Britain’s most loved pancake toppings: Experts issue warning over shocking sugar contents
- Health and fitness experts reveal the unhealthiest pancake toppings and healthier alternatives to try this year
- Your Pancake Day meal could blow your entire daily recommended sugar intake in just a few mouthfuls
Pancake Day is coming up on the 13th of February. For health and fitness fanatics, this can be a true test of your dedication, as it’s hard to resist the sugary temptation of treats and toppings.
However, this may help you steer clear of the sugar this year as research by fitness experts at Bulk.com has analysed all the most popular toppings from each of the biggest supermarkets to show which are the unhealthiest. They have also provided alternatives to help you make healthier choices this pancake day!
The recommended intake indicated by the NHS for adults is 30 grams of sugar per day; for 7 – 10-year-olds, it is 24 grams and for 4 – 6-year-olds, it is 19 grams. This means that some of these toppings have over 50% of the daily recommended allowance in just one tablespoon!
As well as being a treat for pancake day many of these toppings are daily staples for many adults and children meaning that many people are eating way too much sugar every single day. This inflated intake of sugar in the long term can lead to many issues such as, higher blood pressure, inflammation, weight gain, tooth decay, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. As well as all of these, children may find it harder to regulate their mood and have issues with attention as well.
It’s unrealistic to cut sugar out completely, but it’s important to be aware of what you’re eating and try and make healthier choices and cut down where you can.
Unhealthiest Toppings
It’s clear from the data that Honey and Syrup contain the most sugar across the board, with Tesco’s Honey containing the most sugar with 12.4 grams of sugar per tablespoon. This is 41% of an adult’s daily allowance, 52% of a 7 – 10-year-old’s allowance and 65% of a 4 – 6-year-old’s daily allowance!
ASDA Honey (12.3 g) and Rowse Honey (12.1 g) are not fat behind, while Waitrose and Morrisons sell the honey with the least sugar with 11.5 grams, although this is still very high.
Morrisons Maple Syrup has the highest sugar contents with 13.1 grams per tablespoon; this is 44% of an adult’s daily allowance and 69% of a 4 – 6-year-old’s allowance. Aldi and Lidl are both tied with 12 grams of sugar, while household name Lyles syrup contains 11.6 grams of sugar per tablespoon. Tesco, Waitrose and ASDA syrup all contain 9.2 grams which makes these only very slightly healthier options.
Nutella is a national favourite spread. However, it contains the most sugar out of any chocolate spread, 8.4 grams per tablespoon, which averages 36% of the daily allowance across all age groups. ASDA have the chocolate spread with the least sugar (6.1g) and its also the cheapest at 29p per 100g.
Healthier Alternatives
The obvious alternatives include fruit. Traditionally, a popular topping is Banana, as well as various berries. These are great and tasty pancake toppings that are also full of nutrients and give you the sweet sensation of sugar but from natural sources.
However, if you still miss the taste of chocolate or syrup there are some great alternatives you can try.
|
Topping |
Sugar per 15 |
|
Biscoff Spread |
5.5 |
|
Jim Jams |
1.3 |
|
Skinny Chocaholic |
0.7 |
|
Skinny Syrup |
0 |
|
My Vegan Syrup |
0 |
|
Bulk Syrup |
0 |
The Biscoff spread has the highest sugar content of all, with 5.5 grams of sugar. However, this is still less than any of the other spreads. ASDA’s own brand version of this has even less, with only 4.7 grams.
Jim Jams and The Skinny Company chocolate spreads contain very low amounts of sugar as well making them great alternatives to Nutella. 1 tablespoon of these spreads is only 3% of your daily allowance making it a much better choice.
There are also a plethora of Low-calorie and low-sugar syrups on that market; listed, we have the versions created by The Skinny Company, Bulk and MyProtein. All of which are great alternatives containing 0 grams of sugar but still have a fantastic flavour.
A spokesperson from Bulk.com commented: “Reducing sugar intake is not just a step towards a healthier lifestyle; it’s a commitment to improved energy, mental clarity, and overall well-being. Choosing to cut down on sugar is an investment in your long-term health, fostering a harmonious balance for a more vibrant and fulfilling life.
Although just because you’re choosing to cut down on sugar doesn’t mean you need to miss out on great-tasting treats, there are many alternatives out there that can help you stick to your goals while still enjoying fantastic, flavourful foods.”
Credit to https://www.bulk.com/uk/.
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle
