Holy Communion Bread Calories?

[curiosity]

This may seem like a totally bizarre or overly concerned question, however I have been challenged to find out how many calories (if any) are in the communion host. I've tried briefly searching, but does anyone know?

[Chessman]

In my experience, different churches use different materials, some ordinary bread, some use wafers, i've come accross approx half a dozen different types used in the communion, but the amount you actually eat, is not worth worrying about, probably the most fattening one would be ordinary bread, so if you can find out the calories in a slice, you could estimate for the piece you eat at the service.

[Piper-AK]

Good grief - you've got me wondering now, too.  To find out properly, you need to get in touch with a nunnery that makes the breads.  Contact your nearest local church and see who their supplier is.  I remember one of my (nun) teachers saying there were only one or two places that make them now.  The supplier may then divulge exacly how they make the wafers, so you should be able to calculate the energy content.

 

I cartainly cannot be bothered doing any of the above, but good luck if you decide to, and please post the answer!

[nicola_red]

Curiosity, I actually think this is mentioned in a book I have at home (The Skinny by Patricia Marx and Susan Silstrom (sp?)).  If I can remember I'll have a look for you tonite and report back tomorrow!

[pega]

I doubt if there's any calories in the tiny wafer and as most people would only go to Mass once a week or once a year, would imagine they are produced cheap as possible and least ingredients. as been said nuns have given up making them as not profitable or because not enough sisters to make them and would think cost is the machine used to cut them and the packing. You could ask if anything is on packing, but as far as I know and seen them just come in plain covers Mass is something set apart from everyday mundane life not a thing to be considered as calorie counts.

[LordyGeordie]

i imagine your average wafer has no calories. but here's the thing believers in transsubstantiation believe the wafer turns into the body of christ when consumed. naturally a meat product could have a higher calorific value than a wafer.

so it really all depends on blind faith!

[curiosity]

Thank you everyone for your answers, as I said, it's not me whose particularly concerned, and I imagine any calories in it are negated by the amount of energy used scraping it off the roof of your mouth! I still would be interested so I can give an answer, nicola_red if you find the time and inclination that would be great, if not, no worries.
Thanks again