Whether you are craving a quick bite, looking to tide over your hunger or wanting to enjoy your tea, biscuits are the ultimate snack. Easy to pack or stash in a desk drawer, they’re perfect for a quick, on-the-go snack. But have you ever wondered if biscuits are a healthy choice?
Bursting the bubble about one of the most-consumed snacks, Nutritionist Amita Gadre explained, “Biscuits fall short of being a wholesome choice due to their lacking nutritional profile. Characterised by a high fat and refined flour content and no fibre content. Any cookie or biscuit offers just empty calories. Meaning other than energy or calories, you don’t get any nutrients like protein, vitamins, or minerals.”
“You might find sugar-free, zero-fat, no Maida, or diabetes-friendly biscuits. Even then, they are mostly empty calories. If we continue to eat food that doesn’t provide us with adequate nutrition, we will miss out on opportunities to nourish our bodies. Also, biscuits are made up of mostly refined wheat flour, or maida, and they lack fibre. Poor fibre intake is the primary cause of constipation in children as well as adults,” she added.
She further shared that she has seen adults eating cold-pressed oil to lower cholesterol but not reducing their intake of biscuits. The saturated fats in biscuits contribute to high triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels.
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She went on to say, “Remember, when I say biscuits, I am also talking about rusk, khari, nankatai, and jeera biscuits. They are all the same.”
Shocking, right? But the question that echoed through the minds of many was, “If not biscuits, then what to eat with tea?”
The nutritionist advised, “Nothing,” but added that if you feel hungry, opt for wholesome, nourishing foods like makhana, low-oil chewda, methi thepla, vegetable rolls or fruit. She also cautioned to maintain a gap of at least 15 minutes between tea and food to prevent the anti-nutrients in tea from affecting the iron content of your meal.
Does this mean you can’t ever eat biscuits?
Nutritionist Amita Gadre reassures that you can occasionally indulge in a cream biscuit of your choice. However, she advises against making it a habit.
