Western Bagel The Alternative Bagel  in Cinnamon Spice----- is a  Fat -Free, High-Fiber, High-Protein, No Cholesterol, No Trans Fat, Calcium -Rich 110 Calorie bagel that tastes delicious!  I found these by accident at our local grocery store.  I'm not even a bagel eater, but, the nutrition profile sounded so good, that I had to buy them.  I've never heard of these packaged bagels. They come in a non-refrigerated  9 3/8 oz pack of five, displayed near the baked goods section of the supermarket. The packaging touts the wonderful nutrition of these bagels as opposed to the high caloric nightmares of some traditional bagel offerings. Since I knew very little about bagels, I did a little search at various bagel places to get an idea of their calories. Most bagels have departed from the traditional offerings only  of plain, salted, everything, etc.   Even the traditional recipes have changed to accommodate  the more exotic tastes of the ever-changing palate.  I now see Asiago Cheese bagels, Jalapeno Cheddar bagels, Parmesan Sun- Dried Tomato bagels, Cinnamon Crunch  Raisin bagels dusted with sugar, that taste more like pastry, and several other "trendy flavors".   When I inquired about the calories of some of these selections, it was shocking, really.  They ranged from a minimum of 250 calories before cream cheese to upwards of 450 calories per bagel before the cream cheese as well!  And, some of these bagels are not made in the traditional, lower calorie version.  They're more like bagel-shaped breads--not true bagels. So, this bag of bagels was advertised by Western Bagels as the "Bagel that Won the West" as a healthier alternative.  It is a company based in Van Nuys, Ca, hence the "West" reference.  It stated, "To meet the ever changing needs of our customers, we have developed the Alternative Bagel for those seeking a more nutritious and healthier bagel option." If it won the West, I can only assume that it is very popular in California. I had never heard of them until I purchased them this week.  Their website is: www. westernbagel.com NUTRITION PROFILE:  1 bagel=110 calories, Total Fat=0g, Sat. Fat=0g, Trans Fat=0g, Cholesterol=0g, Sugars=1g, Protein=7g, Sodium=220g, Total Carbs. = 26g, Dietary Fiber=7g, Protein=7g      Calcium 10%     Vitamin C 2%     Iron 6% INGREDIENTS:  Enriched Unbleached Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Water, Wheat Gluten, Corn Starch, Oat Fiber, Inulin, Cinnamon, Yeast, salt, L-cysteine, Sorbic Acid, Calcium Propionate MY OPINION:  This is not a fancy bagel.  It's a good-tasting, nutritious bagel with 7 Grams of Protein, 7 Grams of Fiber, Non- Fat, 110 calorie start to your morning that is sustaining.  I utilize it on  occasion, to replace some of my breakfast bars.  This bagel actually has less fat, less sugar, more protein, and less calories than the highly touted FiberPlus Bar. Solid 4 Stars.   

eiger

Jupiter, FL