Rice Cakes: 7 Nutritional Benefits and Different Types of Rice Cakes.
Rice cakes are a type of snack made by the COMPRESSION OF INFLATED RICE.
Are you a person who loves munching on snacks in the time between meals but feels guilty later for your unhealthy eating habits?
Worry not! RICE CAKES are here to satisfy your spare time and midnight cravings without posing a risk to your health.
Imagine eating a snack that is both delicious and nutritious and even does not make you gain weight.
Sounds like a dream?
But with rice cakes, this dream has come to reality!
Now you might be a person who often gets bored of eating the same snack over and over again.
But with rice cakes, this aspect is covered as well! It is made with different flavors to satisfy the craving of every taste bud.
In this article, we will delve into the realm of rice cakes. We’ll discuss the nutritional values of rice cakes, their different flavors, and ways to enjoy them and we will also address the common misconceptions associated with eating rice cakes.
So let’s dive into the world of healthy eating habits with the munch of rice cakes.
How are rice cakes made?
Rice Cakes, these disc-like cakes have an interesting story behind their composition.
There is a secret manufacturing procedure behind it being so scrumptious.
At the center of the rice cakes, is simple rice which is cooked until it reaches the perfection of a soft touch.
Now comes the second step of the recipe which is the puffing, this step compresses or squeezes the rice making it crunchy.
The rice is then shaped in the form of a disc and there you go your snack is ready to savour your taste buds.
Nutritional benefits of Rice Cakes:
Besides rice cakes being tasteful and scrumptious, they offer a variety of Nutritional benefits. Some of these are explained below.
1. Low in Calories and fats:
Rice Cakes are the best snack option for people who are constantly worried about the amount of calories going into their bodies.
Rice Cakes contain almost 50 calories per rice cake. They are the most suitable for people dealing with weight gain issues. They are ideal to satisfy the cravings of people trying to lose some pounds.
2. Rich source of energy:
Rice cake also contains carbohydrates that are a rich source of energy for the body. The carbs store the energy in the body in the form of ATP. Whenever our body needs energy, these ATP are broken down to give energy.
Unlike other snacks that contain sugars, which are often harmful to health, Rice cakes contain healthy carbohydrates that are necessary to fuel our bodies.
3. A large amount of Dietary Fibres:
Rice cakes make up a large part of our daily fiber intake. Dietary Fibres help in digestion and regulate our bowel movements.
The presence of Dietary fiber in the Rice cakes makes it a whole meal that even eating these rice cakes gives a sense of fullness. This is particularly important if you are trying to manage weight.
Moreover, dietary Fibre helps in diminishing the absorption of glucose in the bloodstream.
The dietary Fibre in rice cakes helps to control the number the micro-organisms in the stomach thereby promoting a healthy gut.
4. Gluten-free:
Rice cakes are an excellent solution for gluten-intolerant people who only prefer fruits, vegetables, and gluten-free bread and pasta.
Gluten-intolerant people can develop allergies to the consumption of foods like wheat, rye, and barley. Moreover, in people who have celiac disease, the lining of the small intestine can be damaged by the consumption of gluten-containing food.
In such a situation, Rice cakes with their diversity in flavors and also gluten-free ability are the ideal solution.
Rice cakes also provide gluten-intolerant people with a versatility in taste and flavors.
5. Helps Maintain blood pressure:
Rice cakes are made of ingredients that are usually low in sodium. This makes rice cakes the healthy option for people dealing with high blood pressure.
So rice cakes are also a healthy alternative of snacks for people with heart issues and high blood pressure.
6. Cholesterol free:
Rice cakes are a healthy choice for people dealing with cardiovascular issues because of their cholesterol-free composition.
Usually, the snacks contain high levels of cholesterol making them an unhealthy food for cholesterol-intolerant people and heart patients but Rice cakes decrease the intake of cholesterol in the body.
7. Valuable vitamins and minerals:
Rice cakes not only contain a small amount of calories and carbohydrates but also a large amount of vitamins and minerals in their ingredients. It contains nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc.
Moreover, different kinds of rice cakes contain vitamin B12, vitamin D, and iron.
In this way, Rice Cakes are not only a safer option for snacking but also a great source of nourishment for your body.
What are the different types of rice cakes?
❖ Puffed Rice Cakes:
These are the lightest type of rice cakes. They are simply rice-compressed in the form of discs and then paired with different toppings.
❖ Multi-grain Rice Cakes:
Rice cakes are available in multi-grain and whole-grain types. They are made with a mix of brown rice, quinoa, millet, and amaranth. They are considered a healthier option.
❖ Flavored Rice Cakes:
These types of rice cakes are made with different flavors to satisfy the cravings of people with different preferences and taste buds. There are sweet, salty, spicy, and other flavors available in rice cakes.
❖ Thin Rice cakes:
These are the crispy and crunchy types of rice cakes. These are also the lighter version of rice cakes. It gives you a crisp crunch with every bite.
❖ Rice cake chips:
Rice cake chips are also the crispier version of rice cakes. They are the healthier alternatives to traditional chips. They are lighter and crunchy types of rice cakes.
What are the flavor options for Rice Cakes?
● Plain rice cakes :
Plain rice cakes are the most common and most simple rice cakes. You can add toppings according to your preferences.
● Sweet pleasures with sweet delights:
Treat yourself with a sweetened delight for your sweet tooth cravings.
The sweet Rice Cakes are topped with chocolate, honey, or caramel making it a healthy dessert for your sweet cravings.
● Salt and Spicy Cravings:
Treat yourself to the salt or spicy Rice Cakes to satisfy your savory sensations. Rice Cakes can be topped with cheese, salt, spices, and pepper to fulfill these cravings.
This flavor is perfect for people who do not usually like sweet delights.
● Unique combinations:
Rice cakes are now available in many unique flavors like wasabi, truffles, and sriracha. These flavors savor your taste buds in a way no other snack can.
These unique combinations are best for people who get bored from eating the same flavor again and again and want to explore something different.
● Seasonal Flavors:
There are also some seasonal flavors of rice cakes which are available in only a limited time. These flavors include pumpkin spice in fall and peppermint bark in winter.
These were some of the flavors in Rice Cakes. Rice Cakes can be made with different flavors and toppings according to your taste and cravings. Thus it is a snack for every person with any type of snack cravings.
How to select the healthiest Rice Cakes?
➢ Read the Labels Carefully:
The first step to selecting the healthiest option in rice cakes is to look at the label of Rice cakes and go for the products that mention whole grain or brown rice.
Do not go for artificially flavored or Rice Cakes with added sugars.
Also, ensure that the Rice cake you are choosing does not contain a high amount of sodium so as not to deteriorate your health.
➢ Choose Rice Cakes that offer Nutritional benefits:
It is important to go for Rice Cakes that not only satisfy your cravings but also provide additional nutritional benefits. Look for products that contain vitamins, minerals, and fibers that are often present in whole-grain foods.
➢ Choose Rice Cakes that contain minimal ingredients:
Be it a rice cake or any other snack, always go for the product that contains the least amount of ingredients. This is because the lesser the amount of ingredients, the lesser the chance of added preservatives and additives.
➢ Portion Control for Weight Management:
While Rice cakes are the healthier snacking option still it is important to consider portion control. This is because excess of anything can be bad for your health.
You can eat it every day but in a controlled amount and stick to this amount to avoid overconsumption.
Addressing the Common Misconceptions:
MISCONCEPTION: Rice cakes are dry and tasteless.
FACT: Rice cakes can be tasteless if they are not paired with the toppings. With the perfect blend of toppings, rice cakes can be delicious and flavorful.
MISCONCEPTION: Rice cakes help in weight gain.
FACT: People usually perceive that rice cakes can cause weight gain due to their carbohydrate content but this is not true. Rice cakes are low in fats and calories and if used with proper portion control strategies can never cause weight gain.
MISCONCEPTION: Rice cakes are only for people who are on a diet:
FACT: While Rice Cakes are a healthy option for dieters, it is for everyone from kids to adults everyone can enjoy their tastefulness. They are topped with crunchy salad dressing, and can also be used as thin crust base of mini pizza.
Conclusion:
So that was all about the rice cakes. With its nutritional benefits and flavorsome types, they are perfect for people who are health-conscious and looking for healthier snack alternatives.
It is important to select rice cakes that align with your health concerns to reduce the impact of any harm to health.
