How to Enjoy Sufganiyot Without the Guilt This Chanukah

Chanukah is famously known for its delicious sufganiyot, but along with this culinary delight come many questions about their health implications. Dr. Maya Rozman, a nutrition expert, presents a balanced approach to incorporating this festive pastry into your Chanukah menu, while considering your health. Her advice was published in Maariv newspaper.

According to her, sufganiyot contain harmful substances created during frying. "Just in the first few minutes of heating oil, toxic substances form that are detrimental to health," she explained, noting that the smell of burnt oil in a bakery indicates poor quality products.

Additionally, she discusses the nutritional values of classic sufganiyot. "A regular sufganiyah contains about 400 calories, with 20% of that being low-quality fat," Dr. Rozman added. "In enhanced sufganiyot with special fillings and toppings, the values rise even further – up to 700 calories per unit, equivalent to 18 slices of light bread."

Despite the drawbacks, Rozman highlights a relative advantage of sufganiyot: "They contain more complex carbohydrates and less sugar than most candies. When you eat a sufganiyah, you know it's an indulgence and focus exclusively on it, unlike other snacks which are often eaten in uncontrolled amounts."

To incorporate sufganiyot into a dietary menu, Rozman recommends a calculated approach: "It's better to opt for a regular sufganiyah and consider it a substitute for dinner during the holiday. A mini sufganiyah, despite its size, is not necessarily a better calorie bargain."

She suggests to her clients a measured menu that includes one sufganiyah per day during the holiday, alongside balanced portions of vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates. "Such a menu can contain about 1,200 calories and maintain a feeling of fullness throughout the day."

Dr. Rozman concludes with a recommendation to make homemade sufganiyot using high-quality oil and whole wheat flour: "This way, you can significantly reduce the health risks and improve the nutritional values."