Pancake Pleasures

By Gina Schauffer

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Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Day) is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

Since Lent is a time of abstinence, traditionally from meat, fat, eggs and dairy products, Shrove Tuesday's menu was designed to use up all the fat, eggs and dairy products left in the kitchen and storeroom – thus the tradition of pancakes.

While pancakes can be relatively low in fat and calories, ranging from 1½ - 2 POINTS® values per pancake, it's the toppings and number consumed that make all the difference to how much you'll have to repent come Lent!

We asked our Message Board users how they survived this past Pancake Day and what strategies they plan to employ for next year. This is what they advised:

"Cutting things up small makes them look a lot more quite often - I make two pancakes go a long way by cutting them into strips and piling them on a plate before topping."

"Low POINTS value toppings include light yogurt with sliced banana; lemon juice and sugar (½ POINTS value for a teaspoon of sugar which goes a long way); mix cinnamon with sugar to make it taste more interesting and go further without adding extra POINTS values."

"Low-fat ice cream and strawberries - you could have it as 'afters' and it would be easier to stop at just one, whereas just one with lemon and sugar would more than likely lead to three or four!"

"I love the American-style breakfast pancakes in the Weight Watchers 2002 Cookbook. I add a few raisins. Also, the mix makes so much I halve it, and there is still enough to share or you can pig out yourself all for 5 POINTS values."

"Definitely nice juicy strawberries and low-fat ice cream. The strawberries will make you more satisfied than just one pancake with lemon and sugar which isn't filling - also helps to get daily portions of fruit and veg in!!!!"

"I like apple sauce mixed with a pinch of cinnamon and some raisins with some low-fat crème fraiche - yummy!"