Smart Swap Saturday: Buttermilk Pancakes

ByMacy Michelle

When starting a healthier lifestyle, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by all the products and food on the market. I am a firm believer that simple swaps add up and make a difference over time. Each Saturday I will feature a Smart Swap! These Smart Swaps will be healthier choices and recommendations for your favorite not-so-healthy foods.

Today’s Smart Swap: Pancakes

There’s nothing better than a big, delicious breakfast. Breakfast is my absolute favorite! Whether it’s brunch at a cute cafe, or breakfast in bed- I’m there! Growing up, pancakes were a cheap and filling way to feed a growing family. My Mom would stand at the griddle and keep making pancakes until we were full. And man, I could really pack away a stack of pancakes! Once I started focusing on my overall health, I knew I needed a healthier alternative for the big stacks of pancakes topped with butter and loads of syrup.

Side note: do you put butter on your pancakes?! I grew up putting butter and syrup on my pancakes, but my boyfriend and his family never used butter on their pancakes! They just use syrup! Just curious what the majority of people do. Comment below and let me know!

Let’s break it down!

While traditional buttermilk pancakes themselves aren’t that horrible, we tend to load them with butter, syrup and various other toppings. They also don’t have much nutritional value to them.

Looking at normal Bisquick Pancake Mix, 1 pancake is about 149 calories, 1.9 grams of fat, 28 grams of carbohydrates and 4 grams of protein. But- most of us are not eating just ONE pancake. Take that into consideration!

Normal pancake syrup is loaded with sugar and empty calories. There are about 220 calories, 55 grams of carbs and 38 grams of sugar in ONE serving of pancake syrup. YIKES! For this comparison, I am using the nutrition facts from Mrs. Butter-Worth’s Original syrup.

pancakes

Healthy Swap: Kodiak Protein Pancakes

When I’m craving pancakes and a hearty breakfast, we whip up Kodiak Protein pancakes! There are a wide variety of flavors and they are just as simple as traditional Bisquick.

Kodiak Buttermilk Power Cakes have 190 calories, 2 grams of fat, 30 grams of carbohydrates and 14 grams of protein per serving. A serving size is 3 pancakes! All of the other flavors and varieties have very similar nutrition facts. I LOVE the Dark Chocolate Power Cakes! I mean, who doesn’t love breakfast that tastes like dessert?!

Sugar-free syrup- A super easy syrup swap is choosing a sugar-free option. The typical sugar-free pancake syrup has about 20 calories, 8 carbs and 0 grams of sugar. Most of your favorite brands have a sugar-free option! Check them out the next time you are in the market for a new pancake syrup.

Key Takeaways:

  • Be conscious about your pancake toppings! Regular syrup adds up quickly!
  • Switch from buttermilk pancakes to protein pancakes for more nutritional value.
  • Adding protein to your breakfast keeps you fuller for a longer time period!

Have you tried Kodiak Protein Pancakes or any other protein pancakes? What are your favorites?!