Is this recipe healthy? Monkey Bread

Monkey Bread

“Hunks and hunks of baking love! This breakfast favourite is meant to be pulled apart. We healthified this recipe by removing the unhealthy ingredients and swinging in some healthier choices instead.” – Quoted from a cooking website.

I grabbed this “healthified” recipe.  Trust me its not perfect, but the original was disastrous.  Regardless this one still tastes great and is MUCH more healthy.

The point I want to make is watch out for what companies may tell you is “healthy”.  If you want pure sugar, then this is the ticket, if you want taste that is over the top, then this recipe is a home run, but remember this snack is bottomline a cheat and treat and not a staple, no matter how a site may call it “healthy”.

Don’t get fooled into thinking the cheats and treats are what makes you thin… its the days of good (dare I say empowered) nutrition and eating that out performs the cheats and treats.  Treats should be called REWARD meals and that is how they should be treated.

HEALTHIFIED RECIPE -MONKEY BREAD???

Even the pickiest eaters will love picking at this sweet bread. We used reduced-fat and fat-free ingredients to trim 57% of the fat and 61% of the saturated fat.

2/3 cup sugar > 1/4 cup sugar

large refrigerated buttermilk homestyle biscuits > Pillsbury® Grands!® Homestyle refrigerated reduced-fat buttermilk biscuits

1/2 cup sugar plus 1/2 cup packed brown sugar plus 3/4 cup butter > 3/4 cup fat-free caramel topping plus 2 teaspoons vanilla

Nutritional Highlights (or not so nutritional highlights):

Calories

370  (before) > 250  (after)

Total Fat

19 g (before) > 8 g (after)

Saturated Fat

9 g (before) > 3 1/2 g (after)

Trans Fat

3.5 g (before) > 0 g (after)

prep time:15 min

start to finish:1 hr 10 min

makes:16 servings

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 cans (16.3 oz each) Pillsbury® Grands!® Homestyle refrigerated reduced-fat buttermilk biscuits
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 3/4 cup fat-free caramel topping
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with cooking spray.

In 1-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix sugar and cinnamon. Separate both cans of dough into 16 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into quarters. Add biscuit pieces to sugar mixture. Seal bag; shake to coat. Layer biscuit pieces and pecans in pan.

In small bowl, mix caramel topping and vanilla. Pour over biscuit pieces.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and no longer doughy in center. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Invert onto serving plate. Serve warm.

Nutritional Information (yeah right):

1 serving: Calories 250 (Calories from Fat 80); Total Fat 8g (Saturated Fat 3 1/2g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 640mg; Total Carbohydrate 39g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 15g); Protein 3g % Daily Value Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 0%; Iron 8% Exchanges 1 Starch, 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices 2 1/2

ORIGINAL RECIPE – MONKEY BREAD

“Making monkey bread is just as fun as eating it! It’s a staple in my house and I rarely go without it for more than a few days. I’m glad this recipe was chosen—I didn’t even think it could be healthified!” - Britney Irby, Wichita Falls, TX – Quoted from a cooking website.

Britney… Britney… Britney… you poor soul.  Are you kidding me?!  There is a minor applaud (gold clap) for the less than moderate reduction in carbohydrates… mainly sugar and calories.  This is still a trick to get you to make your own sugar and eating this is simply going to add weeks and years onto your timeline to achieving your fat loss goals.  Limit the intake and I guarantee you will see results.  Use it as a reward at best and enjoy every mouthful.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 cans (16.3 oz each) large refrigerated buttermilk homestyle biscuits
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup butter

16 servings

Nutritional Information (or lack there of):

1 serving: Calories 370 (Calories from Fat 170); Total Fat 19g (Saturated Fat 9g, Trans Fat 3.5g); Cholesterol 25mg; Sodium 660mg; Total Carbohydrate 46g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 25g); Protein 4g % Daily Value Vitamin A 6%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 4%; Iron 8% Exchanges 1 Starch, 2 Other Carbohydrate, 3 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices 3