a healthy balance

Let’s take a look at Thomas’ 100% Whole Wheat Bagels:

Pros:

• High in protein (wheat gluten, so celiacs and gluten-free enthusiasts negate)
• High in fiber
• I also feel really full & satisfied after eating a bagel.

Cons:

• 17% Sodium; Thats a lot of salt for just your bread! 
• 7g of about 2 teaspoons of sugar
• High in calories

So there are defintely better options like my favorites, Mestemacher Rye or Pumpernickel Bread. But like you said, you don’t eat them all the time. They can be a convenient, filling, on-the-go breakfast when you’re in a pitch. I would definitely eat a bagel over danishes or muffins from Starbucks. 

Personal Note: After experiencing whole wheat everything NYC bagels, I will never eat a bagel anywhere else again. Chewy, soft, delicious, savory, most satisfying thing EVER. But omgod do New Yorkers pile on the cream cheese! It’s called a Bagel Cream Cheese Sandwich even! The people at Ess-a-Bagel looked confused when I asked them for just a little bit of the veggie spread..Like what’s “a little bit?”