Rice cakes

[Janvi10]

Since I gave up crisps in the new year I have been eating rice cakes instead. Only 29 calories per cake and low fat but I have heard they are full of sugar. Is this true? Sometimes I had 5 a day thinking I was eating healthily. I am going to limit myself to 2 a day for now. Any other substitutes?

[benwl]

If they were full of sugar, they would be far more than 29 calories, so I wouldn't worry on that score. Rice is a carbohydrate (as is sugar) which perhaps is where the confusion arises.

See for example:

weightlossresources.co.uk/c...

[Janvi10 in reply to benwl]

Thanks I don't feel so bad about them now. I did wonder how that could be the case just shows how much misinformation there is out there. They did wean me off crisps so for that I'm thankful.

[benwl in reply to Janvi10]

Great, no need to feel bad about them. Nutrition information can be confusing. Its often shown per 100g which for rice cakes is over 300 calories but they are so light that you'd have to eat about 12 of them to get that - which i hope you don't do

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Rice is a carb-filled food, so you want to be careful about the amount you eat (especially if you are counting carbs for blood sugar issues).

[benwl in reply to Activity2004]

But that's the whole point of these - they are only 30 calories per rice cake

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to benwl]

When you're a diabetic, you count the carbs.-- not the calories. 15 carbs. for each rice cake depending on what brand you may end up buying.

[TheAwfulToad]

It's good that you're not eating crisps anymore, but your best bet is to try to eat proper meals. If you're full, you won't feel inclined to snack. Load up your plate with non-starchy vegetables, meat, eggs and dairy, and eat until you're full, NOT until you think you've eaten enough calories. Your body knows how much food it wants and it will nag you endlessly until it gets it. The best option is to fool it by eating bulk that doesn't make you fat.

In general you want to avoid foods which are mostly or entirely carbs (I assume you're trying to lose weight). The "a calorie is a calorie" meme is still going strong, but the fact remains that sugar is what makes you fat, and all carbs except fibre end up as sugar by the time they hit your small intestine. So, as mentioned, just make up the bulk on your plate with lots of veg (not potatoes), and make sure you're getting a bit of fat for energy plus protein for 'construction materials'. Fat is only a problem if you're eating enormous quantities of carbs - which, unfortunately, most British people are.

[Hidden in reply to TheAwfulToad]

"The best option is to fool it by eating bulk that doesn't make you fat."

I have seen another post with a similar idea. This "stuff yourself with good stuff"may work if you're not afraid of over-stretching your stomach. Eating "bulk" approach may well work for some but other people generally wouldn't for some reasons. Some people would need to eat small portions during the day as bulky approach doesn't work in these people. One approach may work for you, but that's not a gold standard for many others.

Common sense tells me, eating two rice cakes a day wouldn't cause major problems for most people as someone else commented. Starving yourself would. Having said that OP is asking for any other alternative items to snack on during the day. I find this to be a very sensible question to ask.

[TheAwfulToad in reply to Hidden]

>> This "stuff yourself with good stuff"may work if you're not afraid of over-stretching your stomach.

I wasn't suggesting that Janvi10 should literally stuff him/herself until he/she explodes, but simply to eat enough. That is, to not leave the table feeling a nagging sense of hunger.

Our satiety sensors are pretty dumb. They work on bulk volume, not nutrient content. Carb-heavy diets stretch the stomach because they are loaded with atypical quantities of energy - humans simply didn't evolve to cope with that onslaught of pure energy, and our satiety sensors are not calibrated for it. When we eat pasta or rice or bread-based meals, or desserts, we always eat slightly too much, because that's when we get that "I've had enough" feeling.

Eat meat and vegetables and you will feel full at the right point. You then stop eating. Realistically there is no other sensible way to diet: if you are continually fighting your body's natural instincts, you will lose. Eventually.

>> Common sense tells me, eating two rice cakes a day wouldn't cause major problems for most people as someone else commented.

I agree. However:

>> Having said that OP is asking for any other alternative items to snack on during the day. I find this to be a very sensible question to ask.

The question implies that the questioner is hungry two hours after mealtimes. Bearing in mind that I can go a continuous 10 hours doing a very physical job with no decrease in focus or energy, this suggests that there's something terribly wrong with his/her daily diet. Not just a bit wrong but very wrong. It would be worth sorting this out.

[Hidden]

OP is asking: "Any other substitutes?"

[rosie-2015 in reply to Hidden]

Hi I personally can't eat a lot of fruit and veg due to health problems, (the bowel) so I would be one of the people who can't bulk up without making myself ill. I have managed to lose nearly 5 stone with counting calories, and using myfitnesspal it also helps me with my nutrients especially carbs protein and fat, I hope you find this helpful x

[Hidden in reply to rosie-2015]

Very I'm the same. Thank you for sharing useful tips.

Please keep up with the good work.

[Penel]

There are a lot of ‘crisp bread’ type products on the market. You could try some different grains, like corn thins. I sometimes eat a brand called Le Pain des Fleurs, which uses a variety of gluten free flours.

If it’s the crispy, salty hit that you are after, perhaps you could try making some kale crisps.

[BadHare]

All brands are different, but I've never had any high in sugar.

Have you read the nutritional information label on the pack you buy?

[MarciAC4]

Sorry but you are right about them being full of sugar.

spoonuniversity.com/healthi...

[Activity2004 Administrator]

That sounds really fantastic! Enjoy them, Hidden !😀

[andyswarbs]

I ate a shed load of rice cakes for around a year because they were gluten free and so helped me during my recovery from arthritis by providing me with a snack. I sometimes at about half a pack at a time. Never put on weight or had any other issues from them.

I don't eat them now, except on the odd occasion. This is for two reasons they had salt in them and as time has passed my added salt intake has reduced and reduced. The other reason is that if I want rice now I have it as as a whole grain.

As for sugar, there was never any question of the rice cakes I bought had sugar in them. There was one exception but that was some with dark chocolate topping.

[Hidden]

There are some food items far worse than "benign rice cakes". The article says, "if you have too many...." Nobody is suggesting to eat the whole packet every meal here. One with the dark chocolate topping is definitely the best one.