Why did Bae Doona end up stopping eating bagels?

Actress Bae Doona (45) Reveals She Has Given Up Bagels for 20 Years

Recently, a video titled "Waiting for the Bagel That Never Comes with Bae Doona" was uploaded on the YouTube channel ‘BDNS.’

In the video, Moon Sang-hoon asked Bae Doona, "Do you often order delivery food?" To which she replied, "Not really. I’m not good at cooking, so I usually eat things that don’t require cooking." She continued, "I cook a lot of rice and store it in the fridge, and then eat it with kimchi and seaweed, or buy a lot of eggs and just take them out to eat."

When Moon Sang-hoon suggested, "How about something light today, like a bagel?", Bae Doona responded, "I used to really love bagels, but I haven’t eaten one in about 20 years." She added, "When I was filming, I used to have a cream cheese bagel every morning, but I gained so much weight. Back then, my nickname was 'White Pig.'"

Bagel Calories Comparable to a Bowl of Rice

The bagels Bae Doona enjoyed eating have about 250-300 kcal per piece. Considering that a bowl of white rice contains around 200-250 kcal, bagels contain roughly the same amount or even more calories than a serving of rice.

Furthermore, bagels are primarily made of carbohydrates, and they contain relatively little protein and fat. If made with refined flour, they can quickly raise blood sugar levels, increasing insulin secretion, which can promote fat storage.

Additionally, if you add cream cheese, butter, or jam to a bagel, the total calorie count can rise to about 300-380 kcal. Cream cheese, which Bae Doona paired with her bagel, is high in fat, some of which are saturated fats, and frequent consumption of these can lead to weight gain.

Healthy Ways to Enjoy Bagels

There are ways to enjoy bagels without the extra calories. Instead of choosing a bagel made with refined flour, opt for one made with whole wheat to help prevent rapid spikes in blood sugar. To reduce calories, replace cream cheese and butter with vegetables like avocado.

If you're aiming for fullness and balanced nutrition, adding eggs or chicken breast for protein is a great option. Adding healthy fats from sources like nuts, seeds, or olive oil is also a good choice.

Since bagels are high in calories, if you plan to indulge in them, it’s essential to control your portion size and balance it with exercise to burn off the calories and avoid weight gain.