You Can Now Count Bagels As a Healthy, Protein-Packed Breakfast Option

How many times have you stared longingly at a doughy bagel while you nibble at your egg white omelette? If your answer is, “every single time I go to brunch,” this news is for you.

Dave's Killer Bread is making a play at the healthy bagel market (yes, that's a thing now) by applying the same superfood-ingredient formula from its cult line of breads to everyone's favorite grab-and-go breakfast.

That includes all of the usual labels: Organic, non-GMO, and free of artificial preservatives and high fructose corn syrup. And lest you think they're only an option on carb-loading boot-camp days, consider the dose of omega-3s, protein, and fiber a well-rounded option for any day of the week. 

"We took a look at what was out there for our customers to choose from at the grocery store in the bagel aisle and honestly, there weren’t many organic, commercially available, packaged bagels," says Andrea Bouma, organic innovation manager for Dave's Killer Bread. After fielding requests from loyal customers—dubbed "BreadHeads" by the brand (get it?)—the research stage began.

That led to countless recipe iterations (literally—Bouma says they lost count of how many they tried) and ultimately three key flavors: Plain Awesome, Epic Everything, and Cinnamon Raisin Remix, plus a cinnamon-raisin bread (aptly called Raisin' the Roof!) for toast enthusiasts.

The plain variety—AKA coffee's BFF—is a seriously boosted version of your usual deli situation. Read: 13 grams of whole grains per serving (more than any other widely available plain packaged bagel out there, according to Bouma) and a whopping 12 grams of protein thanks to an ancient grain blend of quinoa, spelt, rye, millet, and barley.

“We started by looking at what flavors people expect from an everything bagel and then pumped that up to the max.”

But Bouma personally vouches for the everything bagel. “We started by looking at what flavors people expect from an everything bagel and then pumped that up to the max,” she says. The end result is a nutritious (think, 27 grams of whole grains and 560 milligrams of omega-3s) blend of flax, chia, and sesame to accompany the usuals: poppyseed, garlic, and onion.

To top it off, all three flavors pack in at least 11 grams of protein, meaning one bagel has more protein per serving than your sad omelette.

“I’ve personally eaten more bagels in the last several months during the development process than I have in many years,” Bouma says. “And I’m still going back for more—that’s how good they are!” Brunch is served.

In partnership with Dave's Killer Bread

Photos: Dave's Killer Bread