{"id":135902,"date":"2026-02-17T07:17:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T07:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/135902\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T07:17:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T07:17:27","slug":"queen-elizabeths-balancing-dietary-hack-she-unlocked-on-pancake-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/135902\/","title":{"rendered":"Queen Elizabeth’s ‘balancing’ dietary hack she unlocked on Pancake Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s Shrove Tuesday, which means we all know what we’ll be eating for dinner \u2013 pancakes! The tradition of Pancake Day\u00a0dates back to the 1400s, as it was deemed the\u00a0last day to use up eggs and fats before embarking on the Lenten fast ahead of Easter.<\/p>\n

It was a tradition that the late Queen used to get involved in, and in 2021, a year before her death, the official Royal Family website released a list of their suggested pancake toppings<\/a> \u2013 and it’s super varied.<\/p>\n

What did Queen Elizabeth put on her pancakes?<\/p>\n

\"The\u00a9 GettyThe Queen had a sweet tooth<\/p>\n

The base of the pancake accoutrements was ‘beurre noisette’, which translates to ‘browned butter’. It is a French culinary technique where unsalted butter is melted down until the water evaporates and milk solids turn a deep golden brown, creating a nutty taste.<\/p>\n

\"Queen\u00a9 Anwar HusseinThe late Queen enjoyed the classic lemon and sugar<\/p>\n

“This adds great flavour and keeps the pancakes moist,” the royal website explained. This would act as a base for the late monarch’s favourite toppings. The 2021 post revealed that the classic lemon and sugar, and jam and cream are the favoured sweet toppings for the royals.<\/p>\n

Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: The Queen’s daily diet in detail<\/p>\n

Queen Elizabeth’s savoury pancake topping<\/p>\n

\"the\u00a9 Getty ImagesCheese went well with ham and leek on the Queen’s pancakes<\/p>\n

However, they are not averse to a savoury taste either. The royal chefs use 200g cooked, diced ham, 150g cooked and sweated down leeks, and 125g grated Gruyere cheese for something a little different \u2013 and more filling.<\/p>\n

Hannah Alderson<\/a>, a BANT-registered nutritionist, tells us that several pancake toppings aren’t just delicious \u2013 they have health benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"the\u00a9 Getty ImagesFruit is always a healthier option – and high in fibre too<\/p>\n

Hannah says that as a first port of call, if you want to go for a “healthier” option, seek out the protein and fibre. “Ingredients like full fat greek yoghurt with seeds and colourful berries rich in antioxidants or sliced kiwi with the skin on are great,” she says, “as are homemade raspberry chia jams with yoghurt too.”<\/p>\n

\"Meghan\u00a9 Getty ImagesMeghan Markle is also a fan of nut butter and fruit as a combo<\/p>\n

She explains: “Raspberries in particular are high in antioxidants and their fibre content is going to support blood sugar regulation. The same goes for nut butters, as they are a source of fat, protein and fibre, so this can support blood sugar balance too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The lemon is wonderful for a dose of vitamin C, but this isn’t going to really help with the blood sugar regulation side of things,” Hannah warns. “Blood sugar regulation is really key to keep on top of, particularly in the evening (which is when most people have their pancakes), as if you regularly spike glucose in the evening, it can negatively impact cortisol levels and sleep quality.”<\/p>\n

\"small\u00a9 Getty ImagesIf you are going to use chocolate on your pancakes, Hannah recommends going for 85 per cent <\/p>\n

While the queen liked ham, cheese and leek, for savoury, Hannah says you could also opt for ricotta and spinach-filled crepes. As for when to eat your pancakes, the nutritionist tells us: “You might want to have your pancakes as dessert and not on an empty stomach, so after eating a main meal, which would help too.<\/p>\n

“Keeping ingredients to whole foods and avoiding ultraprocessed chocolate spreads is also key. Melting 85 per cent chocolate or using cacao nibs is a great source of magnesium and antioxidants too.”<\/p>\n

Queen Elizabeth’s balanced diet<\/p>\n

\"The\u00a9 GettyThe Queen’s favourite way to start the day was by eating kippers<\/p>\n

The late royal was certainly a fan of balance when it came to her diet<\/a>. Former royal chef, Darren McGrady, once told HELLO! that a red leather-bound book of menus, written in French, would be sent up to the queen each week so she could pick out her dishes.<\/p>\n

For breakfast, she would start with cereal, yoghurt, or toast with marmalade. The exception was a day when she chose kippers, said to be her favourite since the war years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"queen\u00a9 Getty ImagesQueen Elizabeth enjoyed afternoon tea<\/p>\n

Darren told House and Garden that the queen’s typical lunch would be Dover sole on a bed of wilted spinach before tucking into afternoon tea later in the day.<\/p>\n

\"\u00a9 Getty Images Queen Elizabeth used to eat fish for dinner<\/p>\n

Then it was time for dinner. “For a main course, she loved game, things like Gaelic steak, fillet steak with a mushroom whisky sauce, especially if we did it with venison,” Darren previously revealed, adding: “For a first course, she loved the Gleneagles p\u00e2t\u00e9, which is smoked salmon, trout and mackerel. She loved using ingredients off the estate, and so if we had salmon from Balmoral from the River Dee, she’d have that, it was one of her favourites.”<\/p>\n