Tomorrow is National Pancake Day, and since 2006 the most well-known purveyor of pancakes gives away short stacks to celebrate. Tomorrow, on February 28, you can visit your local IHOP restaurant and be served a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. You are encouraged to leave a donation in exchange for the free pancakes, which will be given tot he Children’s Miracle Network, an incredible organization that makes dreams come true for terminally ill children.
We say, give the gift of a donation directly to Children’s Miracle Network and let IHOP keeps its over-processed stack of cakes. The event has the best of intentions, but charitable calories count the same as any others.
IHOP’s short stack comes with three buttermilk pancakes, which has 490 calories before you add butter and syrup. If you plan on ordering a full breakfast by adding sausage, bacon, ham, hash browns, or even doctoring your cup of coffee, you’re going to send the calories, fat, and sodium for this “free” breakfast through the roof. You’ll need one hour of high-intensity aerobics just to burn the pancakes before condiments. Plus, this nutritionally void meal will leave you running out of steam well before lunch.
Philanthropy that forces you to break your resolve from your weight loss goals or healthy eating habits, in the end, isn’t beneficial to anyone. Making a cash donation still allows you to support this wonderful organization without sacrificing your commitment to your health.
Still want to celebrate National Pancake Day (and who wouldn’t)? Try some of these healthier homemade recipes. Be sure to round-out the meal with a fresh fruit salad (tossed with honey, not whipped cream), scrambled eggs, and even some turkey bacon. Replace syrup with honey for an extra sweet and naturally healthy topping!
Biggest Loser Better Blueberry Pancakes
Make every calorie, and every penny, count. Click here to donate to the Children’s Miracle Network.