MerrinDonahue.com

I love me some bagels. I mean, I REALLY love bagels. The problem (at least for me) is that bagels are in no way good for you. They are empty calories that have no redeeming nutritional value whatsoever. So I began a quest to find the perfect “replacement” bagel. I tried the Weight Watchers ones (too cardboard-y). I tried the South Beach ones (same problem). I was just about to give up (and forgo my beloved bagels), when my sister-in-law suggested the Alternative Bagel from Western Bagels. I have to admit, I was skeptical.

And then I tried them. OMG, these bagels are delicious! I’ve tried every flavor, and they are all fantastic. Best of all, they have less than half the calories of a regular bagel, almost no fat, and they’re full of fiber. Finally, I can enjoy my bagels again. And just for shiggles, I’ve included side-by-side analysis of an Einstein Bros. bagel and the Alternative Bagel.

Einstein Bros.:

Blueberry Bagel: 290 calories, 10 calories from fat, 1.5 total fat, 40 mg sodium, 64 total carbs, 3 g fiber, 11 g sugar

Alternative Bagel (Very Blueberry flavor):

110 calories, 5 calories from fat, 0.5 g fat, 210 mg sodium (ok, higher than Einstein’s), 27 g carbs, 7 g fiber, 0 g sugar

I rest my case.