If you haven’t heard of Eggos frozen toaster waffles, you must not have watched Stranger Things on NETFLIX! Eggos pioneered toaster pastry territory from the moment they first appeared in 1954. Now, Eggos are ‘updating’ for the 2020s…
Yes. You read right. Eggos were in North American toasters a full decade before the Iconic Pop-Tart. And some folks have been enjoying them regularly, ever since…
An update for new millennium
But the classic – dare I say, iconic? – frozen waffle has not changed much over the years. Now, how-ever, in response to the current craze for ‘healthier’ foods, the grande Dame of instant gratification is getting rid of artificial colours, flavours and sweeteners.
“Consumers are looking for more from their breakfast – they want options that fit their lifestyles without giving up the foods they grew up loving,” Cara Tragseiler, Eggo’s Brand Growth and Marketing lead, said in a statement. “With Eggo Zero, we brought together the things consumers tell us matter most: great taste, protein and less sugar.”
Eggos ZERO (for ‘zero sugar’) come in two flavours, at least to start: classic Buttermilk, and Blueberry. They’re sweetened with Monkfruit, rather than any refined or artificial sweetener. They’re in stores now.
Monkfruit, you say?
“Monkfruit is a herbaceous perennial vine of the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, native to southern China,” Wikipedia tells us. “The plant is cultivated for its fruit extract containing mogrosides. Mog-roside extract has been used as a low-calorie sugar substitute for drinks and in traditional Chinese medicine. One mogroside, mogroside V, creates a sweetness sensation 250 times stronger than sucrose.”
According to Banner Health, Monkfruit has a lot more going for it than zero-sugar… Registered Diet-ician Bailey Shupe explains:
- Zero calories and carbs: Table sugar, corn syrup and honey can make up a big part of most people’s daily calorie intake. These added sugars can cause you to take in more calories than you burn and gain weight. Monk fruit’s carb-free and calorie-free combo is perfect for keto, low-carb and calorie-cutting diets.
- No blood sugar spikes: “Monk fruit does not affect blood sugar and insulin levels in the same way as table sugar,” Shupe said. “It’s naturally sweet but without the calories and blood sugar spike.”
- Natural and plant-based: It’s made from a real fruit, not chemicals or artificial ingredients.
- Versatile: Monk fruit sweetener is heat-stable, so it is ideal for baking and cooking as it retains its sweetness. Many people also use it in coffee, tea and smoothies.
“Though research is ongoing, some studies have found that monk fruit sweetener may help with in-flammation, heart health, gut health and cancer prevention,” Shupe adds.
But there’s more!
In response to the current craze for added protein, each Eggo ZERO will deliver more than 10 g of protein.
But That’s not as big a deal as you might think. It’s more lip service to the Protein fad. Because most folks in North America – whether they’re eating too much Utra-Processed Food (UPFs) or not – get more than enough protein to meet their daily dietary needs, without adding any as supplements, or supplemented foods. The experts say, only body-builders or top-level high-performance athletes can benefit from more.
My take
Alas… Eggos aren’t adding fibre to their ‘healthier’ waffles. Unlike protein, most North Americans aren’t getting nearly enough fibre to meet their daily needs. You can easily increase your intake of multi-talented soluble fibre simply by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. Or, if you must, you can take fibre supplements. But that’s nowhere near as satisfying…
~ Maggie J.