Does your family love pancakes but you're concerned about the poor nutritional profile? Do you save pancakes for a special treat because your kids load on the syrup and butter and you know an 800-calorie breakfast is not good for anyone? Before putting pancakes into the nutritional no-no category, take a moment and re-evaluate your pancake recipe and toppings. With a few substitutions, eliminations, additions and no extra time, pancakes can fit into a well-balanced, heart-healthy diet.


Original Pancake Recipe

Yields 4 Servings

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon margarine, softened

FitDay Approved Recipe

Yields 4 servings

• 1 cup whole grain flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/2 cup Egg Beaters or 2 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1/4 cup flaxseed mill
• Nutritional Information* (serving size = 1 pancake)

Original Pancake Recipe

• Calories 227
• Protein 8 g
• Fat 8 g
• Saturated Fat 2 g
• Sugar 4 g
• Cholesterol 111 mg
• Sodium 966 mg
• Fiber 1 g

FitDay Pancake Recipe

• Calories 204
• Protein 11g
• Fat 6g
• Saturated Fat .5 g
• Sugar .5 g
• Cholesterol 1.5mg
• Sodium 987 mg
• Fiber 6g

Directions

1. In a bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, salt, flaxseed meal and baking soda.
2. In a separate large bowl, beat together egg beaters, milk, vanilla and canola oil.
3. Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture and mix until smooth.
4. Lightly grease a griddle or frying pan with non-stick cooking spray over medium heat. Pour or scoop approximately ¼ of the batter for each pancake onto pan or griddle.
5. Brown on both sides!

By adding in flaxseed meal and switching to whole grain flour the fiber is increased which can improve bowel regularity and lower risk of heart disease. The elimination of butter and egg yolks and substituting canola oil for a corn-based vegetable oil you can decrease total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content.

The toppings you add to pancakes are just as important as the ingredients you mix together to make pancakes. Syrup, butter, and fruit-based toppings were not included in the above nutritional calculation. So while 200 calories per pancake may seem reasonable, it is easy to double or triple the caloric load with toppings. So ask yourself; how much syrup and butter do you put on your pancakes? A 1/4 cup serving of regular maple syrup adds 200 calories and 93 grams of sugar while sugar-free syrup only contains 20 to 35 calories per ¼ cup. A tablespoon of butter contributes 105 calories and 8 grams of saturated fat, and it's easy to use more than one tablespoon.

Another calorie and sugar trap can be pre-prepared and processed fruit sauces and blends. Frozen fruits with no added sugar and fresh fruits are much healthier alternatives. In order to avoid portion distortion with your pancake toppings, always measure! Use a measuring device and make sure you know exactly how many calories and other nutrients you are adding to your "fluffy friends."

*Nutritional information is only an estimate.