If you have come across Milk Roll bread you may be wondering whether it’s healthy or not. In this article, we look at its ingredients and nutritional information to see just how healthy this bread is.
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What is Milk Roll bread?
Milk Roll bread is a type of bread made by the Warburtons brand. It is soft, round and has added calcium. The reason why it is called “Milk Roll” is because it contains milk powder which is not something that you find in a typical bread.
Milk Roll is especially popular with families as the kids love its softness, taste and shape.
Warburtons Milk Roll – Ingredients
Warburtons Milk Roll bread contains the following ingredients:
- Wheat Flour [with Calcium, Iron, Niacin (B3) and Thiamin (B1)]
- Water
- Dried Skimmed Milk Powder (2%)
- Sweet Cream Salted Butter (from Milk) (1%)
- Yeast
- Salt
- Vegetable Oil (Rapeseed, Sustainable Palm)
- Soya Flour
- Preservative: Calcium Propionate
- Flour Treatment Agent: Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
There are a few allergens in Milk Roll such as wheat, milk and soya.
Apart from standard bread ingredients (wheat, water, yeast, salt), Milk Roll also contains dried skimmed milk powder and butter. Rapeseed and palm oil are also added to increase its fat content.
Palm oil has a bad reputation due to its impact on the environment but at least Warburtons are using sustainable palm oil. Although, even so-called sustainable palm oil may not be much better for the environment than regular palm oil. Also, palm oil is not the healthiest oil to consume due to its high saturated fat content.
Soya flour in Milk Roll bread adds extra protein and vitamins and while it does have some health benefits, there are also some downsides to consuming it. For example, soy affects the function of the thyroid but this only happens if it’s eaten in big enough quantities. Soya flour is one of the last ingredients in Milk Roll so it should not be a cause for concern.
So, do all these ingredients create a healthy nutritional profile? Let’s take a look…
Milk Roll Bread – Nutritional information
Per 100g, a Milk Roll contains 9.4g of protein, 2.8g of fat, 45g of carbs and 2.4g of fibre. It contains slightly more protein than the standard white bread although if you compare it to Warburtons Soft White Rolls, these contain more protein (9.6g per 100g).
Milk Roll also contains 160mg of added calcium per 100g.
Milk Roll bread – Calories
One Milk Roll contains 46 calories but it’s quite small (18.4g slice) so you will be looking to eat at least two in one go which will bring you up to 92 calories.
How many carbs are in Milk Roll bread?
Milk Roll bread contains 45g of carbs per 100g or 8.3g per average slice. There are slightly more carbs in Warburtons Sliced Soft While Rolls but nevertheless, Mill Rolls are not considered to be low-carb.
FAQs
Milk Roll vs Bread – What’s the difference?
Milk Roll bread is softer than normal bread and contains milk powder and butter which you will not normally find in standard white bread.
Is Milk Roll good for babies?
If babies are just learning to chew, giving them soft white bread such as Milk Roll is not the best idea as this type of bread has a tendency to gum up into an unswallowable ball posing a choking hazard.
If you do want to give Milk Roll to your baby, toast it first to make it easier to chew and swallow. Alternatively, give them a different type of bread such as wholemeal or 50/50 (containing a blend of white and whole-grain flour). These breads are healthier as they are richer in nutrients and higher in fibre. But keep in mind that young babies should not have too much fibre so you should not give them too much bread containing whole grain flour.
Is Milk Roll bread good for weight loss?
A slice of Milk Roll contains only 46 calories which is great for those trying to lose weight by counting calories. However, this is a very small portion so you will have to eat at least 2 or 3 slices (with some healthy toppings) to feel satisfied. This will add extra calories but if you stay within your targeted daily calorie intake you may still be able to lose weight.
The problem with Milk Roll is that it’s a type of white bread and can spike your blood sugar levels, resulting in overeating later on. For this reason, it’s best to avoid white bread if you are trying to lose weight and eat wholemeal bread instead.
Is Milk Roll bread good for health?
Milk Roll bread is highly processed bread and it’s not the healthiest bread you can eat. Eating wholemeal bread is better for your health as it contains more protein and fibre and keeps you fuller for longer. Wholemeal bread also doesn’t have so much impact on your blood sugar levels.