Our dietician gives the amount we can afford to eat in January.
Attention foodies. If “as part of a balanced diet, it is important to treat yourself regularly” as dietitian-nutritionist Alexandra Murcier immediately reminds us, there are still some desserts to keep away from more than others. One, above all, that we enjoy finding at the beginning of each year…
The famous galette des rois. “We can eat it but not every day, rather ideally 2 to 3 times a week as the pancake is quite sweet, and if possible without combining it with other very rich foods within the same meal, to promote a better digestion continues our interlocutor. Another piece of advice: prefer it in its classic version and not in its variations with chocolate, apple, pistachio, pralines or even caramel because the calorie counter will be that much higher.
Traditionally composed of almond powder, egg, butter, sugar and puff pastry, the pancake is extremely high in calories. Much more than we think, reveals Alexandra Murcier. “The energy intake of the galette des rois (the famous dessert, editor’s note) depends on the size of the slice and its exact composition but the two main ingredients, namely the puff pastry and the frangipane, are both very high in calories , because they are rich in carbohydrates and lipids. A classic portion of king cake provides between 400 and 500 calories, which makes it a food with a high energy density and rich in sugar.informs the dietician.
What do you think of the brioche galette des rois popular in the south of France? This comes in the form of a crown, plain or decorated with candied fruit and sugar pearls or chocolate chips. With around 200 calories per portion, the brioche des rois is almost half as caloric as the traditional galette des rois with frangipane. To limit the calorie bill, it is preferable to opt for a plain brioche pancake because the added elements increase the total number of calories.
However, even if the galette des rois with frangipane is a real “calorie bomb”, there is no question of depriving yourself of it. Because it remains an occasional pleasure that we can only enjoy at one time of the year and that we do not gain weight in a single meal. It’s the repetition of bad eating habits that causes weight gain, not a single slice of king cake.
Thanks to Alexandra Murcier, dietician-nutritionist in Paris.