19. Rice Cakes
In the 1990s, it felt like rice cakes were everywhere. Shiny, happy people ate them topped with cream cheese and a careful sprinkling of chopped chives on TV advertisements and there was always someone in the office on a diet who ate rice cakes like their lives depended on them. (Which it probably did, if that was all they were eating.)
Nowadays, they’re not as ubiquitous but a quick glance down the savoury biscuits and cracker aisle of the supermarket and you’ll find them. You’ll even find them with added sweet and savoury flavours too. But, let’s face it, there isn’t much to a rice cake, is there? It’s a little bit like eating polystyrene, and no amount of added flavours will stop that.
And that’s the problem. Rice cakes are so devoid of any macronutrients or calories, that we’d have to eat them by the delivery lorry load to feel full. If we’re on a calorie-controlled diet, then there’s nothing wrong in eating rice cakes, as they’re a great alternative to bread. However, to make them worthwhile and to keep us feeling full, top them with a lean protein source such as low fat cottage cheese (expertly sprinkled chives, optional), tuna or your favourite nut butter.
