Written by A/Prof Antigone Kouris PhD, APD (clinical dietitian), Total Nutrition Care, Murrumbeena and Beaumaris T: 94837013 and Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Dietetics, La Trobe University

Australians are getting a whopping 30% of their calories from nutrient poor discretionary foods like cakes and biscuits (1). But why can’t biscuits be healthy, especially since they seem to make up a significant  proportion of our energy intake? Many of Antigone's patients love biscuits and refuse to give them up.  Protein balls can be high in sugar and FODMAPs, and can’t be dunked in tea or coffee! 

After being challenged by one of her patients, Professor Kouris decided to develop a healthy biscuit range which was not only tasty and nutritious, but also suitable for people watching their fodmap intake, their weight and blood sugars!  So I took on the challenge 8 years ago and developed the Skinnybik range.   

Skinnybik are a “better for you” range of  low sugar  biscuits  (2g/biscuit) with a 4.5 health star rating. They are so good, they (up to 4 biscuits) can be eaten for breakfast! They were recently voted healthiest biscuit choice by dietitian Melanie McGrice for Channel 9 Coach.

The range includes a wholesome low fructose (0.2g/cookie) tummy friendly option “Spelt date and butterscotch” containing oat bran (15%), wholemeal spelt flour (16%), a little almond meal and dates (1g each/biscuit), whole eggs and canola oil. They have a unique scone like oaty texture.

The biscuits have been tested by an independent laboratory as being low FODMAP at a serve of 2 biscuits. Some of Dr. Kouris' IBS patients can tolerate up to 4 biscuits a day.  

Compared to plain oatmeal/wheat biscuits, Skinnybik Spelt are reduced (or skinny) in:
- Calories by 20-25% (only 52 calories each 14g)
- Refined starch and sugar by 40%-50% (5g carbs, 2g sugar/biscuit),
- 340% more fibre (1.5g/biscuit) 
- Fats by 28%, saturated fats by 85%
- Salt by 80%
- With 75% more protein 

They are free of artificial colours, preservatives, sugar alcohol sweeteners and trans fats.  Unlike other reduced carb biscuits, Skinnybik cookies do not have laxative sweeteners so do not cause bloating and diarrhoea.  However people with egg, peanut or nut allergies must avoid the Skinnybik range but there is no added dairy.

The overwhelming feedback from Dr. Kouris' patients over the years is that the biscuits are a guilt free, better-for-you, low sugar/carb snack that promotes satiety, with little impact on bowel symptoms and blood sugars. Many of Dr. Kouris' patients on weight loss programs have lost weight whilst eating up to 4 Skinnybik cookies a day! 

Find Skinnybik here, or keep scrolling to take a closer look.

About A/Prof Antigone Kouris

A/Prof Antigone Kouris is an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) with over 30 years' experience. She is currently working in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at La Trobe University in Melbourne where she teaches dietitians, supervises PhD students and continues doing research on the mediterranean diet. She also runs a busy private practice from her clinic in Murrumbeena. 

Dr. Kouris has a PhD in nutrition from the Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Degrees/ Diplomas in Biochemistry, Dietetics and Botanic Medicine. At Monash University she was a university lecturer to medical students and research fellow in the Department of Medicine and Asia Pacific Health and Nutrition Centre for 20 years, where she was mentored by the esteemed medical nutritionist and scientist Professor Mark Wahlqvist. She has contributed to 5 university text books (Food and Nutrition 3 editions, ed Wahlqvist; Evidence based Integrative and Complementary Medicine ed Kotsirilos et al; Nutrition and Metabolism ed Gibney), has authored 3 of her own books; has 40 published research papers and was the managing editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition for 4 years and www.healthyeatingclub.org for 8 years.