52 calories per tablespoon
Not to be confused with the “pancake syrup” (which is basically dyed corn syrup) many people use on their breakfasts, real maple syrup is often touted being a nutritious added sugar (as if there is such a thing) because it is “all natural” and “unrefined” and contains more manganese, riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and potassium than other sugars. However, you’d have to drink most of a bottle for any real benefit. A quarter-cup of maple syrup contains a scant 5 milligrams of calcium—less than 1 percent of your daily recommended intake.
Best used: “In oatmeal, yogurt, salad dressings, glazes, and chocolate sauces; on roasted root vegetables; and, of course, on pancakes and waffles,” Kadey says.
