How To Enjoy A Low-Calorie Afternoon Tea
Our top tips for making this classic treat as low-calorie as possible
An afternoon tea is a quintessential British treat; one that has been enjoyed in Britain since the early 1840s. The meal was created to fill the hunger gap between lunch and the evening meal, but in more recently years, it’s become an indulgent treat enjoyed by all ages, often for special occasions such as birthdays and baby showers.
There aren’t any rules when it comes to Afternoon Tea, but a standard spread would consist of finger sandwiches, cakes, scones and tea, of course! You can also add in pastries, biscuits and other sweet nibbles or savoury items – the choice is yours.
As you can imagine, all these items can be quite calorific, and when enjoying a number of these together, it can soon become a high-calorie affair. However, by making a few smart switches, you can still enjoy all the flavours of a classic Afternoon Tea without worrying about ruining your calorie deficit. Here are our top tips for making a healthier, low-calorie version for yourself at home:
Ditch the bread
Instead of the usual carby white bread, make your sandwiches with a Lo-Dough base. You can still enjoy the tasty fillings without the unnecessary calories and our wraps make great mini bites when chopped up. Here’s a couple of ideas to get you inspired: 
Low-Cal Ham & Brie Wrap with Mustard Mayo
Feta and Roast Veg Wrap
Have your cake and eat it
An Afternoon Tea wouldn’t be an Afternoon Tea without a selection of cakes, so it’s essential to have a good mix of tasty low-calorie options. By making your cake with Lo-Dough bases or brownie mix, you’re not only reducing the sugar and calorie content, you’re also making them gluten-free. Go for mini cupcakes or brownies that are perfect for sharing:
Low-Cal White Chocolate & Raspberry Cupcakes
Brownie Lollipops
Very Low Carb Egg Custard Tart
Grab a Miracle Cake Bar
If you don’t want to bake or just want to add some extra cakey options to your offering, get a Miracle Cake Bar and chop it into bitesize pieces. There are 3 flavours to choose from; Double Chocolate Fudge, Caramel Crunch and Lemon Drizzle, all of which would make the perfect sweet addition to your Afternoon Tea.
Keep it sweet without the sugar
Keep those calories down even further by switching your sugar for sweetener. Our favourite is Erythritol which you can find in many of our recipes.
The all-important condiments
Jams are the order of the day; especially for topping scones and filling Victoria Sponge Cakes, but instead of using sugar laden brands, just make your own at home – that’s the best way to ensure there’s no added sugar! There are also some very tasty low-sugar alternatives if you don’t have enough time.
Let's get social
The 9th – 15th of August is Afternoon Tea Week so if you’re feeling inspired and decide to make a low-calorie afternoon tea, we want to see your photos. You can tag us on Instagram (@lodough.co) or on Facebook (@LoDough) and the best will be featured on our feed!
Want To Try For Yourself?
For sweet treats, don’t forget to check out our Baking Bundle where you can save £3.99 when stocking up on bases and brownie mixes. Follow the link to check out the offer: Lo-Dough Baking Bundle
Our Lo-Dough bases are sold in pouches of 2 from just £3.25. Fancy a fakeaway or maybe something a little sweeter? Our brownie mix makes 9 delicious brownies, each just 65 calories and 4.1g carbs, and our Southern Style Coating makes the perfect non-greasy breaded coating for your meat, cheese and veg. Looking for the ultimate low sugar afternoon snack? Our Miracle Cake Bars come in 3 delicious flavours - Chocolate Fudge, Caramel Crunch, Lemon Drizzle - and are seriously satisfying. To try it for yourself, simply click the shop here button below to discover the full Lo-Dough collection.
