French Toast Calories - Should I Eat It?
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Introduction
When it comes to French toast, there are a lot of different ways to make it. You can add all sorts of different ingredients to the batter, from fruit to chocolate chips. However, no matter how you make it, French toast is always a delicious and satisfying breakfast dish.
But is it a good option for those counting the calories?
A typical serving of homemade French toast (2 slices) with syrup contains around 420 calories, so you need to be mindful of what ingredients you use and the portion size.
Next, we’ll look at the nutritional content, and after that, we’ll give an overview of the calorie count for different types of French toast
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French toast nutrition facts
The following table lists French toast nutrition for a single slice (according to nutritionix.com’s estimates)
Amount per 84g serving | % Daily values |
Total Fat: 11 g | 17% |
-Saturated Fat 5.2 g | 26% |
-Trans Fat: 0.2 g | |
Total Carbohydrates: 23 g | 8% |
-Dietary Fiber: 1.1 g | 4% |
-Sugars: 4 g | |
Protein: 7.4 g | |
Sodium: 273 mg | 10% |
Cholesterol: 129 mg | 43% |
Potassium: 97 mg | 3% |
Iron | 9% |
Calcium | 7% |
Vitamin A | 8% |
Vitamin C | 0% |
% daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet | |
Calories in 1 slice of French toast
Here we will provide the estimates of the calorie count for different variations of 1 slice of French toast.
Calories in plain French toast
French toast on its own is a simple dish. It’s just bread soaked in eggs and milk, then fried. But even though it’s simple, it’s still delicious. And that’s why people love it.
According to fatsecret.com, a slice of plain French toast has around 159 calories.
Calories in French toast with syrup
Plain French toast is pretty basic. All you need is some bread and some eggs. But when you add syrup, it takes things to a whole new level. The sweetness of the syrup complements the flavor of the French toast perfectly, making it a truly delicious breakfast treat.
According to myfitnesspal.com, a slice of French toast with syrup has around 212 calories
Calories in French toast without eggs
French toast is traditionally made with eggs. However, it is possible to make it without eggs. This can be done by substituting the egg for milk and other ingredients.
Based on a recipe from allrecipes.com, a slice of eggless French toast has around 112 calories.
Calories in French toast sticks
Interchangeable with bread in many recipes, French toast sticks are a delicious breakfast treat. The interior is soft and custard-like, making it the perfect accompaniment to syrup or fruit.
According to nurtritionix.com, a 5 piece serving of French toast sticks has around 371 calories.
Restaurant French toast calories
Here we will take at look at how the calorie count stacks up for French toast in a few popular restaurant chains.
Ihop
The familiar neon sign of IHOP is a beacon in the night, promising stacks of pancakes and syrupy satisfaction. IHOP has been around since 1958, and in that time they’ve perfected the art of pancake making.
And French toast it would seem.
According to verywellfit.com, the original French toast option at Ihop has around 740 calories.
Denny's
Denny’s is a great place to eat. It has been around since 1953, when it was founded by Harold Butler and Richard Jezak in Lakewood, California. Denny’s is now the largest full-service restaurant chain in the United States, with over 1,700 locations.
According to myfitnesspal.com, one container (4 slices) of French toast from Denny’s has around 836 calories.
Burger King
Burger King is one of the most popular fast food chains in the world. Founded in 1954, Burger King has over 11,000 locations in 58 countries. The company is known for its iconic Whopper sandwich, as well as its menu of other burgers, fries, and drinks.
And they also have French toast sticks on their menu.
According to Burger King’s own website, a serving of their French toast sticks (3 sticks) has around 350 calories.
McDonalds
McDonald’s is the world’s largest fast food chain, with over 36,000 locations in over 100 countries. McDonald’s has been serving customers since 1940, when brothers Dick and Mac McDonald opened their first restaurant in San Bernardino, California. Today, McDonald’s offers a variety of menu items, including burgers, chicken, salads, and breakfast items – including French toast
According to myfitnesspal.com, a serving of Mcdonalds French toast sticks has around 316 calories.
Carbs in French toast with sugar free syrup
If we add a serving of sugar free syrup, which has around 6 grams of carbs (based on bgfoods.com’s estimate) to a slice of French toast, this will come in at around 26 carbs.
And since there’s very little dietary fiber in both the syrup and the French toast, the net carb count will also be around 26. Not ideal if you’re on a low carb diet, particularly versions of the keto diet that aim to keep daily net carb intake below 20 grams.
And this is just from 1 slice!
French toast probably isn’t the best option for low carb and keto dieters. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it! There are plenty of ways to make low carb French toast that are just as delicious as the real thing.
Below is an example of how to make keto friendly French toast sticks.
How much exercise to burn off the calories from French toast?
According to verywellfit.com, to burn off the calories from a single slice of plain French toast (159 calories) a 180 pound individual would need to do (approximately) the following:
-Running (5 MPH): 14 minutes
-Walking (brisk): 32 minutes
-Cycling (moderate): 14 minutes
-Swimming (breaststroke): 11 minutes
Of course, the above is based on a 180 pound individual. If you weigh less, you’ll need to do more. If you weigh more, you’ll get away with spending less time exercising to burn those calories.
Conclusion
French toast is a delicious treat but should be eaten in moderation if you’re counting the calories. Exactly how many calories it will have depends on the recipe and whether or not you use syrup.
French toast from some of the popular restaurant chains can pack quite a calorific punch, so you might want to consider avoiding them entirely if you’re trying to shed the pounds.
If you’re on a keto or other low carb diet, standard French toast is probably best avoided. However, there are keto friendly alternatives you can try.
In short, you should eat it in moderation and enjoy!
References
https://www.nutritionix.com/i/nutritionix/french-toast-1-slice-without-syrup/5671d765ae031ad52d9b4b83
https://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/generic/french-toast-plain
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/french-toast-with-syrup-2-slices-254575582
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/254403/eggless-french-toast/
https://www.nutritionix.com/food/french-toast-stickshttps://www.verywellfit.com/ihop-nutrition-facts-healthy-menu-choices-for-every-diet-4768228
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/french-toast-corrected-17552678
https://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/mcdonalds-french-toast-sticks-489841809
https://www.bk.com/menu/picker-69cc3080-dddb-4a57-95a3-f20e714338e3
https://bgfoods.com/brands/carys/product/sugar-free-low-calorie-syrup/
https://www.verywellfit.com/how-many-calories-you-burn-during-exercise-4111064