Calories in Appam – Nutrition Facts Information
Appam is one of the most popular foods, favored not only in South India but also in other parts of India. It is a delicious rice-based meal that you may add to your breakfast menu, as it can help to provide certain nutrients and health benefits that can be beneficial for your health. This article provides a detailed account of the calories in appam, the nutritional components found in it, the health benefits you can get from this dish, and other details.
Calorie content in appam:
Appam is not a dish that is dense dish in calories; most of the calories are derived from the carbohydrates and starch that are present in it. In fact, appam is quite low in calorie content compared to many other fried foods that are consumed for breakfast.
You can get them mostly from components in appam, such as rice flour and coconut milk, that are used for creating the batter. On average, one medium-sized appam, which may weigh around 90 to 100 grams, may contain around 120 to 150 calories.
However, it is important to note that the net number of calories that is present in appam can vary, based on certain factors, such as the following:
The types of ingredients that are added to the appam
The side dish you have your appam with (for example, coconut chutney or vegetable curry)
The amount of oil or ghee used
The portion size of your appam intake.
In fact, your net calorie intake through appam can slightly increase if you consume it with coconut milk stew or vegetable curry.
Nutritional components in appam:
Appam is not necessarily a nutrient-rich breakfast or snack option, but it can contain certain types of nutritional components that can be beneficial for your health. Some of the major nutrients found in appam may include the following:
1. Carbohydrates:
Being made mostly from rice, appam is rich in carbohydrate content. Thus, it is often advised that you must consume appam in your breakfast to get enough energy for performing daily activities and to support brain function. Moreover, being light, appam is also easier to digest.
2. Healthy fats:
Appam can also provide you with a rich source of healthy fats, especially medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). In fact, you are likely to get enough amounts of healthy fats from the coconut milk that you take in with appam. These fats are not simply stored in the body, but are duly used for healthy metabolism.
3. Vitamins and minerals:
You may also get some amounts of micronutrients, especially vitamins and minerals, if you consume appam in your diet. Ingredients like coconut milk can provide you with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, magnesium, potassium, and iron. All these nutrients are essential for you to carry out healthy physiological functioning.
Which specialist should you consult for having appam?
Appam is a commonly consumed breakfast item that is more or less known to be rich in nutritional components, but are you sure if this is a healthy choice to add to your regular diet? So, to confirm this, before you start having appam and coconut chutney in your diet, especially breakfast, it is important to consult an expert. In such cases, you may talk to a registered nutritionist or a dietitian . This is because consulting a specialist will be able to get an idea regarding:
Whether you can have appam in your diet at all
The portion size of your total appam intake
What to add with your appam (chutney, coconut milk, etc)
How can you cook appam to make it healthy?
If you are planning to cook appam for your children to pack it for their tiffin, it is also required to consult their paediatrician to know whether you can feed them appam at all, based on their health conditions.
Final Thoughts:
Appam is a favourite breakfast dish in most South Indian households and is enjoyed by other parts of India as well. Unlike various types of breakfast items, appam is light, easy to digest, and comparatively low in calorie content. It is thus quite beneficial for your overall health and wellness. Appam can provide you with some amounts of healthy fats, carbs, vitamins, and minerals, along with some amounts of plant-based natural components. But you need to be conscious about your total intake of appam in each day.
Also Check: Calories in Vada Pav – Nutrition Facts Information