[Article updated on 19/09/2023]
Fondue, raclette or tartiflette? Between these three products, which do you think is the least caloric?
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.
Here is the answer.
Well, it’s the lowest-calorie Tartiflette!
I know, you are afraid of this tartiflette, this famous Savoyard dish, a combination of potatoes and Reblochon cheese.
It’s true that tartiflette contains potatoes, Reblochon, smoked bacon, white wine, crème fraîche, onions, these are caloric and fatty foods of course, but a slice of tartiflette ultimately only contains the equivalent of 2 tablespoons of oil. (440 kcal for a 350g plate)
Does that seem like a lot to you? This is normal, it is not a low-calorie dish but the lowest-calorie dish of the 3 presented today.
Wait and see how much the calorie content of the other dishes rises!
Between raclette and fondue, which is less caloric?
It’s fondue.
I’m talking about the Savoyarde fondue, the one made with cheese, white wine, and bread that is dipped (according to the recipes, there is 1 small glass of kirsch in addition too). We end up with the equivalent of 4 tablespoons of oil (double the fat of the tartiflette!). (800 kcal for a 350g portion)
Why so much fat? Because Savoyarde fondue is essentially made of cheese!
Besides, what cheeses are there?
There are mainly Beaufort, Comté, and Tome de Savoie (Reblochon is optional)… And these cheeses are among the fattest!
But I grant you, it’s so good…
And what is the difference with Swiss fondue?
No caloric difference.
The difference lies in the types of cheese used: in the Swiss fondue, we will rather take Gruyere, Emmental and Vacherin. On the other hand, my tip, whether the fondue is Swiss or Savoyard, is to think about dipping something other than bread. Think pieces of green apples, fresh grapes, cubes of ham, broccoli, cauliflower or even cherry tomatoes!
And is it therefore the most caloric raclette!?
Yes, it is the most caloric:
- 1000 kcal for a 350g portion = 7 slices of cheese (160g) + 2 medium potatoes (200g) + 3 slices of rosette + 1 slice of ham
Raclette is a dish which traditionally consists of potatoes accompanied by the famous cheese.
It is also frequently accompanied by cold meats to which pickles can be added.
Put together, all these ingredients make raclette a very caloric dish since we often have around 150 to 200 grams of cheese per person to which we must add the cold meats. So, you will have understood, we can increase the calorie rating even more if we only take fatty cold cuts!
Here is a short video for a light raclette:
So, how can you limit the damage when you eat raclette and want to avoid exploding the amount of calories absorbed?
I suggest you only eat lean cold meats, such as grisons meat, round slices of bacon, or even White Ham. This will help you avoid some of the fat.
Also, only serve one slice of cheese at a time and eat slowly. You can even cut your slices of cheese in half to feel like you have more and to make the meal last longer without helping yourself too much…It is too easy to chain together pieces of cheese and having one to cook when you haven’t finished the last one.
Finally, it is wise to prioritize eating potatoes which will quickly fill you up.
Little additional tip: You can accompany your meal with vegetables, in order to provide fiber which will keep you warm.
TO SUM UP:
- Tartiflette: the least caloric
- Fondue: Very fatty dish because it is mainly composed of cheese.
- Raclette: the most caloric by far!