[Article updated on 19/09/2023]
39 million French people have an aperitif every week and 40% even return twice a week.
Before reading on
I’m not an expert in this field, but I am passionate about nutrition and health.
The articles you’ll find on my site are the result of in-depth research that I’d like to share with you. However, I would like to stress that I am not a health professional and that my advice should in no way replace that of a qualified physician. I’m here to guide you, but it’s important that you consult a professional for specific questions or medical concerns. Your well-being is important. So be sure to consult the appropriate experts and take the best possible care of yourself.
Puffed biscuits, cheese sticks, etc. There is something for everyone! But no one is unaware of the fat and calorie bomb that they represent, and perhaps also the concern for our health?
Are appetizer biscuits really that bad for your health?
The first problem I see with it is that it’s very high in calories and it doesn’t fill you up, so it’s really not great for your figure.
For example, know that most appetizer biscuits are as high in calories as rillettes or foie gras, that’s saying something!
For example, 1 small packet of Curly (60g) is the caloric equivalent of 1 slice of foie gras (60g).
They are mostly very fatty and will contain around 20% lipids.
Their energy intake is quite similar to that of chips. And it’s pretty much the same for added salt and additives.
In addition, appetizer biscuits contain flavor enhancers and salt that make us want to come back again and again…especially when we eat them when we are hungry, while preparing or waiting for a meal.
As a result, we often eat large quantities, well beyond our hunger.
Are all appetizer biscuits good to throw away?
Fortunately, there are some tips to improve your consumption of aperitif biscuits.
Remember that most appetizer biscuits are made of wheat or corn flour, oil, salt and also syrup/sugar, flavorings, colorings and sometimes flavor enhancers as I just said , unhealthy!
Also read the food label carefully and prefer to see “sunflower oil” or even “virgin olive oil” written on the packaging because otherwise they risk containing palm oil or hydrogenated fats having an impact negative on cardiovascular health.
But there are some in the aperitif biscuit family that stand out because they are much less fatty and therefore much less caloric than the average.
For example, sticks and pretzels (Ancel brand) contain only flour, oil, salt and yeast, which represents for one portion (25g) the caloric equivalent of just one banana or 1 /8 of baguette! Nice alternative, no?!?
Likewise, you can make your “homemade” breadsticks for example and you will be able to surprise your guests with low-calorie and delicious breadsticks!
The recipe for around 20 breadsticks:
For the bread dough:
- 1kg of flour
- 720 g of cold water
- 18 g of salt
- 6 to 8 g of yeast
For the breadsticks:
- a mixture of sesame and cinnamon
Preparation :
- Place the flour in the center of the table or in a dish and make a well in it.
- Place the salt in the center as well as the yeast. Add 3/4 of the cold water.
- Gradually add the flour to the water by hand until the two ingredients are completely mixed.
- Continue to knead for around ten minutes. The goal is to knead the dough by tapping it on the table. This is initially quite sticky then will, little by little, become smoother.
- Once the dough is smooth and quite elastic, let it rest for 30 minutes in a bowl covered with plastic film.
- To make each breadstick, cut a piece of dough weighing approximately 50 g. Roll it gently between your fingers to obtain a thin, elongated shape the length of the baking tray.
- Dip it in water quickly to moisten it then roll it in a mixture of sesame and cinnamon.
- Place it on the oven tray on a floured cloth. – Place in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes at 250°.
Are low-fat appetizer biscuits better?
In general, it is 30% lower in fat compared to non-low-fat appetizer biscuits, which still remains fatty because they still contain 15% of fat. And then, the trap is that it makes you feel less guilty to see that it’s lighter so you allow yourself more, mistake!
My tip would be to limit the quantities consumed by favoring small packets of aperitif biscuits rather than large family formats.
Other tips for reducing your daily consumption?
- Buy small packages and do not stock up.
- Reserve the aperitif cakes for certain occasions.
- Prefer oilseed fruits (A handful of pistachios, although high in calories, will always be much better for your health)
Better yet: homemade popcorn or an assortment of raw vegetables to munch on or why not make eggplant rolls with Parma ham or fresh salmon rillettes with fresh cheese, light, delicious and much better for your health!
Your health is worth taking a little preparation time!
To sum up :
- Aperitif biscuits are very high in calories, fatty and salty.
- Prefer pretzels, “homemade” breadsticks or oleaginous fruits.
- Choose them with sunflower oil or virgin olive oil