Happiness is a Bagel and Cream Cheese
Every Christmas morning, I have a bagel and cream cheese – a big, yummy Ray’s New York Style Bagel slathered with cream cheese. It’s my own way of celebrating that I made it through the Christmas season to Christmas Day. I know – I live on the wild side! But a big giant bagel really is a splurge.
I think that bagels are one of the things that got me in a little trouble – especially in college. There was a great cafe on campus where I would get an onion bagel with herbed cream cheese – probably about three time a week. Oy! Back then, bagels had sort of a health halo around them. People thought they were healthy because, after all, they weren’t doughnuts. And this was pre-Atkins, so carbs weren’t of a concern. Now, we know better.
I must confess, I am a bagel snob. After living and working in Manhattan back in the mid-1990′s, I came to love true New York
Style bagels. They’re kind of crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside. I guess it’s something about how they boil them. As Tina would say, Holy Yum. So, when I go for a bagel, I go big and I eat a Ray’s New York Style bagel. Here’s the bad news: a Ray’s Everything bagel only scores a 4 on the NuVal scale. That’s right – a 4. Ouch! So that’s why this is a once a year kind of thing for me.
As for the cream cheese, it does a little bit better on the NuVal scale. Regular Philadelphia Cream Cheese scores a 20. 1/3 less fat cream cheese scores a 22. Fat-free cream cheese (of which I’m not a fan) scores a 28. Since this is a splurge thing for me, I go for the Regular cream cheese.
Although, the bagel eating is just a once-a-year splurge for me, having them in the house got my kids on a big bagel kick. They have quickly become fans. Who can blame them?
They like to make them look like smiles.
But I worry that I’m giving them a breakfast of nutritious nothingness. What is a guilt-ridden Mom to do? Look to NuVal for a little bit of guidance, of course! So, I did some research and found that Lender’s Whole Grain Bagels score a 37 on the NuVal scale. That’s a huge improvement from a 4! Lender’s bagels may not have that authentic New York kind of taste to them, but my kids have never been to Manhattan, so they won’t know the difference.
Now, all I need is for my beloved Ray’s to come out with a whole grain version. I wonder how it would score? Time will tell!
Question of the Day
What is your once a year splurge?
Posted by: Melissa 11 comments
Posted in: Bagels
Tags: Bagels, cream cheese
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 7:59 am
mmmm! I do love a good bagel but like you I rarely eat them. My splurge? Sugar cookies w/frosting and sprinkles. My birthday treat!
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 9:16 am
I don’t eat bagels very often, but it is good to know the scores. A nice treat once in awhile maybe?
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 10:25 am
red velvet cake!
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 10:46 am
I don’t really have once a year splurge.I don’t have that willpower.I do LOVE bagels!!It’s just a rare occasion.If I wake up one moorning and my body is longing for one,I’ll have it.I’ll make a bagel sandwich with egg whites and tomato:-) cc
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Mmmmm…bagels. I was partial to the raisin walnut cream cheese on a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel. Bagels seemed to be the successor to the other rationalization of healthy eating: frozen yogurt (It’s yogurt, so it must be healthy, right?). Like so many things that are not as healthy as we’d like them to be, moderation is always key… that and an extra workout of two!
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
I’m surprised fat free would actually score higher here! I find a lighter fat neufatchel works for me
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Just came across your blog. I love it. I am a grad student/RD to be so I’ve been very interested in NuVal. I’ve even done a few things with Topco! Look forward to reading your blog!
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I never eat before a short run but you cannot beat a Lender’s Whole Grain Mini-Bagel with Teddie Peanut Butter before a 10 mile run or half marathon – lots of engery to keep you going
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
In Detroit Fat Tuesday (tomorrow, 2/16) is a celebration! The great Polish bakeries in Hamtramck, MI bake pazcki’s (pronounced poonch-key) all night, and there are lines out the door at 5am.
Fat Tuesday signifies the day before Lent begins. Pazcki’s are basically large, jelly filled donuts, but something about them makes them better and more fattening!
on Feb 15th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I’m a sucker for bagels too – my go to bagel is the Western Alternative ones. They’re certainly not the amazing new york style ones, but when I really need my fix, they do the job!
on Feb 16th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Sorry can’t do Lender bagels… they’re not really bagels, you know…
We get bagels every Sunday after church. My daughter’s favorite is an everything bagel while the son likes sesame. I only eat a half with a bit of light cream cheese. And then a good Sunday afternoon walk…LOL