Are Flapjacks Healthy?
Flapjacks are a much-loved snack for many people. They are a great nutritious breakfast option, or the perfect afternoon pick me up, and can even be enjoyed as a pre-gym or post workout snack. But, just like most good things, they need to be enjoyed in moderation, which has sparked the question, ‘are flapjacks healthy for you?’ TREK is here to give you the answers!
What are flapjacks?
Flapjacks are a type of sweet, oat bar, similar to a granola bar. They are usually mixed with syrup, fruits and nuts, which is why they are so popular at breakfast time. But you can spice up your flapjack with all types of flavours! Just take our TREK White Chocolate and Raspberry or Lemon Flapjacks for example.
However, the more staple ingredients in flapjacks include:
- Oats: A great, natural source of fibre, which is good for your digestive system, as well as for your cholesterol levels.
- Fruit: Contains lots of essential vitamins and minerals that help keep you healthy – it’s also full of antioxidants which can fight off free radicals and prevent damage to cells in your body.
- Nuts: High in protein, which helps you feel full for longer after eating them (without adding any calories). Nuts also contain lots of vitamins and minerals which help protect against harmful diseases.
Of course, the type of ingredients vary dramatically from flapjack to flapjack, so be sure to always check the nutritional information. Our TREK Protein Flapjacks, for example, are made with the finest natural ingredients, and contain 9g of protein whilst being vegan and gluten-free!
Flapjack Health Benefits:
Although flapjacks are a delectably sweet treat that can almost seem like an indulgence to enjoy, they actually contain some health benefits due to the natural ingredients that make them up. This includes…
Being rich in Fibre – Fibre helps keep your gut healthy by helping food pass through it more quickly without blocking it up with undigested food particles. It also slows down digestion to leave you feeling fuller for longer.
Slow release of energy – Flapjacks are a type of slow energy release food, which means it makes you feel energised for longer. This is why it’s the perfect breakfast snack to keep you powered for the day ahead, as well as a good pre-workout food to power your exercise routine.
Checkout TREK’s guide to Slow Energy Release Foods for even more inspiration about what to add to your diet to feel energised for longer.
Helping to lower cholesterol – Flapjacks are low in saturated fat so they won’t raise your cholesterol levels – they can even help lower them if you eat them instead of other foods high in saturated fats like vegetable oil-based spreads. If you want to cut out all fat from your diet then try a low fat flapjack.
Leave you feeling fuller for longer – The oats that make up the flapjacks can help you feel fuller for longer than other carbohydrates because they have a low glycemic index — meaning that they cause minimal spikes in blood sugar levels. This means that if you eat oats before going to sleep at night, you might feel more full when it comes time for breakfast than if you had eaten something else before bedtime.
Rich in Vitamin B – Oats are rich in B vitamins, which help convert food into energy. The human body needs these vitamins to function properly — without them, we wouldn’t be able to think clearly or stay active throughout the day!
A balanced diet is key!
At the end of the day flapjacks are still a sweet snack so need to be eaten in moderation. For example, they contain natural sugars that even if you eat a low sugar flapjack, still needs to be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet. However, they do contain great natural ingredients like oats, fruits and nuts that can be found in all our TREK bars, which can leave you feeling powered and energised for the day ahead.
For even more insightful blogs on nutrition, check out our TREK blog that’s home to articles like, The Top 5 Benefits of a Flexitarian Diet to 5 Reasons Why Breakfast is Important.
