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Fitness & Health

23rd May 2019

Food from Game of Thrones and Stranger Things examined by nutritionist

A nutritionist examines food from top TV shows, such as Tyrion Lannister's breakfast and Eleven's obsession with waffles from Stranger Things

Alex Roberts

Ever wondered whether the food from your favourite TV show is good for you?

When you’re watching TV, the temptation to tuck into something tasty is always going to be there, but it may not always be a good idea to copy what you see on the screen.

Some foods you see on TV are healthier than others, so how do meals seen in Game of Thrones and Stranger Things measure up?

Magnet Kitchens teamed up with nutritionist Kristen Stavridis, who examined food from these hugely popular shows.

Game of Thrones Food

Game of Thrones – Winterfell Breakfast

In Game of Thrones, Tyrion Lannister requests the following breakfast:

“Bread! And two of those little fish, and a mug of that good dark beer to wash them down. Oh, and some bacon. Burn it until it turns black.”

Ingredients: 2 mackerel, bacon (burnt), dark bread (pumpernickel), ¼ tsp paprika, salt & pepper, oil, 1 pint of dark beer

Nutritional Value:

  • Calories: 619
  • Fat: 36 grams
  • Sugar: 1.3 grams
  • Salt: 2.3 grams

Stavridis says:

“Breakfast at Winterfell provides a good amount of protein, with a mix of meat, fish as well as carbohydrates (around 60 grams).

“However, Tyrion’s morning set up could be a little healthier with less processed meat, swapping the bacon and dark bread for eggs and wholegrain would help him feel fuller for longer and provide more essential nutrients to his diet.”

You might also want to swap that beer out for a coffee.

Stranger Things – Eggo Waffles

Although a Kellogg’s product, Eggo Waffles aren’t available in the UK. That said, you can make your own quite easily, and the final product won’t be far off Eleven’s favourite food.

Ingredients: Enriched flour, water, vegetable oil, eggs, baking soda, salt, whey, soy lecithin, beta-carotene, calcium carbonate, reduced iron, vitamin A, palmitate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12.

Nutritional Value:

  • Calories: 20o
  • Fat: 7 grams
  • Sugar: 2.5 grams
  • Salt: 0.9 grams

Stavridis says:

“Eggo Waffles aren’t the worst snack to be consuming, but Eleven should maybe consider adding fresh fruit instead of processed syrups – a great way to get a good mix of macronutrients into her diet, whilst still being tasty!”

If you’ve got a similar taste for waffles, perhaps try and focus them around your workouts to take advantage of the high carb count. Strength training is powered by muscle glycogen, which your body derives from carb-rich foods.

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