Elton John’s go-to sandwich is a 3-ingredient classic

Bacon, butter and bread—what’s not to love?

Key Points

• Elton John’s go-to comfort food is a crackly bacon sandwich on whole-wheat bread with butter.
• He uses back bacon, which is meatier and leaner than typical American bacon.
• Increase the nutrition in this sandwich by adding veggies and more lean protein, like turkey.

When it comes to comfort food, many top picks include something with butter and bacon (they do, after all, make all things taste better!). And celebrities are no different. When asked in a Ruthie’s Table 4 podcast interview what his go-to comfort food was, Elton John responded with a simple sandwich that includes the two Bs—bacon and butter.

“Comfort food? Um, bacon sandwich,” says Elton without hesitation.

Elton’s husband, David, chose pasta as his comfort food—“with a bit of cheese.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s very comforting to me, too,” says Elton. “But if I’m here, a bacon sandwich is much easier to prepare, so…”

When asked how he prepares a bacon sandwich, Elton responds with three simple ingredients. “Whole-wheat bread with butter and proper English bacon, not Danish, not streaky, but you know, luscious bacon with the fat cut off, and cooked quite well so that it’s quite crackly.”

OK, so this isn’t the most healthy sandwich, but it does get some props, starting with the whole-wheat bread. Compared to refined white bread, whole-wheat bread is a whole grain, providing fiber and antioxidants, along with energy-boosting carbohydrates. Elton doesn’t say if he toasts it, but it would certainly be an option—plus, toasting whole-wheat bread brings out its natural nutty flavor. Eating more whole grains has been linked with a healthier gut, heart and blood sugar, mostly thanks to its fiber.

English bacon is also leaner and meatier than its American counterpart. Each type of bacon comes from different parts of the pig. For example, typical American bacon—called “streaky bacon” in other countries—is cut from the fatty pork belly. English bacon, also referred to as back bacon, is cut from the leaner back loin on the pig with just a small amount of pork belly fat attached (which Elton apparently cuts off). Canadian bacon also comes from the pork loin, but is cut into circles and has the least amount of fat.

To break this down, let’s compare 1 ounce of each type:,,

• Back bacon: 2 grams total fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat
• American bacon: 10 grams total fat, 3.5 grams saturated fat
• Canadian bacon: Less than 1 gram total fat, 0.25 grams saturated fat

But fat—and flavor—isn’t the only thing bacon has to offer. All types of bacon also provide some protein, with back bacon and Canadian bacon offering about 6 grams of protein per ounce, and American bacon coming in at 4 grams per ounce.,,

And the butter? Well, while eating too much of it may increase the risk of heart disease—thanks to its high saturated fat content—it does have a bit of nutritional value, including vitamin A. But you certainly don’t want to use butter as a primary source of this nutrient. Instead, nosh on more nourishing vitamin A-rich foods, like carrots, sweet potato, spinach, pumpkin and tuna.

You could increase both the nutritional and satiating value of this sandwich by adding another protein source—like chicken or turkey—and any of your favorite sandwich-worthy veggies. Lettuce, spinach, sprouts, tomatoes and avocado would go great on this sandwich. You could also turn this into a breakfast sandwich by adding an egg to it. Arugula would add a nice peppery flavor—dress the greens with a vinaigrette to lighten the whole thing up. Or skip the butter and use a smear of your favorite aioli.

With all this said, Elton was asked for his go-to comfort food, and sometimes, it’s as much about emotional comfort as it is physical. If a particular food reminds you of a special memory or person, then enjoying it now and then could be a healthy thing—yes, even if it’s primarily bacon and butter.

Read the original article on EatingWell