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What Is a Mini-Bagel?

Suzanne S. Wiley
Suzanne S. Wiley

A mini-bagel is a smaller version of a bagel, which is a circle-shaped bread that is both boiled and baked. Bagels can be either plain bread — this can be white, wheat, rye or another type of bread — or mixed with ingredients such as cinnamon and raisins. They also can have toppings such as onions or poppy seeds. Mini-bagels come in all of these variations, too.

Although full-size bagels often serve as a main grain within a meal, a mini-bagel is meant to be more of a snack food or a small part of a meal or buffet that contains several items. The size of a mini-bagel is not standardized, although store-bought mini-bagels tend to be about the same size. Some mini-bagels might be 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) in diameter. Homemade mini-bagels can be smaller if the cook prefers to make them that way. Any bagel that is noticeably smaller than a full-size bagel, which can be about 4 inches (10.2 cm) or more in diameter, could be considered a mini-bagel.

Mini Bagels are a popular late night snack.
Mini Bagels are a popular late night snack.

Mini-bagels provide greater portion control and are closer to what nutrition experts consider to be one to two servings of grains. Full-size bagels have grown substantially over the years and provide multiple servings of grains with high calorie counts to match. This creates confusion for dieters because their meal plans might suggest getting a bagel with lunch, referring to an idealized bagel that provides only one or two servings of grains and a certain amount of calories. The dieters, though, might have access only to large bagels that provide much more than they should have according to their diet plan menus.

Whole-grain mini-bagels provide fiber that might be lacking from the diet of a person who normally eats highly processed foods. Mini-bagels are also appropriate for hors d’oeuvres and miniature versions of other dishes, and mini-sandwich and mini-pizza recipes that use mini-bagels are common. These snacks are easy to overeat, however, creating a calorie glut that can lead to weight gain.

A disadvantage to having a mini-bagel instead of a full-size bagel is that mini-bagels are too small for many sandwich fillings. This can lead people to prepare two mini-bagel sandwiches instead, wiping out any calorie savings. It’s also possible that someone who is used to seeing full-size bagels will eat more mini-bagels because the smaller sizes seem inadequate.

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    • Mini Bagels are a popular late night snack.
      By: Michael Pettigrew
      Mini Bagels are a popular late night snack.