Double treat in sight! This year again, Picard is hitting hard in the gourmet buzz area. After its Dubai-style log for Christmas, the frozen brand revisits the essential galette des rois with a creation as daring as it is spectacular: a pure butter flaky pancake, filled with hazelnut-cocoa spread, topped with a thick, soft cookie with chocolate chips. Result ? Impossible to miss this cake like no other, which has been invading social networks and freezers since the end of December.
But behind this ultra-gourmet promise, a question arises: is this (somewhat improbable) association a good idea… or a real calorie bomb?
An assumed pleasure, but punctual
For Julie Boët, dietitian nutritionist, it is above all essential to place this cake in its real context of consumption. “It is above all a festive product, designed for pleasure and sharing”, she explains.
Its generous visual appearance and its mixture of very delicious textures make it an attractive pastry, ideal for a convivial moment around Epiphany. But not for a regular snack.
Clearly, yes, this cake can be enjoyable. But it is not intended to become a daily snack or a regular dessert.
“It’s not a health food, but an occasional indulgence, and it’s perfectly acceptable to treat it as such, without feeling guilty.”
A taste killer… not nutritional
From a nutritional point of view, however, the observation is more nuanced. Per 100 g, the Picard cookie pancake provides around 455 kcal, a high figure, mainly due to its richness in fat and sugars.
There are approximately 27 g of lipids, including 14 g of saturated fatty acids, as well as 26 g of sugars. Large quantities, especially if you consume a generous portion.
“This type of product is very energy dense, but low in fiber and protein, which makes it not very filling”specifies Julie Boët. Fiber, essential for slowing the absorption of sugars, is scarce, as is protein. Result: a rapid spike in blood sugar, followed by a possible bout of fatigue or a craving.
Unsurprisingly, the cake displays a Nutri-Score E, indicating that it is a product of low nutritional value. “This does not mean that it is forbidden, but that it must remain a one-off pleasure, and not a habit”repeats the specialist.
How to enjoy it without (too much) exploding the calorie bill?
Good news: it is entirely possible to enjoy this pancake intelligently. Julie Boët recommends paying attention to the portion. A quantity of 50 to 60 g, or approximately half a portion, is more than enough to indulge yourself.
Another tip: accompany it intelligently. “Combining the pancake with a source of protein and fiber helps limit glycemic peaks and increases satiety”she explains. For example, as a snack, you can enjoy it with natural yogurt (or protein-enriched vegetable yogurt) and fresh fruit. A simple, but effective combination.
Frequency matters more than composition
What if you don’t always have the time or the desire to structure your snack perfectly? Don’t panic. “What matters above all is frequency”recalls the dietician. It’s all about rhythm and overall balance. A cookie pancake enjoyed once or twice during the Epiphany period, as part of a varied and balanced diet, poses no particular health problem.
“There are no good or bad foods, but habits that are more or less favorable to long-term well-being,” concludes Julie Boët. His advice? Listen to your desires, savor fully when the pleasure is there… and continue to nourish your body with simpler, nourishing foods the rest of the time.
So, perfect indulgence or calorie madness? A bit of both, but above all a pleasure to savor consciously.