Areeka with Dates
A masterpiece of hospitality in the south of the Arabian Peninsula: toasted wholewheat bread kneaded with fine date paste and drenched in ghee, honey and cream. A cheerful, very concentrated energy dish with a relatively high glycemic index (≈68) and a very dense glycemic load and calorie content.
Glycemic index
Glycemic load
Calories
Protein
💡 Smart Nutritional Guidance
Consumption advice
Areeka is a dish to share on cold mornings, not an everyday individual food; have three or four small bites slowly, with bitter, unsweetened Arabic coffee to balance the intense sweetness.
Best preparation methods
Make the dough with wholegrain wheat flour including the bran, rely on the natural sweetness of the dates, and avoid pouring extra honey or hydrogenated cream over the dish.
Important Nutritional Note
A meal very rich in fast sugars and fat; people with diabetes or on a strict weight-loss diet are advised to eat it with great care and only in very small amounts, to avoid sharp glucose spikes.
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per typical portion (60 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 425 kcal | 255 kcal |
| Protein | 6 g | 3.6 g |
| Carbohydrate | 55 g | 33 g |
| Available carbohydrate | 53 g | 31.8 g |
| Fat | 20 g | 12 g |
| Dietary fibre | 2 g | 1.2 g |
The typical portion is approximate, for comparison purposes.
Comparison & smarter alternatives
Among the foods in Sweets & desserts with a glycemic index (11), it ranks 9 (lowest first).
Lower-GI alternatives:
Frequently asked questions
Is Areeka with Dates good for weight loss?
Areeka with Dates provides 425 kcal per 100 g, so it is high in calories and fits a weight-loss plan only in small, measured amounts; a 60 g portion gives 255 kcal.
How does Areeka with Dates affect blood sugar?
Its glycemic index is 68 (Medium), a clinically reviewed estimate rather than a laboratory measurement. A typical 60 g portion has a glycemic load of 21.6 (High), so it is best to reduce or split the portion and combine it with protein and fibre.
What is the nutritional value of a typical portion of Areeka with Dates?
A typical 60 g portion of Areeka with Dates provides about 255 kcal, 3.6 g protein, 33 g carbohydrate, 12 g fat and 1.2 g fibre.
Reviewed by the WiBo Health medical team · Last reviewed 13 October 2026
Disclaimer: This guidance is for nutritional lifestyle orientation and does not constitute a diagnostic medical device under EU Regulation MDR 2017/745.