16.3 g of sugar
A crepe served with a dash of Nutella contains 241 calories and 11.4 g of sugar. For comparison, a Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Donut contains 195 calories and 12 g of sugar.
Meanwhile, one banana pancake with banana, mixed nuts and honey contains 511 calories and 46.9g of sugar.
For context, the average woman is advised to eat 2,000 per day to maintain a healthy weight, and a third of the 2,500 recommended for the average man.
Two tablespoons of milk chocolate chips (137 calories) or a banana (135 calories) are among the most calorically sweet options that can be added to pancakes, while fried chicken (310 calories) or a slice of cheese (125 calories) are among the most calorie-dense sweet options . most caloric savory options.
A banana was also among the most sugary options to add (27g), along with milk chocolate chunks (14.3g) and 25g of marshmallows (14.2g).
However, the sugar in bananas occurs naturally, while that in chocolate and marshmallows is added. Health chiefs recommend cutting back on this type of sugar (to no more than 30 grams per day) as it can lead to tooth decay and weight gain.
However, simpler combinations can reduce the calories in your pancake.
Just adding lemon and a teaspoon of sugar to your crepe would total 178 calories and 7.1 g of sugar.
Meanwhile, a Scottish pancake with butter contains 195 calories, while adding strawberry jam would bring the total to 158 calories.
However, there are healthier options that can satisfy both sweet and savory cravings, says Rob Hobson, a registered nutritionist and author of Unprocess Your Life.
He suggests sticking to fruit, nuts and yogurt.
‘Fresh fruit is delicious, such as berries and bananas, which also go well with a thin layer of nut butter. Fruit is a source of vitamin C and potassium, while nut butter is a good source of vitamin E,” he says.
‘You can also easily make your own compote by microwaving frozen berries for 30 seconds until they soften into a thick sauce, delicious with Greek yoghurt.
‘Nuts and seeds are also delicious and can be sprinkled on top of both sweet and savory pancakes.’
But if you want something more substantial, he suggests topping your pancake with slices of avocado, spinach and a sliced boiled or poached egg.
Mr. Hobson also recommends not adding sugar to the pancake mix.
He said: ‘As for the pancake, I think it makes little difference if you use the same type of batter made with flour, eggs and milk (American style baking powder).
“I would probably leave the sugar out of the pancake mix and opt for the natural sweetness of fruit and maybe a little honey.”