Flan, with its creamy texture and sweet, caramelized flavor, is a delicious dessert enjoyed around the world. But how does it stack up nutritionally?
This article offers a comprehensive look at flan’s nutritional profile, including the calories in flan, its macronutrient breakdown, and any notable micronutrients it might contain.
Caloric Content and Macronutrient Breakdown
So, how many calories are we talking about when we’re talking about flan? And what’s the nutritional profile?
Calories in Flan
On average, flan weighs in at around 348 calories per 100 grams. A typical serving size of 260 grams contains about 463 calories.
Keep in mind that the exact calorie count can vary a bit, depending on the specific ingredients and how the flan is prepared.
Macronutrient Profile
Let’s break down the macronutrients in flan:
- Carbohydrates: Flan is relatively high in carbs, with about 92 grams of net carbs per 100 grams. A 260-gram serving will give you around 73 grams of carbs.
- Fats: A 260-gram serving of flan contains about 13 grams of total fat, with about 5.8 grams being saturated fat. You’ll also find around 291 mg of cholesterol in a serving.
- Protein: There’s a bit of protein in flan, with about 14 grams per 260-gram serving.
Glycemic Index and Load, and Other Nutritional Aspects
When you’re thinking about how a food affects your blood sugar, it’s helpful to consider both its glycemic index (GI) and its glycemic load (GL).
The glycemic index tells you how quickly a food causes your blood sugar to rise, while the glycemic load takes into account both the GI and the amount of carbohydrates in a serving.
Flan has a medium glycemic index of 66 and a medium glycemic load of 13. This means that it will likely cause a moderate rise in blood sugar levels.
In terms of micronutrients, flan contains small amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, iron, calcium, and potassium. However, it has a low daily value percentage for most nutrients. One serving provides roughly 17% of your daily need for Vitamin D, 19% for Calcium, 7% for Iron, and 7% for Potassium.
Putting It All Together
Flan is a rich dessert that contains about [insert calorie amount] calories, with a good bit of protein and fat and a large amount of carbohydrates from sugar. It also contains some beneficial vitamins and minerals.
Because of its high sugar content, flan is best enjoyed in moderation as a treat.