Are Fig Rolls a relatively healthy biscuit?

another question · 10-10-2013 3:58pm #1

Someone said to me the last day 'fig rolls are actually not that bad for you, for a biscuit like'. I was like 'right yah, ok', not thinking much off it.

But yesterday my dad came home with a big pack which were on special offer in tesco for €2.00 (he has a major sweet tooth) and so the conversation started 'I was just talking to someone about fig rolls today'....

So I had a look at the packet and I was pleasantly surprised, per biscuit the saturated fat content is very low and the fibre content is quite high.

Here's the info and see what ye think, could a fig roll be a healthier option when choosing a biscuit with that cup of tea (I did have one last night and by God was it good dipped in tea

):

Per Biscuit:

Calories: 63
Saturated Fat: 0.6g
Carbohydrate: 11.3g
Sugar: 6.3g
Protein: 0.7g
Fibre: 0.9g

sbsquarepants · 10-10-2013 4:00pm

If they are, i'm going to live forever:D

Katgurl · 10-10-2013 4:33pm

I hate these answers (that don't say anything) but I'm going to give one anyway.

The key word in your OP is 'relatively'. I wouldn't consider fig rolls healthy because I don't think 0.7g protein is a good pay-off for 6.3g sugar. But then again I probably wouldn't be able to stop at one, it would set me off on a sugar rush/crash, I'd scoff 5 and even worse possibly develop a bad daily habit. But that's just me - I know this so I am better off avoiding biscuits altogether.

However, if you are keeping an eye on your calorie intake and like the odd biscuit then yeah, a fig roll here & there isn't going to do you any harm.

Mellor · 11-10-2013 2:09am

another question wrote: »

So I had a look at the packet and I was pleasantly surprised, per biscuit the saturated fat content is very low and the fibre content is quite high.

(Sat) Fat content is a pretty useless measure of how healthy a biscuit is.

another question · 11-10-2013 8:50am

Mellor wrote: »

(Sat) Fat content is a pretty useless measure of how healthy a biscuit is.

What would you suggest to be a 'useful' measure of how healthy a biscuit is then?

beazee · 11-10-2013 8:58am

Protein-carbs and fat-carbs ratios. The less carbs the healthier, and less "biscuity".

another question · 11-10-2013 9:00am

beazee wrote: »

Protein-carbs and fat-carbs ratios. The less carbs the healthier, and less "biscuity".

Ok, so based on those ratios, how does the fig roll fair?

650gs · 11-10-2013 9:04am

But the big question is how do they get the figs into the fig roll

another question · 11-10-2013 9:05am

650gs wrote: »

But the big question is how do they get the figs into the fig roll

I was waiting for that

runawaybishop · 11-10-2013 9:14am

another question wrote: »

Ok, so based on those ratios, how does the fig roll fair?

Badly. A few won't kill you assuming you are working them into your daily requirements and not scoffing 10 of them at a time.

Here's them compared to rich tea.

another question · 11-10-2013 9:19am

runawaybishop wrote: »

Badly. A few won't kill you assuming you are working them into your daily requirements and not scoffing 10 of them at a time.

Here's them compared to rich tea.

Oh...nice graph. That's pretty clear isn't it. No, I wouldn't eat 10 of anything at the one time.

BadCharlie · 11-10-2013 9:30am

I like to have 3 with a cup of coffe/tea

rubadub · 11-10-2013 12:49pm

another question wrote: »

Oh...nice graph. That's pretty clear isn't it.

The graph appears to be comparing 1 biscuit to another.

A jacbos fig roll is 16.7grams
A mcvities rich tea is 8.4grams

So its not really fair. I certainly would not find a single rich tea as filling as a fig roll.

You really want to compare values per 100g. Even then you have the slight issue of the rich teas probably being drier, so the fig roll values may be low due to be bulked out with more moisture.

Call Me Jimmy · 11-10-2013 12:52pm

I have always thought of the them as one of the healthiest biscuit options.

runawaybishop · 11-10-2013 1:16pm

rubadub wrote: »

The graph appears to be comparing 1 biscuit to another.

A jacbos fig roll is 16.7grams
A mcvities rich tea is 8.4grams

So its not really fair. I certainly would not find a single rich tea as filling as a fig roll.

You really want to compare values per 100g. Even then you have the slight issue of the rich teas probably being drier, so the fig roll values may be low due to be bulked out with more moisture.

I could only find per biscuit info! I think people usually decide to have X biscuits with their tea anyway, so its not completely useless info.

Transform · 11-10-2013 7:42pm

no but chocolate is

Alf Veedersane · 11-10-2013 8:23pm

It depends how many fig rolls you're eating. Few things are bad for you if you're eating them in small amounts but if you're eating half a dozen at a time,then there won't be a biscuit that'll be all that healthy. Even rich tea.

The Rock 2013 · 12-10-2013 3:02am

Transform wrote: »

no but choclate is

Gobsh1te

Brian? · 12-10-2013 1:22pm

The Rock 2013 infracted for being uncivil

Theresalwaysone · 12-10-2013 3:15pm

beazee wrote: »

Protein-carbs and fat-carbs ratios. The less carbs the healthier, and less "biscuity".

This isn't true and is a poor rule of thumb.

I can think of plenty of 'healthy' foodstuffs that have more carbs to protein/fat ratio.

Most fruits, nuts, vegetables and berries have high carbs relative to the other two macros and are classed as 'healthy'.

Transform · 12-10-2013 3:17pm

why you should eat dark chocolate - I probably should have qualified that in my suggestion on chocolate.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-you-should-eat-and-drink-high-cacao-dark-chocolate/

Ive been called worse

WHIP IT! · 12-10-2013 5:18pm

How does the humble Jaffa Cake - a staple of my diet - compare in the 'not so bad as far as biscuits go' stakes??

professore · 12-10-2013 5:21pm

Rich tea biscuits are like eating cardboard.

Alf Veedersane · 12-10-2013 10:52pm

professore wrote: »

Rich tea biscuits are like eating cardboard.

Take that back! Take that back RIGHT NOW!

another question · 13-10-2013 8:05am

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

Take that back! Take that back RIGHT NOW!

another question · 13-10-2013 8:06am

WHIP IT! wrote: »

How does the humble Jaffa Cake - a staple of my diet - compare in the 'not so bad as far as biscuits go' stakes??

Pleasantly surprising:

http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/wellbeing/galleries/34135/biscuits-the-best-and-worst-revealed/15

decisions · 13-10-2013 8:08am

professore wrote: »

Rich tea biscuits are like eating cardboard.

Which is why you dip them into your tea, then they become delicious

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 13-10-2013 8:09am

nah, you slather them in butter. then nom nom.

another question · 13-10-2013 8:09am

Transform wrote: »

why you should eat dark chocolate - I probably should have qualified that in my suggestion on chocolate.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-you-should-eat-and-drink-high-cacao-dark-chocolate/

Ive been called worse

Really good article.

Stench Blossoms · 13-10-2013 9:45am

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

nah, you slather them in butter. then nom nom.

Or nutella.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 13-10-2013 9:47am

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Or nutella.

i guess that's the great thing about butter and nutella. they improve everything.

.. just had an idea for nutella steak, will report back later.

another question · 13-10-2013 9:49am

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

i guess that's the great thing about butter and nutella. they improve everything.

.. just had an idea for nutella steak, will report back later.

Just having nutella and smooth peanut butter together on toast....b-e-a-utiful

Transform · 13-10-2013 4:02pm

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Or nutella.

Made my own Nutella week before last - grind nuts until it becomes nut butter, add in 70% dark choc - boom!

rubadub · 14-10-2013 10:16am

runawaybishop wrote: »

I could only find per biscuit info! I think people usually decide to have X biscuits with their tea anyway, so its not completely useless info.

I looked up the weights knowing there would be a significant difference. Others would be similar weights, like digestive vs hob nobs.

Some people do find "puffed up" versions of foodstuffs do curb their eating though. Rich teas might qualify as this to some, not to me though. e.g. like you say people might eat x biscuits or have "a bar", which could be a wispa, aero, malteasters. They are expanded with air so appear more substantial than they are.

WHIP IT! wrote: »

How does the humble Jaffa Cake - a staple of my diet - compare in the 'not so bad as far as biscuits go' stakes??

Jaffa cakes are an example of puffed up biscuits/cakes.

Transform wrote: »

Made my own Nutella week before last - grind nuts until it becomes nut butter, add in 70% dark choc - boom!

Must try something like this. High % chocolate is not likely to be scoffed down as easily too. I melted high % chocolate in with coconut oil, it just melts on the tongue. I tried it with pure cocoa powder and it was a bit too harsh.

Stench Blossoms · 14-10-2013 10:27am

Transform wrote: »

Made my own Nutella week before last - grind nuts until it becomes nut butter, add in 70% dark choc - boom!

Can I come to your house sometime!?

You can make me Nutella and your missus can make me dinner.

Transform · 15-10-2013 8:16am

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

Can I come to your house sometime!?

You can make me Nutella and your missus can make me dinner.

Lmfao!!

kendog77 · 30-04-2016 10:46am

Fig rolls are the best biscuit on the market so who cares how healthy they are,we are all going to die at some stage anyway so why not enjoy a fig roll or 10?