Friday, February 4, 2011

I am crazy about these crackers!

The problem with most crackers is that they are not purely whole grain. Just about anything strictly whole grain should have 3+ grams dietary fiber for every 100 calories. This is the sure-fire test to ensure your carbohydrates don't go straight to your gut. Take one look at the nutrition label and you'll see most crackers don't fit the bill (and the one's that do taste like cardboard!). Furthermore, many crackers are loaded with salt and fat, especially the far-too-often-consumed soybean oil.

Finally, there is a cracker that tastes good and is good for you. Check out Kashi's Heart to Heart Original or Roasted Garlic Whole Grain Crackers. They look like any other woven-wheat cracker, but they are made with the much-healthier canola oil and contain a few other potential health bonuses (e.g., plant sterols & decaffeinated green tea extract). Plus, for those watching blood pressure, they only contain 75mg sodium per serving. If you are looking for a lighter cracker option, check out Trader Joe's Savory Thins. They are about half the calories of most crackers so you can spend some time with them without having to run to the gym to burn them off.

Try either cracker with a non-fat black bean dip or hummus for a tasty whole-grain/protein snack.

http://kashi.com/products/category/Crackers