FitSugar

Food Review: Doctor Kracker's Seedlander Flatbreads

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Crackers always seems like a healthier alternative to chips and pretzels, but since many of them are made with nutrition-less enriched white flour and tons of sodium, they end up being just as bad. So when you're looking for crackers, you want to make sure they're made with whole-grain flour. I found these made by Doctor Kracker ($4.39). They're technically called "Flatbreads" because they're about the size of a slice of bread. They make a variety of flavors, but I decided to give the Seedlander a try.

To find out what I thought and see how many calories are in one of these 4-x-3.5-inch "krackers" then read more.

Check out the nutritional info on these flatbreads. Talk about healthy.

Serving Size	1 flatbread cracker
Calories	100
Total Fat	4g
Saturated Fat	2g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	190mg
Carbs	12g
Fiber	3g
Sugar	2g
Protein	4g

The first ingredient is organic whole-grain spelt flour, so they have a slightly warm and sweet overall flavor. As you can see, they're covered in pumpkin, sesame, and poppy seeds , which gives these flatbreads a very unique taste and texture. They were delicious on their own, but even better with hummus spread on them. These krackers are thick enough to stack lots of toppings on, so just think of the endless snacking possibilities! Since they are so big, one was filling enough for a pre-workout snack, and with 3g of fiber and 4g of protein, they kept me full until dinner. I think these are my new favorite thing and I can't wait to try the four other kinds.

Kashi TLC Crackers

FitSugar — Mon, 14 May 2007 10:15:00 -0700

You know how much I am in love with Kashi. Their granola bars, their cereal, their oatmeal, their frozen entrées - all are made with whole grains and REAL food. When I buy one of their products, I don't have to wonder if it's good for me - I KNOW it is.

I was excited to try their TLC Original 7-Grain Crackers.

They have such a unique sweet and salty flavor - not at all bland. I love that you can actually see all the grain goodness. This is one healthy snack my mouth is happy about.

They are a delicious combination of whole grains including oats, hard red winter wheat, rye, long grain brown rice, triticale, barley, buckwheat, and sesame seeds. Plus they're made with no hydrogenated oils so they've got no trans fat!

Each serving size of 15 crackers contains 130 calories, 3g of fat, no cholesterol, 160mg of sodium, 22g of carbs, 2g of fiber, 3g of Sugars, and 3g or protein.

Perfect for snacking on their own, topping with cheese, or dipping in hummus, I definitely recommend picking up a box.

Want to see some other pictures? Then read more

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Food Review: Kashi Heart to Heart Crackers

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:00:34 -0700

If you're a fan of Triscuits, you're going to love Kashi's new Heart to Heart crackers. Both flavors - Original and Roasted Garlic - contain plant sterols to help lower cholesterol, and six natural antioxidants including green tea and grape seed.

To find out how they compare with the crackers you grew up with, read more.

As you can see from the chart below, these Kashi Heart to Heart crackers contain half as much sodium as Triscuits, which is great if you're trying to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level. They're also lower in saturated fat and contain more fiber. What's more, the Kashi crackers also contain .4 grams of plant sterols per serving, which are natural compounds found in fruits, nuts, and veggies that have been found to help lower cholesterol. Other nutrients such as beta carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C have also been added to these little crackers, which help fight free radicals and keep your arteries healthy.

The Kashi crackers and Triscuits are actually very similar in taste and texture. Even though the Kashi crackers are lower in sodium, they don't taste like they're lacking in salt or flavor. I'd definitely recommend giving these a try if you're a cracker fan. They're delicious topped with hummus and veggies, cheese and apples, or homemade salsa.

	Triscuits (6 crackers)	Kashi Original (7 crackers)	Kashi Roasted Garlic (7 crackers)
Calories	120	120	120
Total Fat	4.5 g	3.5 g	3.5 g
Saturated Fat	1 g	0 g	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0 mg	0 mg
Sodium	180 mg	85 mg	75 mg
Carbs	19 g	22 g	22 g
Fiber	3 g	4 g	4 g
Sugars	0 g	0 g	0 g
Protein	3 g	3 g	3 g
Ingredients	Whole wheat, soybean oil, salt, monoglycerides.	Whole grain wheat, expeller pressed canola oil, plant sterols, cornstarch, sea salt, dehydrated vegetables (onion, garlic, and roasted garlic), spices, decaffeinated green tea extract, decaffeinated white tea extract, alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), grape seed extract, parsley, autolyzed yeast, malic acid, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid, spice extract, natural flavor, mixed tocopherols for freshness, beta carotene (source of vitamin A), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12, folic acid.	Whole grain wheat, expeller pressed canola oil, plant sterols, sea salt, decaffeinated green tea extract, decaffeinated white tea extract, alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), grape seed extract, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), natural mixed tocopherols for freshness, beta carotene (source of vitamin A), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12, folic acid.

Kashi TLC Party Crackers

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:30:00 -0700

It may come as no surprise that Kashi is one of my favorite food companies. It has a reputation for making wholesome food that's healthy and full of taste. I love its cereals, waffles, chewy granola bars, yummy frozen entrees, and frozen pizzas – just to name a few!

I'm also a fan of Kashi's TLC Snack Crackers, so when I saw these new TLC Party Crackers, I had to try them.

I picked up a box of the Roasted Rosemary & Thyme flavor and they are outstanding. They have a really robust aroma and the taste to match, plus these crackers are much bigger than your average size cracker (they're 2 1/2" x 2 1/4"). I loved that they are thick and sturdy, which means you can stack a whole lot of yummy stuff on top (although they taste perfect on their own). When you open the package, the 24 crackers are in a tiny tray so they're perfectly protected, and look just like the picture on the box.

Want to see how healthy they are? Then read more

Serving Size	4 crackers
Calories	130
Total Fat	4.5g
Saturated Fat	.5g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	140mg
Carbs	18g
Fiber	3g
Sugar	2g
Protein	3g

What a delicious way to get 4g of fiber and 3g of protein with only 130 calories. These Kashi Party Crackers are made with their signature seven whole grains and sesame, but like all Kashi's products, they don't taste healthy at all. The savory herbs and spices, and crunchy texture make this cracker so unique, they're sure to be a hit at your next party.

Kashi makes two other flavors as well - Mediterranean Bruschetta and Stoneground 7 Grain. I found these in the health food section at my regular grocery store, but if you can't find them there, check your local health food store.

Nature's Path Crackers: Made With Whole Wheat!

FitSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Hummus has got to be one of my favorite foods. I love to dip fresh cut veggies in it, but sometimes I crave more of a crunchy and salty snack. Since I was so annoyed about those Kettle Pita Chips made with enriched flour, I was on the lookout for some crackers made with actual whole wheat flour.

Nature's Path came to the rescue. I picked up some of their Garden Veggie crackers, and the very first ingredient is organic unbleached wheat flour, and the second ingredient is organic rice flour. How lovely. The other ingredients include organic dried carrots, granulated garlic, organic dried tomatoes, and organic dried basil.

These crackers are deliciously flavorful - they could definitely be eaten alone, but make hummus and sliced cheese taste amazing. OK, but are they good for you? To find out the nutritional info and see a real picture read more

Serving Size	14 crackers
Calories	110
Total Fat	3.5g
Saturated Fat	1.5g
Cholesterol	0mg
Sodium	370mg
Carbs	18g
Fiber	less than 1g
Sugar	1g
Protein	3g

Did you see that? 14 crackers per serving - that's a lot of crackers for only having 110 calories. That's about 8 calories per cracker! I also like that they have some protein in them. The sodium seems a bit high for a snack, but I guess that's what makes these so incredibly tasty.

Since the RDI of sodium is 2,300 mg, I wouldn't be too concerned with 370 mg, as long as you don't exceed your daily intake, then these crackers are totally worth it. I'd definitely buy these again. Look for them at your favorite health food store. They also come in Tamari Sesame and Tamari Flax.

Healthy Eating Tip: Veggies For Crackers

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Party season is coming, which means appetizers and lots of them. One way to turn many finger foods into a health food fest is substituting veggies and fruits for crackers, chips, and bread. If you're hosting a party, I suggest experimenting with your standard cheese and crackers hors d’oeuvres and try putting some produce into the mix. Fruit slices pair well with so many cheeses, and crudités are great for dipping into all kinds of sauces and spreads.

Here are a few of my suggestions for substituting produce for crackers. How to top these fruits and veggies is up to you:

Red pepper triangles
Pear slices
Apple slices

I have a few more suggestions so read more.

Halved figs
Cucumber slices
Belgian endive leaves
Unpeeled, halved red or purple potatoes

If you have any other great substitutes, I would love to hear them, so leave them in the comments section below.

Source

Wasa Crackers = Whole Grain Goodness

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0700

The Swedes have been enjoying Wasa crispbread crackers for years, and now I think you should give them a try. I've enjoyed using them as a vehicle for soft cheeses since I worked at a German restaurant in high school. Can't say I was health conscious back then, I just love the rye taste (and probably thought I was all "Euro").

One slice of this crispbread is 35 calories with 0.2 grams of fat (about 1 calorie), plus 1.5 gram of dietary fiber. The amount of sugar is negligible.

That might sound all fine and dandy, but compared to a 100 calorie pack of Wheat Thins you start to see Wasa in a whole new light. Remember, 3 pieces of Wasa would be just over 100 calories. 100 calorie package of Wheat Thins has: 3 grams of fat (that's 27 calories), 1 gram of fiber, and 3 grams of sugar. For me Wasa wins hands down - 3 crackers would have 4.5 grams of fiber. To see if you know how many grams of fiber you should be eating each day take this quiz.

Wasa comes in a variety of flavors like: Hearty Rye, Whole Grain, and Toasted Whole Wheat. Look for it at your local grocery store. Good news for folks following Bob Greene's Best of Life Diet, these crackers are part of Stage II.

The Skinny On: Volumetrics Diet

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:30:39 -0700

In a recent post about which diets match your personality, one diet mentioned was The Volumetrics Eating Plan. Designed by nutritionist Barbara Rolls, PhD, it's based on the simple fact that people love food. It doesn't deprive you of any types of food, since limiting your diet too severely can cause you to binge and won't help you lose weight.

Volumetrics is based on the idea that you should fill up on low calorie foods that make you feel full. So you're encouraged to eat foods that are considered "less energy dense foods," which have a high fiber and/or water content. This includes non-starchy veggies, nonfat milk, and soup broths. High density foods include crackers, chips, cookies, candy, nuts, and oils, and should be limited.

Want to hear more about this diet and what the experts think? Then read more.

In Rolls' book, there are tons of recipes that involve lowfat tricks to cut out oil, butter, cream, and eggs, opting for skim milk, egg whites, yogurt, and applesauce instead. Many of the meals are water-based and contain lean proteins such as soups, casseroles, and stews, while many of the dessert recipes are fruit-based.

This eating plan isn't just about food. It also encourages you to increase your physical activity and to record what you eat and how much you exercise in a journal. Don't expect to lose massive amounts of weight at once on Volumetrics. This eating plan will result in slow and steady weight loss.

Experts feel Volumetrics can make sense for a lot of people, but that it's not for everyone. Since hunger isn't the only reason people chow down, those who tend to be emotional or social eaters may have a hard time limiting their food intake, even when their stomachs feel full. It also won't work for people who have busy schedules and don't have the time to cook up special meals.

Have any of you tried Volumetrics?

Popcorn Hopping With Antioxidants

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:00:14 -0700

The list of super foods just got a little snackier: popcorn is loaded with antioxidants. We have known for a while now that blueberries and broccoli contain high amounts of disease-fighting micronutrients, but whole grains are also high in polyphenols that can help in the nutrition fight against cancer and heart disease. Even whole grain foods like cracker and cereals - especially those with added cinnamon and cocoa, which are both known for their beneficial antioxidant content - are high in polyphenols. The key word here is "whole grain."

Surprisingly, popcorn ranked highest in antioxidant content among snack foods. It can be considered a healthy snack if it's not coated with butter. It's still important to eat your veggies, since they're loaded with other nutrients as well. Go for a well-balanced diet and keep your carbs whole grain.

Snack Attack: Mango-Red Pepper Salsa

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:00:45 -0700

If you're looking for a fresh new snack that's tastes like Summer, make this simple recipe. It's juicy, sweet, tangy, and satisfying. You can make it ahead to enjoy for the week with corn chips, crackers, or toasted bread. It also makes a great topping for grilled fish or chicken. What's great about this recipe is that it's pretty basic, so feel free to get creative. Add beans, pineapple, watermelon, corn, diced cucumber, or tomatoes for even more summery flavor.

To see the recipe read more.

Recipe for Mango Red Pepper Salsa
Recipe by Lindzey Chaffin

Ingredients

2 ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted, and diced
1 red pepper, diced
Half a red onion, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Dash of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
Cover and allow to sit in the fridge for at least one hour.
Serve with chips, crackers, or toasted bread.

Print recipe with images | without images