Crackers – Page 3 – The Celiathlete

July 12, 2013

Wellaby’s gluten-free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips a bland, unsweet, tasteless snack

Product: Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips – $2.29+

My local grocery store was having a closeout on a lot…a lot of items in their gluten-free section not too long ago. This, of course, sparked a huge panic by me, thinking they were getting rid of a lot of these products and, perhaps, even shrinking the section down. Thankfully, I was not right on either account, but what this sparked was a splurge purchase of everything I had been meaning to try and was now worried I would never find again.

It’s amazing what I tossed into my cart.

Gluten-free pita chips? You better believe those went into my cart! I mean, I hadn’t had pita chips in two years…and I used to eat the hell out of pita chips. So, I grabbed the only variety they had on the shelf…Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips.

And then…they sat in my pantry for a month because I was working through the myriad of other snacks I purchased that expired before these. But today…today that was changing. Because I used up the last of the older stuff…so now…now as the moment I had been waiting for.

PITA CHIP DAY!!

I was so thrilled and excited about it…and I eagerly opened up the little pouch that held these little crisps and doled out a serving into a glass container. I, as always, took one over to my roomie to sample. She didn’t look too impressed when she bit into it. I asked her what she thought. And, after considerable thought she finally said that she felt they were bland. I asked if she thought I would like them…but she never actually got back to me on that. So, I decided I would find out at the office.

Snack time hits at 3 p.m. and I was ready to enjoy my Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. Really, really ready! I opened up my container and grabbed a crisp off the top. I loved the thickness of the chips themselves. Just like real pita chips. Honestly. The feel of them was spot on. This felt like it would bode well. So, I took a bite…

And Cathy was completely right in her assessment of these chips. They were totally bland. Every now and again, a hint of sugar of cinnamon will touch the tongue and you get…a little bit of flavor, but it’s really underwhelming and not at all what I expected. I feel these had the right texture for a pita chip. They were crunchy and thick. But the flavor…ugh…the flavor was lacking. I expected a little sweetness and I just got…pita chip flavor. And not every very good pita chip flavor.

While I love that these snack chips are baked and not fried, giving them a little bit more of a health factor, they just didn’t work for me. Without bold flavor, the sweet and savory flavors of cinnamon and sugar were not working. I actually missed the seasoning…it just fell flat in the end. Great on texture and crunch…but a very poor showing when it came to how it tasted. I was completely bummed. But, I finished them off. They were, after all, my snack.

So, should you still feel the need to try the Wellaby’s Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips yourself…let me give you the nutrition and ingredient run-down. These chips are made from a mixture of different gluten-free flours and starches. In addition to that…some items I really can’t pronounce, which means, these wouldn’t be making it back into my pantry regardless. As far as nutrition facts go, however, as serving of 28 grams will provide you with 100 calories and 3 grams of fat. Not too bad for a chip, right? Exactly. These are low in sodium (200 mg) and cholesterol free. In addition, these pita chips provide only 1 gram of fiber and 5 grams of protein. And, for being a cinnamon sugar flavored chip, these only have 2 grams of sugar. I’m okay with that part. But…give it some good flavor. Something bold. Something that makes me want to eat more.

Needless to say, I was highly disappointed with Wellaby’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips. I had been so high on trying them and, in the end, they only served to let me down. The hard crash of a snack that you really expected to blow you away…but then it didn’t. Yeah…that’s happened to me countless times. But it feels even worse when it is something you’ve been dying to have back in your life…like pita chips. Maybe I’ll find a different brand that understands that gluten-free doesn’t have to be bland. It can taste good, be healthy, and all that. Until then…I might just have to attempt to make my own.

Not recommended. I wish I could say differently…but these just didn’t sing or excite the taste buds. They were just a bland crispy snack that fell flat on flavor in the end.

Disappointment…once again.

May 22, 2013

Not sure I’m crackers for Mary’s Gone Crackers Organic Herb Crackers

Product: Mary’s Gone Crackers Organic Herb Crackers – $4.99+

First of all…best name for a brand…ever. It makes me smile when I look at it. Love the whimsy behind the name. You need whimsy…because Mary’s Gone Crackers deals with the great unknown of gluten-free snack products.

This is such a grey area at times when it comes to snack foods. Especially, if you’re like me, and had previously been able to eat regular foods. Going gluten-free was not easy for me. Nothing tasted just right. Nothing lived up to what I had previously been able to eat. Turns out…I was just purchasing the wrong products. I was doing gluten-free on a budget…and that was reflected in the products I was buying. I soon expanded my budget out of necessity to eat…something…delicious…and my world was opened up to an entire new line of products.

Gluten-free crackers are one of those products that can either be really, really delicious…or just…not so good.

If you flip back through my blog, you might discover quite a few varieties of crackers that I have sampled…and either enjoyed…or disliked. But…Mary’s Gone Crackers Organic Herb Crackers…they leave me on the fence.

Here’s why:

These crackers aren’t horrible. Not in the slightest. In fact, they are quite good. The flavor is just…bizarre to me. Honestly. I love how crunchy these are, but they leave my mouth feeling dry whenever I bite into one. I love how these are a blend of healthy grains and seeds…blending organic herbs in with their original recipe to add this savory quality. But…they just seem to be missing something. I think it’s a dip or a spread. A light schmear of cream cheese, or salsa, or even guacamole might do these crackers wonders. They have great texture and I love that I can see the seeds throughout the product. They are definitely crispy and have this rich herby and nutty flavor to them, despite containing no nuts at all in the ingredients. I really want to love these…I don’t. I like them. I think I need hummus or something to devour these with and enjoy them to their full potential. But they aren’t horrible. They are just…different.

Different can be good. Different can be bad. This sort of different is just…different.

Mary’s Gone Crackers Organic Herb crackers are made from organic, gluten-free whole grain brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds and sesame seeds…with a touch of blended organic herbs. They are not only organic, but also non-GMO (YAY!), vegan, dairy-free, wheat-free, gluten-free, made from whole grains, kosher, use no hydrogenated oils, and contain no trans-fats. So, these aren’t at all a horrible choice for a snack. Just know…these are best with a dip or spread…not on their own. On their own, you’ll be downing the water to rid yourself of the dry sensation and taste they leave in your mouth.

A serving of Mary’s Gone Crackers Organic Herb Crackers is 30 grams (or about 13 crackers). Remember, I always way out my food. It’s more accurate. This serving will set you back 140 calories and 5 grams of fat. These crackers are low in sodium as well. Yes, there is a small touch of saturated fat listed on the nutrition information, but that is naturally occurring in the sesame seeds that are part of these crackers. This is good. They have 3 grams of fiber and a powerful 3 grams of protein as well. So, not a bad choice for a snack. Not really. But…they could be if you have to add a spread or dip, depending on what you choose to top it off with. Healthy fats and healthy spreads or dips are a good choice. A homemade guacamole or hummus…or even a salsa would be amazing. I also think that goat cheese would be awesome on these crackers. But that’s just me.

So, while I don’t dislike these crackers, they just don’t stand out on their own. This is one of those crackers that would be perfect to lay out for a party…with a variety of toppers and dips. On their own, they are lackluster and a bit dry. But they definitely have a great crispiness in each bite, which is something I do love about them. I have sampled other Mary’s Gone Crackers products and crackers and have really enjoyed them. I think the herbiness of these particular crackers just sort of take away from what is normally so amazing about this brand.

April 11, 2013

Natural Nectar Gluten-Free Sun-Dried Tomato and Oregano Cracklebred a deliciously healthy snack option

Product: Natural Nectar Gluten-Free Sun-Dried Tomato and Oregano Cracklebred – $3.99+

I was in Minnesota when I stumbled upon a few Cracklebred boxes at Cub Foods. You see, I had traveled up to Minneapolis to visit my grandpa and also run in the Minneapolis Half Marathon. Well, I did really well in that race, and as a reward, my roommate told me to pick out some of the gluten-free foods that we had noticed while shopping for foods I could eat while staying with my grandpa and my aunt.

So, I went a little crazy, selecting a few items that had caught my eye and interested me.

One such product was Natural Nectar’s Gluten-Free Sun-Dried Tomato and Oregano Cracklebred. It just looked…interesting, if nothing else.

Well, I get a little overzealous at times with my gluten-free snacks and definitely overstocked my pantry. So this box has been sitting there since the race. The expiration date is in the next couple of months, so it was time to bust it out and give it its time to shine. And hopefully…it would shine.

Everything about this Cracklebred made me want to try it. For one thing, it’s nutritious. No…it really is.

One serving is 3 crackers, which, as you can tell, are a really decent size. Larger than a deck of playing cards. These three crackers will serve you up only 52 calories total. Each cracker is only 17 calories. No joke. These are fat free, cholesterol free, gluten-free, low in sodium (only 115 mg per serving), and low in sugar (only 1 gram per serving). Loving those nutritional facts? Yeah…I did too.

The Sun-Dried Tomato and Oregano Cracklebred is composed of seven ingredients: rice, corn, tomato puree, evaporated cane juice, sea salt, oregano, and soy lecithin. Recognize those? Yep…me too. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. Love that too.

But how do they taste? Well, that is the interesting part, my dear readers. I wasn’t sure what to make of these. They looked like little rectangles of fibery board when I pulled them out of the plastic they were wrapped in. But, the fact of the matter is, they have about the same texture as a rice cake. And, as I stated before, I grew up eating rice cakes and actually find them to be quite tasty. And this…is definitely tasty. These light crackers are flaky and smooth and just packed with flavor. On the first bite, you get that rice and corn combination, but then the tomato flavor sinks in…and your cracker just got savory. Oh, so delicious. And, of course, these are great on their own, but feel free to top them off however you like with your favorite spreads, cheeses or dips.

I’m hooked. And I am so happy to have found these in a few of my local natural food stores lately. So, now whenever I crave…I don’t have to place an order with my family in Minnesota. I just have to head to the store and pick up a box for myself.

Natural Nectar makes three varieties of their Gluten-Free Cracklebred…the aforementioned flavor of my choice, Sun-Dried Tomato and Oregano, but also original and multigrain. I definitely want to try them all.

For a nutritious cracker that has a light, crispy texture and a delicious flavor, definitely give the Cracklbred from Natural Nectar a try. I’m hooked. Even without a spread to top it off with.

March 26, 2013

A healthy, light snack from Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins

Product: Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins – $3.29+

I admit it…I am an oddball. I actually like rice cakes. I always have. I grew up eating them. My mom kept them in the pantry, and I would eat them plain, or sometimes give the top a light schmear of peanut butter. Rice cakes were one of my favorite snacks. Still are. As long as they don’t taste like cardboard.

My roommate and I have this bad habit. It is a very, very bad habit. We see a product labeled gluten-free that we haven’t seen before at any of our stores and we immediately pile it into our shopping basket and take it home…just adding to the stash. That was what happened when we brought home Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins.

We weren’t actually seeking to buy more snack foods while out at Dorothy Lane Market in Dayton, Ohio. We just ducked inside to see what the grocery store had to offer, as there were a few of them scattered throughout Dayton and we were killing some time. Lo and behold, they have one of the most amazing gluten-free sections I have seen at a local grocery store. I was blown away. Local baked goods. Products of which I have never seen before. Awesome.

One of the products we grabbed, for reasons I still don’t know, were the Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins from Real Foods. I actually forgot about them. Whoops. But I was checking the pantry list and noticed them under crackers…and that was why I overlooked them. Wrong category. Definitely not crackers. But since the expiration date was approaching, it was time to use them as my afternoon snack.

Corn Thins are amazingly good for you. Yes, even the Tasty Cheese Flavored ones. These little rice-cake like thins (they are about 1/3 the thickness of a rice cake), made from corn and rice that are popped under high pressure, are honestly a guilt-free snack. I was shocked that I liked these, despite being such a fan of rice cakes. I don’t know why I was so worried.

Anyway…these little cakes have a rice cake texture, but are sweeter thanks to the addition of the popped corn. The cheese flavored topping is lightly dusted on top, not overpowering the corn cake itself. I loved how thin these are cut, because it makes them easy to handle and very light. They have this gentle crunch when you break into them or bite into them. I was very impressed with these.

And yes…guilt-free my friends. Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins are 28 calories per cake. For my snack, I took 3 of them, racking up a total of 84 calories for my snack. Not bad. And only 1 gram of fat in that serving. NICE! These are very low in sodium, have no preservatives, no artificial or nature identical flavors, made with all natural ingredients, are gluten-free and non-GMO. My three corn thins gave me 3 grams of protein and 1.5 grams of fiber.

But the true surprise was just how much I enjoyed these. Texture-wise, they are awesome. Just the right amount of crunch. And taste-wise…they are quite tasty. After all, with a name like Tasty Cheese…you better live up to your name.

I hope I can find more flavors that are offered in stores around here. I’ll be searching high and low. And if not…next time I’m in Dayton…you better believe that I’ll be stopping into Dorothy Lane Market.

Real Foods does healthy snacks right with their Corn Thins. Flavor them like cheese…and you have a winning combination!

Three of Real Foods Tasty Cheese Flavored Corn Thins

February 8, 2013

Glutino Multigrain Crackers a gluten-free bite worth taking

Product: Glutino Gluten-Free Multigrain Crackers – $4.99+

Snack crackers are so versatile. But most of the ones on the market are off limits to the gluten-free. But thanks to the abundance of gluten-free products hitting the shelves these days, it seems every gluten-free company out there has at least one variety of snack cracker. Some…have more.

I’ve enjoyed the likes of Crunchmaster, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Blue Diamond, Schär, etc. But most recently, I have been exploring the different flavors of crackers that Glutino has to offer.

Now, Glutino and I have a rather good relationship as far as the taste of their food. So far, I have had nothing to complain about. Texture, taste, density, and flavor have all been right on par. I appreciate that. Given the fact that I haven’t been gluten-free my entire life, I know what the ‘real’ thing tastes like and sometimes have a hard time separating that from what I now have to eat. In other words…I find common gluten-free foods not up to the standard I once knew.

And then…sometimes I find something better.

Glutino has been good to me and for me.

And that trend continues with my tasting of Glutino Multigrain Crackers. These gluten-free crackers actually surprised me with their flavor. I have since looked up a few reviews, most of which bitched about the overpowering fennel flavor (fennel tastes like licorice). I don’t like licorice…but I don’t even get a taste of it in these crackers. In fact, I currently no longer even see fennel listed on the ingredients list. The poppyseeds are still part of it…and you can certainly see them in the surface of the cracker. But fennel…not anymore, I don’t think. Rosemary extract though…that’s there!

The bizarre thing about these crackers is…they taste like Triscuits…just without the graininess and shredded bits. It’s like…if a Ritz and a Triscuit were to get married…this would be the offspring. Honestly. It’s the perfect blend of that butter Ritz texture with the flavor of a Triscuit. It’s…fantastic, honestly. And this would be amazing with a schmear of cream cheese, cheese, salsa, hummus…whatever…on top. But on their own, they too are astounding in their flavor. I loved this cracker…bite-for-bite.

So…how did I end up with these in the first place? Long story short…one of my local grocery stores was running a mega closeout on the gluten-free section. Fearing that it was going to be gone for good, I stockpiled items I wanted to try, but could never quite justify to work into the budget. That’s how these ended up in my pantry…and it just so happened it was their turn to shine during my afternoon snack time this week. And shine they did.

I highly recommend these as a cracker for any get-together where gluten-free options are needed. Or…just in general. My roommate, who tries everything I eat, also enjoyed these. She was the one who made the Triscuit connection (she would know!)…and I couldn’t agree more. Fantastic seasoning, not laden with salt, great flavor, and just amazing from one bite to the next.

Nutritionally speaking, because I do always go there, these aren’t bad for a snack cracker. A serving size is 30 grams (and you know I weigh out my servings!), or about 8 crackers. This serving would set you back only 14o calories and 4.5 grams of fat. That’s not bad at all. These crackers only have 260 mg of sodium in the serving. While fiber and protein are both low, it’s a snack cracker…so use it with something like hummus that has some protein power to it.

Nutritionally sound, and amazing in taste and texture. Glutino…you keep winning me over, heart, body, and gluten-free soul!

February 1, 2013

Glutino Cheddar Crackers are putting on the Ritz

Product: Glutino Cheddar Crackers – $5.49+

There was a time, a couple years ago, when I could still eat just about anything I wanted. One of my favorite crackers for years (up until I started cutting out food with High Fructose Corn Syrup in it) was Ritz Crackers. And, yes, my dear snacking friends…Ritz do, in fact, contain HFCS. BOOO!

But, then the whole needing to go gluten-free thing happened and Ritz Crackers became a distant memory anyway. Oh, sure, I missed that buttery, rich flavor of each bite of those soft crackers…but with gluten ingredients and HFCS…that was a recipe for disaster for me. Completely.

And so, my life continued on…without a snack cracker for a long time.

But then, the market on them sort of exploded. From Mary’s Gone Crackers to Crunchmaster to Schär to Blue Diamond…gluten-free snack crackers have made the ultimate comeback…in a variety of flavors, textures, and tastes. I’m rather particular when it comes to taste and, especially, texture. I like to have light crackers…nothing heavy or dense. I want the first bite to have a soft crunch, not something loud. In other words…I was searching for a gluten-free Ritz cracker.

Well…Glutino nailed it.

Honestly, they did. A while back, they released their line of various snack crackers (which they are currently adding to with two new flavors). Originally, these came in Original, Multigrain, Vegetable, and Cheese. When my local grocery store had their mega closeout on their gluten-free selection, I grabbed what they had. A box of Glutino Cheese Crackers and one box of Glutino Multigrain Crackers.

You guessed it…these found their way into the black hole of my pantry…up until I ran out of my current snack and consulted my pantry list to see what was up next. These crackers were. And I was pretty stoked about trying them.

A serving of Glutino Cheddar Crackers is 30 grams (I weigh mine out), or about 8 crackers. Nutritionally speaking, this sets you back 140 calories and 5 grams of fat. Sodium levels are very low, totally 180 mg per serving. And each serving has 2 grams of protein. Not too shabby for a snack cracker. This is comparable to Ritz…but less fat and more protein. Awesome.

But…the big test is on taste. This can make or break a product.

When it comes to Glutino Cheddar Crackers…I don’t so much as get bombarded by cheese flavor. It’s there…but it’s very light, almost like an accent to the cracker itself. These are not salted, which I prefer, so the taste has to stand up for itself. And yeah…these do make the cut. One bite and it was like I was back in my Ritz Cracker face-stuffing days. Honestly. These crackers are very light with a gentle crunch and buttery texture. And the flavor is so reminiscent of Ritz. I love how the cheddar flavor doesn’t overwhelm the cracker itself. But I also think that these are probably better enjoyed topped off with some sort of spread (be it cream cheese, cheese slices, cheese spread, salsa, etc.) They are good. Oh, yes…they are good.

Glutino has definitely been hitting the mark with their products and I only hope that this trend continues. If you happen to be hosting a party and need a gluten-free snack cracker for any hors d’oeuvres, these are a great choice. If you are looking for a healthier snack option than chips…these are a great choice. And if you just miss having those Ritz crackers…these are a great choice.

Well played, Glutino. Well played!

January 31, 2013

Glutino’s gluten-free table crackers a necessary addition to any table

Product: Glutino Gluten-Free Table Crackers – $3.99+

You know how much I love my products by Schär…so way back when this gluten-free thing was brand new to me, I busted out a box of their gluten-free table crackers. And I declared my love of their gluten-free cracker.

But then…last year…Glutino introduced their own variety of table crackers. And, yes, I bought a box. And like most things in my pantry…it took me forever to actually bust into them. But that changed last night. Because I made a homemade soup. And it was a chunky soup…so I didn’t want a gluten-free/vegan grilled “cheese.” Nope…crackers. That’s what this soup needed.

Into the pantry I went and out came the box of Glutino Gluten-Free Table Crackers. I had been quite curious about these ever since purchasing them last year while in Denver, Colorado. So, keep in mind…these have made a plane trip from Colorado to Indiana and they still weren’t massively busted up! That’s a sign of a good packaging job.

There really is nothing special to the appearance of Glutino’s Table Crackers. They look like oversized saltines. Honestly. Saltines on steroids. But, I was definitely intrigued. So, after snapping my mandatory blog photo, I dished up my Gluten-Free Roasted Potato and Curry Soup and dug out a serving of Glutino Table Crackers. For the record…that’s three of these long sheet crackers. Awesome.

Settling in to an episode of She-Ra: Princess of Power (I’m a child of the 80s and I’m reliving my favorite parts currently!) while I ate, I broke off a bit of the cracker and took a taste. I needed to taste it on its own before I could get to the dipping and crumbling into the soup part.

OH. MY. GLUTEN. FREE. CRACKER. BATMAN.

I had ever right to rave about the crackers that came before…but these…these were SO amazing. A gentle crunch. A light, airy taste. No unnecessary salt. Crisp. Rich. AMAZING! These table crackers were better than the ones I had from Schär…and I’m a Schär pimp. For real!

On their own…fantastic. Dipped in my chunky soup…supurb. These crackers can definitely be eaten on their own…but mixing them with soup, or topping them off with cream cheese, or hummus, or butter, or peanut butter, or jam…that works too. Me…I love soup and crackers and this definitely worked. The sweet/spicy flavor of my homemade soup wasn’t hindered by added salt from the crackers. These crackers are not laden with salt. And they are still mighty good.

In fact, one serving (as I said before…three crackers) is only 160 calories and 7 grams of fat. That’s not too bad for table crackers. The sodium is very low…coming in at 270 mg. As for fiber and protein…well, you’re not finding those here. But…I used these in conjunction with a plant-based, vegan soup that made up for the difference.

Unlike Schär, who uses buckwheat, the main ingredient that serves as a base for these crackers is corn starch and soy flour. So, there is definitely a difference in the taste. I just preferred this one…just slightly over the other. Slightly.

Going crackers? You bet I am!!

I now know that should I ever be in need of any sort of cracker…Glutino is my go-to, with Schär a close second. Glutino has truly been wowing me with their products…and they continue to come out with more gluten-free goodness for me to try. And I am a willing guinea pig, that’s for sure!

So if you’re gluten-free and desperately wanting to go crackers…go Glutino!

November 14, 2012

Cheese Smarts Cheddar Crackers are a smart take on snack time

Product: Cheese Smarts Gluten-Free Cheddar Crackers – $2.30+

Oh, Big Lots. What would I do without you and your crazy international section with odd-ball gluten-free snacks? I just don’t know these days. Back at the beginning of summer, I actually posted about the Parmesan Crackers from Cheese Smarts. So, going into it, I knew at least that these crackers were palatable. Knock-you-over-with-cheesiness? Not exactly. But still good.

I can’t tell you much about the company, Unismack SA, aside from the fact that it is based out of Greece. Yep. Greece. And as you know, Europe holds food standards to a much higher degree than the United States. For that, I am thankful. And I love that these crackers are labeled gluten-free right on the front of the box. It’s a comfort to not have to haul out the iPhone in an attempt to check ingredients or a product’s Web site in order to be certain of gluten freedom.

Here is what I can tell you about the crackers, in general. Cheese Smarts Cheddar Crackers are baked, not fried. So, the cheese flavor is locked in through baking, not leaving a greasy residue like a lot of fried snack crackers do. That’s a huge plus. These crackers are made with 24% real cheese. I know…100% would be far better, but this is declared on the very front of the box. Only 24%. Hmmm. They are gluten-free, free of trans fats, and made with ingredients that are recognizable. In other words, the actual ingredients don’t read like a science experiment. Thank goodness.

So…enough with that. The nitty-gritty of this blog is how they taste and stack up against the plethora of other gluten-free cheese crackers out on the market. Well, at first bite you definitely get a healthy crunch. That’s partially due to the baking, I’m certain. The cheese flavor is there, not overpowering, but a bit underwhelming. The little flecks of salt on top of the crackers don’t overpower or make it an overly salty snack. With cheese snacks it can be a fine line when it comes to added salt, as cheese can be rather salty on its own. They aren’t bad. They just aren’t a cracker that you’ll hurry out to the store to stock up on. In a pinch…they’ll do, however.

A serving size is 12 crackers (or 29 grams if you weigh your portions like I do). This will set you back only 90 calories, however this serving also dishes up 6 grams of fat. These snacks are very low in cholesterol (10 mg) and sodium (only 240 mg). So, as far as a snack goes, you get a good portion size for relatively few calories in the cracker world.

These crackers aren’t bad. Not at all. They just don’t rank very high against some of the other major brands that are out on the marketplace. Nutritionally, they are difficult to beat. However, that being said, if it were to come down to taste…these wouldn’t be my first pick.

But…if I needed an inexpensive gluten-free snack…I’d be okay with these.

November 8, 2012

Cheese Bites Smoked Cheese crackers a more flavorful snack

Product: Unismack Cheese Bites Smoked Cheese Crackers – $1.80+

You know…one thing I have yet to learn is when a deal or sale is going on and I’m purchasing a new product…I shouldn’t immediately load up on every flavor available. Honestly. Because there is absolutely no guarantee that I’ll like the product in the first place.

I recently reviewed the Unismack Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers…claiming that while they were good…they weren’t exactly something that stood out. Not memorable. In a world of gluten-free cracker options, I’d eat them again…but not actively seek them out. Of course, while on that outing to Big Lots that day, I grabbed pretty much every snack cracker that said Gluten-Free on the box. Because…it’s labeled. WOOHOO!! And the Cheese Bites Smoked Cheddar Cheese was the next snack on my gluten-free pantry list. I was less than thrilled to pull down another box of these, but…you know…the rule is…unless you really can’t stomach it…you eat it. No gluten-free things go to waste in my house. None.

So, I dished up a serving to take to work with me today. And my 3 p.m. snack time rolled around. I pulled out these crackers, popped the lid of the container, and took my first bite.

And this is why I am on the fence with these.

They taste like…BACON.

There is nothing bacon related in these. But that’s what they taste like. Like greasy diner bacon. Or, as my co-worker said after I let her try one…that it tastes like a bite of a McDonald’s Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a bad thing. Not at all. But I’m a vegetarian. So when your vegetarian crackers taste like bacon, it is a little jarring at first. I didn’t know what to make of it or how to react. I know it’s just from the cheese being smoked, but…it confused the hell out of my taste buds.

You can’t say that these snack crackers lack anything for flavor. The very opposite is true for these. These pack the flavor. Enough that to some people it tastes like a fast food breakfast sandwich. Go figure. To me, it just reminds me of bacon. Maybe it’s because of that smokey flavor that is in the cheese. I had to get beyond that in order to really enjoy these crackers, but I ate them. No fussing on flavor this time. It’s there. I’m just not sure what to make of it just yet.

On the flip side, these crackers are rather low in calories (120 calories for a 1 cup (or 29g) serving) and only have 5 grams of fat for each serving. That’s not bad for a snack cracker. These are low sodium and also pack 4 grams of protein per serving. Not bad for a cracker, yes? All the ingredients are recognizable…probably due to the fact that these are produced in Greece. No strange chemicals or preservatives. Just the real-deal when it comes to ingredients. And these crackers are puffed up triangles of smoked cheese flavor. And they are light, so they won’t fill you up and spoil your appetite for dinner either.

So, if you love bacon…these might be the crackers for you. As for me, after my 3 servings that are in this box…I think I’ll pass. It’s just…weird to me. But, if you aren’t a vegetarian…these might be the best cracker you’ve ever tasted. But you’d have to buy them to find out.

November 7, 2012

Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers a light, gluten-free snack

Product: Unismack Cheese Bites Parmesan Crackers – $1.80+

So…here’s the thing.

In February, I’ll be hitting my 2 year milestone of being completely gluten-free. Yep. Two full years. And it has been a learning experience. One thing that I can certainly claim is that I have definitely been going out on a limb and trying a variety of gluten-free products. One of the numerous gluten-free products out there is crackers.

Crackers went gluten-free with a vengeance. There are so many brands out there to choose from now. And flavors as well. Imagine that…options.

Well, one place I have learned to look for different gluten-free foods is Big Lots. I have found a wide variety of different snacks and foods from various parts of the world on the shelves of Big Lots. At a decent price. Labeled gluten-free. You know how I feel about labels on my products!

One such product was this week’s afternoon snack at the office. They are simply called Cheese Bites, made by the Unismack SA company in Greece. This particular box that I selected is the Parmesan cheese variety of cracker. Right on the front of the box is the gluten-free label that assured me this would be okay to purchase and consume. So…I did.

With the plethora of snack crackers out in the gluten-free market, something like this really needs to stand out. The actual shape and texture of these did catch my attention. They are simple puffy triangles that are bake, which keeps them light and airy. The ingredients are simple…without anything that makes you hop on the internet and search for what that chemical might be. It’s simple…potato startch, edam cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg yolk, yeast extract, milk proteins, and salt. Bam. A simple cracker and not a single ingredient I didn’t recognize. I love that. In addition, these crackers are not only gluten-free, but also wheat free, MSG Free, GMO Free, rich in calcium, and also produced in a nut-free factory.

But…how do they taste?

Well…they are good. Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t turn down buying them again. The fact of the matter, however, is that I have had so many flavor-popping crackers before these that they just don’t quite live up to my expectations. I’ve had fantastic cheese crackers (Hello Schär!) and other such crackers…and while these taste good, have a good texture, and definitely deliver that Parmesan flavor…they just seem bland compared to other gluten-free crackers out there. I loved the puffed up triangles, keeping the snack light so as not to be too heavy in the afternoon before heading home for dinner. I just feel that there are better, more flavorful crackers out there.

A serving of these is 1 cup (or 29 grams if you weigh your portions like I do). This will set you back 120 calories and 4.5 grams of fat for the day. These are relatively low in sodium (only 300 mg) and provide 4 grams of protein in a serving. Not bad for a cracker. There are, mind you, only 3 servings per box, however…so you don’t get a whole heap of these at a time.

Unixmack SA has created a good, cheesy, gluten-free snack cracker…but there are others out there that I have eaten that I’ve liked far better. They aren’t bad…they just can’t compare to other cheese crackers lining the gluten-free shelves. But…I’d eat them again if they were offered to me.