Product: Schär Gluten-Free Snack Crackers – $6.99+
I have had such good luck with products from Schär. Honestly, when it comes to gluten-free products, they stand out. I’ve had pasta, breads, and snacks from their line-up and have fallen in love with each and every one of them. Love at first gluten-free bite, yes? So…when it came down to trying the box of Gluten-Free Snack Crackers from their line of products, I couldn’t wait to dig in. Mostly.
Why the mostly? Well…I’m a health nut. Don’t let the cookies/cakes/ice cream deceive you. I’m an athlete, so while I do treat myself to things every now and again, I do watch my calories and nutrition when I buy products. I didn’t buy these snack crackers, mind you. These boxes were being given away at the Gluten-Free Expo I attended in Birmingham, Alabama. I was excited to be receiving Schär products to try…and not just a sample pack…an entire box.
But…the mostly comes in when I look at the nutrition panel for these snack crackers. These crackers come in individually wrapped packets of 8 crackers. These 8 snack crackers, each about the size of a deck of cards, will set you back 240 calories. Yes…just for 8 crackers. These packets also contain 11 grams of fat with each packet. So, we’re not talking the most sensible snack cracker out there. But when it comes to gluten-free foods…perhaps it is.
Anyway…the other night I made up my homemade gluten-free cheddar broccoli potato soup and I wanted some crackers to go with it. These were in the pantry so, that’s what my roommate and I had with it. I opened up the little individual packets and eased out the snack crackers. They looked like really big saltines, minus the saltiness. So, that was a good thing.
In my mind, I had these made out to be like…gluten-free Club crackers. So, imagine my disappointment when I broke off a piece of the cracker and popped it in my mouth. Nothing buttery or smooth. In fact…I found the flavor on these to be almost close to cardboard. Which is such a huge disappointment for me because I am a strong believer in the products that Schär puts out on the market. Every single one I have had prior has knocked my socks off. But these crackers were just bland. They lacked…flavor. Seasoning. Something.
Thankfully, the entire purpose of these crackers were to dip into my soup. When I combined them with my homemade soup, they worked out just fine. I don’t know if these crackers are actually made to be eaten on their own, but I don’t recommend it. What I do recommend is getting a gluten-free cheese spread, cream cheese, or finding a gluten-free soup and using these crackers in that. Sparingly. Maybe half a pack. Because there is still no excuse for that nutrition panel.
On their own…Schär Gluten-Free Snack Crackers are a bust. When used with soup, or a spread, or however you like to dress-up your crackers, these actually improve. Enough to make them have some sort of flavor. The texture is light, so it isn’t a texture issue. It just lacked some seasoning of some sort. I wasn’t impressed at all. And at 240 calories per serving…I really want to be wowed. Because as of now…reaching for another packet means I have to convince myself that those 240 calories are worth it. An internal battle with your nutrition-conscious side should not have to occur before a meal for a side/garnish/snack. It shouldn’t happen.
I was not a fan of the Schär Gluten-Free Snack Crackers. I think I’ll skip them in the future and see what else is out there on the market. Perhaps at less of a calorie hit for the day…with less fat…and with better flavor. It was a let down for me…but I still love Schär for all the other delicious gluten-free products I have had from their line.
The Celiathlete 