Let’s face it, it is all too easy to pile the calories on and seems to be somewhat impossible at times to keep your weight steady. I’ve often found myself (as I think we all do from time to time) clutching at straws trying to cut a few calories here there and anywhere possible.
And breakfast and snack meals are some of the most challenging times to stick to a diet as grabbing something sugary or salty in the morning to polish off on your way out of the door is far easier than putting a whole meal together before leaving for work.
But what about bread? Does toasting it makes it any more nutritious than opting for plain bread? Does toasting bread kill the nutrients inside of it? Or does toasting bread have any effect on its sugar content?
All of the answers to these questions about one of the nations’ most common breakfast foods are coming up in this article, so make sure you do not miss out!
What Happens When You Toast Bread?
Toasting a slice of fresh bread kick starts a chain of biochemical reactions. As the bread is heated on the toaster irons, the moisture inside evaporates and the surface of the bread begins to turn brown thanks to a chemical reaction known as the Maillard Reaction. The reduced water content and heating of the bread makes it have a different texture when toasted, making it crunchy instead of fluffy. The reduced water content also makes toast a little lighter than bread.
Does Toasting Bread Kill Nutrients?
Although it is widely believed to be true, toasting bread does not kill the nutrients in the bread or lower its nutritional value.
Does Toasting Bread Change The Carb Count?
A slice of white bread with its crust before toasting contains roughly 66 calories, and the same slice of bread after toasting will usually have the same number of calories.
Does Toasting Bread Reduce The Sugar Content?
While the difference is not groundbreaking, the glycemic index in toasted bread is slightly lower than that of untoasted bread, making toast a healthier option for diabetics, as it may cause a reduced elevation in their blood sugar levels.
A Disadvantage Of Toast
As you have seen from the information presented above, there are not many factors that would favor choosing toast over fresh bread or fresh bread over toast unless you are diabetic and may want to consider choosing toast over bread because of the slightly lower glycemic index.
But you should, however, take care not to burn your toast, as consuming burnt toast on a regular basis would make toast a far more unhealthy option in comparison to eating plain bread. Let’s see why.
Acrylamide is created when toast is left in the toaster or on the grill for too long and starts to turn the bread dark brown or black. There are several health issues and dangers linked to high levels of acrylamide so it is best to ensure that your bread is toasted until golden brown at most, rather than leaving it to turn dark brown or even black.
But of course, mornings are a busy time and it just isn’t practical to sit watching your toast ensuring it reaches the right shade of brown. So, if the worst comes to the worst and your toast does go a little dark in the toaster, do not despair, as simply scraping the dark brown bits off of it could help to reduce its acrylamide levels.
Toast Vs Fresh Bread
So what can we conclude about the battle between toast and bread? As I am sure you have concluded from this article, there is not enough difference in the nutritional value or enough of a calorie difference between toast and fresh bread to warrant choosing one over the other.
That is why to wrap things up, we have included our favorite and most innovative toast and fresh bread recipes for you to try as a super snack that you and your family will love tucking into. And since there is not much of a difference between the health benefits for fresh bread and toast, you can with a clean conscience enjoy both as part of a varied diet! After all, variety is the spice of life!
Fresh Bread Recipe
Are you ready for a scrumptious bread recipe that will keep you full until dinner? Then check out the following PLT, yeah that’s right, pulled pork, lettuce, and tomato! Now that’s what I call a winning sandwich! You just need a decent toaster like the ones listed here.
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of wholemeal bread (or a bread of your choice)
- 1 handful of pulled pork
- 4 leaves of iceberg lettuce
- 1 medium tomato
- Pepper (to taste)
- Butter (as required)
Directions
- Start by lightly buttering your bread.
- Sprinkle the pulled pork evenly across the slices and arrange your lettuce leaves over the pork. Top with an even layer of diced tomato.
- Season with freshly ground black pepper as desired.
Toasted Bread Recipe
Looking for a warm and crunchy mid-afternoon snack? Then I am sure you will love this avocado toast recipe. One of the famous recipes of avocado toast is from our favorite chef- Gordon Ramsay. There is another toast bread recipe by Gordon Ramsay called French toast (check its recipe here). These recipes are packed full of proteins and optional extras that put the fun back into snack time while keeping it healthy.
Ingredients:
- 2 slices of wholemeal, seeded bread (or two slices from a loaf of your choice)
- ½ ripe avocado
- 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pinch of garlic powder
- 1 egg (optional)
- 1 medium tomato (diced, optional)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Directions:
- In a mug or a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and avocado, mashing the ingredients together with the back of a fork. Until lumpy, but not smooth.
- Fry, scramble or poach your egg.
- Place your bread into the toaster and toast until golden brown and then place onto a plate.
- Spread the avocado mix onto the bread and place the egg on top. If desired, sprinkle the bread with one finely chopped tomato.
