The expert named the permissible amount of pancakes per day.

With a normal weight and sufficient physical activity, a person can eat three to four pancakes a day. Ekaterina Kashukh, an expert at the Hemotest Laboratory and a gastroenterologist, told Izvestia about this on February 16.

According to the doctor, healthy people with a normal weight and sufficient physical activity should not be afraid of overeating pancakes once. Pancakes on Shrovetide are part of the cultural code, a pleasure, and there is no reason to treat it as a violation of the diet, Kashukh noted. Therefore, you should not specifically look for recipes without milk, eggs or sugar, replace sour cream with low-fat cottage cheese or try to make the dough as dietary as possible.

"For an adult, a comfortable amount is about three to four pancakes per day. Such a portion will allow you to enjoy the holiday, while maintaining a place in the diet for important food groups: meat, fish, cereals, vegetables and fruits," she said.

The most nutritious option that can become a full meal is a pancake with a hearty filling: fish, meat, cottage cheese. As the gastroenterologist emphasized, in addition to the satiety components rich in protein and fats, it is useful to add vegetables, herbs or fruits to the dish as a source of fiber, vitamin C, macro- and microelements. Pieces of red fish provide proteins and omega-3 fatty acids, chicken breast is also rich in protein, cottage cheese or cheese provides the body with calcium, and stewed cabbage, spinach and other vegetables and herbs are a valuable source of fiber.

How believers celebrate Maslenitsa in 2026: traditions of the Cheese Week by day

In 2026, the Cheese Week will be held from February 16 to 22 before Lent.

As Kashukh noted, the pancake itself can be baked from any flour that is available at home. Wheat, buckwheat, spelt, rice — each is good in its own way. Flour should be chosen solely according to taste preferences: no type of flour requires exclusion or replacement unless there is an intolerance confirmed by tests.

"An unsweetened pancake with a complex filling saturates for a long time and can successfully fit into the diet as a breakfast, lunch or dinner. The main thing is to remember about the "Harvard plate" and allocate half of the portion to vegetables or fruits, not forgetting about proteins and complex carbohydrates," the doctor explained.

According to Kashuh, the rule for sweet pancakes is the same as for all desserts. They should not take up more than 10% of the daily calorie intake. For a person with normal activity, this is about 200-250 calories, which corresponds to a pair of pancakes with jam or a small amount of condensed milk.

"Sweet and unsweetened pancakes play different roles in the diet: an unsweetened pancake with protein and vegetable filling is a self-sufficient meal that can become a full meal from time to time. A sweet pancake with jam, condensed milk, honey or chocolate paste is a dessert. Both options can easily and organically fit into the menu for the day," she said.

At the same time, people with chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, or biliary tract should discuss the optimal frequency of use and acceptable combinations with their doctor. This will allow you not to give up the festive dish, but to find a safe and comfortable way to enjoy pancakes without the risk of aggravation or feeling of heaviness, Kashukh concluded.

What you can and can't eat on Shrovetide 2026: the rules of Cheese Week

Cheese Week allows dairy and eggs until February 23

On February 16, ATOL analysts conducted a study of anonymized sales data and said that the most popular filling for pancakes among Russians is meat. The share of purchases of pancakes with this filling is 26%. Cottage cheese is in second place. Pancakes with this filling were chosen in 24% of cases.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.