A bagel is a very well-known type of bread that has originated in Jewish communities. There are a lot of different ways one can eat a bagel. Some choose to have it plain while others choose to combine it with different toppings. The most popular toppings used on a bagel are butter, cream cheese, eggs, bacon, and smoked salmon. Today, there are a lot of new funky toppings^[1] that people are deciding to put on their bagels as well. As long as toppings, some chose to have their bagel the way it comes or to toast it for a crunchy, warm texture. There are countless amounts of ways to eat a bagel and it is for that reason it appeals to so many people around the world.

The first bagel was crafted by a Polish man referred to as “the king”, Jan Sobieski^[2]. Bagels were brought to the United States in the late 1900s where it immediately became a hit. During this time, not only were bagels becoming popular but the concept of eating foods from different countries also became very popular. The food gained such popularity in society that by the mid 90’s, the bagel industry became a multibillion-dollar industry^[3] that was bringing in lots of profits to many different bagel store owners.

A bagel is not the type of break, like a muffin or scone, where one can bake at the comfort of their own home. Although it is possible, in order to get a true bagel, it has to be prepared^[4] the right way. A plain bagel is made simply from flour, salt, water, and yeast. Once the dough is made and allowed to rise for a few hours, it is boiled and then baked in a high intensity oven that specializes in making the bagels the perfect golden brown. The perfect bagel should have a little crunch on the outside and be completely soft and fluffy on the inside. The best bagel is when it is prepared just a few minutes out of the oven, topped with any type of one’s personal favorites. Most people will say that the best bagels are found in New Jersey and/or New York. There is a constant debate about whether it has something to do with the water on the east coast, but no one will ever know the answer, unless you find yourself in the bagel industry one day.

There is a lot of controversy that goes around the nutrition facts of a bagel. There are around 289 calories^[5] in one bagel, along with being high in carbs and low in fat and protein. The calories and nutrition facts obviously change, for better or for worse, depending on the type of bagel and what one decides to put inside of it. One way to dramatically alter the calorie intake of a bagel if by scooping^[6] the inside out of it. This takes the majority of the bread out, leaving only the outside crunchy part and allowing for there to be more filling inside. This is something that is very commonly done on the east coast, especially now when health and fitness has become such a huge part of people’s lives.