Who doesn't enjoy a good cracker every now then? I'm actually not a huge cracker guy but I can appreciate some tasty crackers on occasion. They're versatile and can be a nice complement to several different meals for both lunch and dinner.
Like every food, though, there are good crackers and bad crackers. Men's Health took a look at both ends of the cracker spectrum and there was at least two crackers that are eaten often around here that made the bad list.
First, though, here's what you should be eating (according to MH):
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers (55 pieces): 140 calories, 5g fat, 250mg sodium
Triscuit Reduced Fat (7 crackers): 120 calories, 3g fat, 160mg sodium
Premium Low Sodium Saltines (10 crackers): 120 calories, 3g fat, 50mg sodium
Carr's Table Water Crackers (4 crackers): 60 calories, .5g fat, 40mg sodium
Keebler Cinnamon Crisp Low-Fat Grahams (8 pieces): 110 calories, 1.5g fat, 140mg sodium
My daughters enjoy the goldfish cheddar crackers, or the fishie crackers. We usually get the big box of them at Costco. I should probably give them those more often around lunchtime. And I picked up some Premium-brand crackers recently but I opted for the regular ones and not the low sodium kind. I guess I'll have to change that the next time I go to the store.
And as far as the avoid list...
Wheat Thins Lightly Cinnamon Crackers (15 crackers): 140 calories, 5g fat, 125mg sodium
Cheez-It Original Crackers (27 crackers): 160 calories, 8g fat, 250mg sodium
Carr's Whole Wheat Crackers (2 crackers): 80 calories, 3.5g fat, 100mg sodium
Ritz Crackers (10 crackers): 160 calories, 9g fat, 270mg sodium
Wheat Thins Reduced Fat (16 crackers): 130 calories, 4g fat, 260mg sodium
My daughters love Ritz crackers and in fact just had some for lunch. They finished off the box (there were only about eight left) and I had made a mental note to pick some up at the store the next time I went. Maybe I need to re-think that. Also, my wife enjoys some Wheat Thins as well, and I've bought her the reduced fat kind before. Looks like they should be "Wheat Thins Reduced Fat and Increased Sodium" kind to be a bit more accurate.
Anyway, I suppose I've got some food for thought now, and my poor daughters will have to get by without their beloved Ritz. I may go for the Keebler kind instead. Sounds like it could be a good and healthy swap.
3 comments:
Ritz and Wheat Thins? Say it ain't so! Good thing my kids love the Goldfish (I've been known to grab a handful for a snack now and then) and Triscuits are a favorite too. Thanks for this info as "Polly" does enjoy herself a cracker every now and then!
Polly does want a cracker, eh? LOL!
I'm sure you've never heard that one before, right? Maybe like five times a day I'm guessing...
That is sad about the Ritz, we love those 2. Great to hear about the "fishies" though, that is a huge favorite around here, & I love that you can get them in whole grain. Although I have never really compared the nutritional value on the 2.
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