Bagels are a simple, yet delicious bread whether served plain, toasted, as a sandwich or with the ever-popular cream cheese. Depending on the type of bagel and the topping that you use, the calorie count differs greatly. Consider the toppings you put on your bagel to maintain a healthy diet without sacrificing flavor.
Bagel Calories
According to the USDA Nutrition Database, a medium-sized bagel that is not enriched and has no added minerals contains 289 calories. However, that same-sized bagel, using enriched flour and additional calcium propionate, has 270 calories. Calcium propionate is added as a preservative to prevent mold and is found in most store-bought bagels.
Cream Cheese Calories
One small packet of plain cream cheese, or 3 oz., contains 291 calories. Flavor additions such as jalapenos, sundried tomatoes or smoked salmon will often increase the caloric value of your cream cheese.
Considerations
To find the total caloric value of your bagel with cream cheese, just add their individual values. For example, a 270-calorie bagel with 3 oz. of plain cream cheese has a total caloric value of 561 calories. For healthier alternatives, choose bagels that do not have added cheese or sugars. Also, look for reduced fat or low-fat cream cheese options that will reduce the caloric value of the cream cheese by half or more.
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