Better Food Choices: Muffins
Which do you choose - the regular (full-fat) muffin or the low-fat muffin?
Here is the nutritional information for a Tim Hortons muffin.
Blueberry Muffin
Total Fat 11g
Saturated Fat 2g
Sodium 480mg
Carbohydrates 56g (incl 2g fiber and 27g sugar)
Protein 5g
Calories 340
Low Fat Blueberry Muffin
Total Fat 2.5g
Saturated Fat 0.5g
Sodium 750mg
Carbohydrates 62g (incl 2g fiber and 31g sugar)
Protein 4g
Calories 290
Which is the better choice?
The answer seems obvious -- or is it?
Much of the carbohydrate in both of these muffins is from refined white flour and sugar. Despite the low-fat muffin being lower in calories it is higher in sugar (both by volume and and as a percentage).
Given the glycemic response of a product higher in sugar - does this mean you reach for more food later...
All insights and opinions very welcome.
I'll pick the bagel. Or stick with my fruit.
Muffins are death, little better than a candy bar.
But frankly, if those were my only two choices in the world, I'd still probably pick the low-fat one. Could it be that the low-fat one has more blueberries, ergo more sugar?
ReplyI believe they call them 'Muffin tops' for a very good reason! :-)
Reply"Which is the better choice?"
Assuming one does not eat five of these on a daily basis, either one is fine. When I’m in a hot pursuit of a chocolate muffin, my only goal is to find the best tasting one.
I have seen some “healthy” muffins that are made with low-carb flour and a good amount of fiber. Sounds good on paper, but the taste was disappointing.
ReplyThe one that tastes nicest! As I don't eat muffins very often I'd choose the one that looked/tasted best. A lot of "diet" foods taste foul (imho)
The low fat option isn't a great choice. The sodium can trigger reactions in diabetics or people with blood pressure or other health problems.
I always think low fat or low sugar options are a joke. It's a trade off. If they are low in fat, then they're high in carbs and vice versa. Unless you're talking about pure unadulterated fruit and veges (which are getting rarer by the way) then the advantage in choosing low fat, low sugar etc is minimal.
Most artificial replacements for fats and sugars have only been tested for short periods of time. The FDA may be provided tests that show the safety of these ingredients but they are tested over short time frames and in moderate usage. Where are the tests to show daily intake of aspartame etc over a 20 year period?
Sorry, got off onto a tangent there ...
ReplyI don't like muffins but I'd pick the one with fewer calories. That's pretty much all I care about. Things that are higher in fat tend to be higher in calories so it all works out. I try not to eat trans fats either.
ReplyI'd eat the low fat one, only because it has fewer calories. If it was one of those low fat foods that had more calories, I'd eat the real version.
ReplyForgo the muffins - or diettrash as I call them. But, a food item has to be put in context of what else you are eating for that day. For example, if you eat 1 of those muffins every morning but lunch will be a healthy salad and dinner will be meat and more veggies, and you exercise, then 1 muffin does nothing much to you.
But that muffin as part of a calorie dense, junk food filled day will only serve to hasten your demise.
ReplyI'd eat the full fat version if I had to choose, I'm not fat-phobic, although I doubt the quality of the ingredients of either choice is very good.
ReplyI'd eat the full fat one, but only if they used a natural saturated fat like butter or coconut oil. If they used any regular vegetable oil, hydrogenated/interesterified or not, I would avoid it.
ReplyOops, clarification...I meant that since fat has so many more calories per gram than carbohydrates or protein, things that have lots of fat tend to have more calories. But I would probably pick something with a few more calories and no trans fat over something with fewer calores and more trans fat...but I doubt such a thing even exists, ha ha!
ReplyFull fat. Chances are you don't eat them regularly, so go ahead and splurge. If you're having a muffin, then HAVE A MUFFIN! It's like eating low-carb bread - bread is supposed to be carbs, so just eat the real thing. Way more satisfying.
ReplyFull fat-Its the real thing.
Reply50 calorie difference vs five minutes of pleasure-savoring rich, real muffin.
Since I would only eat a muffin as an occasional treat, I would choose whichever looked nicer (or tasted nicer if given the chance to try before buying!).
But also, as it would only be a treat, I would probably make it a big fat chocolate one instead so I know I would really appreatiate it!
ReplyI know it's a total cop-out, but when I'm at Tim Horton's I get the Yogurt and Berries! It's very tasty, and if memory serves, it is 170 calories. It's creamier and sweeter than the yogurt I eat at home, but that makes it a treat, and the protein in the yogurt stays with me a lot longer than a muffin! Plus, since Timmies changed their baking to a cenralized location, I've noticed all the baked goods have declined in taste, so why bother with one of these muffins if either are going to taste fake and bland?
ReplyI used to have a Weight Watchers leader that, whenever the subject of muffins came up, she would say "thank goodness we have the word 'muffins' or we'd all be eating CAKE for breakfast". That kind of puts it all into perspective, doesn't it?
ReplyI would pick the full fat muffin because it has (slightly) fewer carbs and sugars, and one more gram of protein.
ReplyOf course neither one is an astute choice given their sugar content.
If a muffin was my only choice, I'd pick the high fat muffin and eat only half of it. Either way, the carbs are bad for insulin resistance or diabetics.
ReplyI'd buy a cup of juice instead, and then make my own muffins at home so that it is not loaded with sugar and has more fiber.
ReplyI would buy a Blueberry Bran muffin, simply because they are far more delicious than either a full-fat or low-fat blueberry.
Reply