Rice cakes on a diet?

ZakMoon

So I've always been a fan of rice cakes, the puffed ones which aren't like those weird flavours under an odd brand name.. just plain old rice cakes with some peanut butter on or something.

But someone recently said they were high in the GI index and will give me an insulin spike? I did a bit of research into it but I don't really get it, but I guess they're sort of nutritionally empty but are around 30calories each - so I've got nothing to lose?

What would you think? Yay or nay; according to the GI index?

Kitteneyes01

I eat them all the time. I love them too. The ones I buy are made from brown rice instead of white, so they're not that bad. Makes a nice replacement for chips esspecially if I buy the mini ones, fruit chutney flavor...mmm...plus their an easy way to hit my 3 serving a day grain goal.

summerprogress

Yup...I also have them as a snack between lunch n dinner... Mmm..rice cake with pb n banana slices or rice cake with some avocadooo...yumyum

missiontofitness

So I've always been a fan of rice cakes, the puffed ones which aren't like those weird flavours under an odd brand name.. just plain old rice cakes with some peanut butter on or something.

But someone recently said they were high in the GI index and will give me an insulin spike? I did a bit of research into it but I don't really get it, but I guess they're sort of nutritionally empty but are around 30calories each - so I've got nothing to lose?

What would you think? Yay or nay; according to the GI index?

I personally avoid them because I feel like they're "empty" calories. It's just puffed up rice, and empty of a lot of nutritional value. Plus, I'm always hungry soon after eating them.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Glycemic_index_and_glycemic_load_for_100_foods.htm

Here's a graph that Harvard made with the rankings for different foods, rice cakes included.

yungibear

If you like it, go for it. Just be aware that it might be easy to overeat because it's essentially eating rice and air and you may not feel full off of them. Finding snacks that work for you is a trial-and-error process, so try it out and see if it is right for you.

JesterMFP

I avoid them like the plague... because I think they're disgusting. You're a fan of them however, so go for it. I sometimes have a particular crispbread that are low calorie (because similarly, they have a lot of air in them!) I have them with nut butter, or pate on as a bit of a snack.

Eat what you enjoy and what helps you meet your goals.

melaniecheeks

If you like them, eat them. Yes they are high on the GI index - is that something that concerns you?

BeginningAgainMay14

I would eat them if I liked them. I think it's good on a diet to have a few non-vegetable "crunchy" items you can snack on. Eat them for a few days and see how you feel. If you get an energy spike followed by a crash, you might avoid them, or if they leave you feeling hungry, you might eat them less often and eat a hardboiled egg or something instead.

Personally, I think they taste like styrofoam, but as others have said, if you like them, eat them! (In reasonable quantities and as long as they leave you feeling good, not bad.)

corgicake

The GI index is old and a PITA with its share of flaws. Even with the anti-carb craze a good chunk of the people who use it are diabetics. Not to say it's useless but its usefulness to someone who isn't diabetic is probably overstated, though I imagine an athlete trying to fuel some crazy would stand to benefit from learning about it.

I don't eat rice cakes as my wallet would pitch a fit, but if they make you happy eat them.

Sabine_Stroehm

If you eat low GI/low GL because you find it helps you control over eating, rice cakes might not be a good choice. If you eat at a deficit and don't worry about insulin then go for it.

I personally don't eat them. In part, because I think they taste and sound like styrofoam, in part because I DO eat slow carb and they don't fit my goals.

parkparksarah

I haven't eaten a rice cake before? ... Is it delicious? How does it taste like?

KarenJanine

I haven't eaten a rice cake before? ... Is it delicious? How does it taste like?

They don't taste like rice and don't taste like cake. To me they are a big disappointment and have no place in my diet. But if they fit your calorie/macro goals and you like them, then eat up.

segovm

I find if I have snack food like that around it's easier for me to just graze on them or indulge some monetary urge. So far I just eat a meal if I am hungry and since most my meals are 300'ish calories, that's about the same as 6 rice cakes but after I am done I am full and don't feel like I could eat another meal for hours.

ScottH_200

I think I read here on MFP eating rice cakes help you to lose weight because they are full of air. When they go down into your stomach, the air is released and makes you feel full. So, I would say, eat up!

BURP!

edit: because I forgot to use the sarcasm smiley.

postrockandcats

If you like them, rock on! I'm not a fan as I'm always hungry too soon after eating them, but I eat plenty of things that other people would deem "bad" for whatever reasons. Eat the foods you like. It's YOUR life and YOUR food.

yarwell

I haven't eaten a rice cake before? ... Is it delicious? How does it taste like?

Styrofoam

sabified

Don't eat them if you're diabetic.

Otherwise it doesn't really make a difference. If you enjoy it then go for it!