Why This Registered Dietitian Approves of White Bread — Plus, the 3 She Likes Best

White bread doesn’t exactly have the best reputation as far as nutritional value is concerned. The court of public opinion has turned its back on the spongy stuff, which is ironic considering the fact that Wonder Bread’s first ever advertising campaign essentially spawned the phrase “the best thing since sliced bread.”

Nowadays, white bread is nothing more than a nutritional pariah. But. BUT! We are not ready to give up on white bread just yet. And Rebecca Elbaum, a registered dietitian in New York City, isn’t either.

Here are her thoughts on why white bread isn’t so bad after all.

“My overall feelings towards white bread are not bad!” says Elbaum. “Of course, whole-wheat bread is always recommended, but according to dietary guidelines we should make half of our grains whole grains. This means that not every carbohydrate that we eat has to be whole-grain. When shopping for breads, it’s better to go with brands that have the fewest number of ingredients, most of which you can read and pronounce.”

1. Arnold Country White: “As far as plain, old-fashioned white breads go, this one isn’t a bad choice. The ingredients are fine in moderation and it contains three grams of protein.”
2. Alvarado Street Bakery Sprouted White Bread: “Because the first ingredient in this bread is sprouted wheat berries, it contains five grams of protein and three grams of fiber. So, this bread tastes like white bread, but still has nutritional value.”
3. Dave’s Killer Bread White Bread Done Right: “This bread is made with wheat flour and five types of whole grains, so while it’s still considered a white bread, it’s a healthy choice with natural ingredients.”

Try making your own: How To Make Basic White Sandwich Bread

What are your thoughts on white bread? Do you have a favorite brand? Discuss in the comments below!