Food Label Savvy: Whole-Grain Crackers

You need a degree in nutrition to make sense of food labels. We’re putting our expertise at work to help clear up some of the confusion. First up, we’re taking on the snack aisle – here’s what you should look for when buying whole grain crackers.
whole-wheat crackers

Food labels can be so misleading that you (almost) need a nutrition degree to decode them.  But don't worry - we’re putting our expertise at work to help clear up some of the confusion. First up, we’re taking on the snack aisle. Here’s what to look for (and what to avoid) when buying whole-grain crackers.

Are Crackers Healthy Eats?

While good-for-you crackers do exist, many boxes are stuffed with unhealthy fats, sweeteners, and artificial colors and flavors. Even the ones that promote themselves as “ natural”, “wheat” and “reduced-fat” can be loaded with junk.

So, how do you separate the unhealthy cracker culprits from the real deal? Read the box!

The Ingredient List

Generally, good options tend to have short ingredient lists with recognizable words rather than hard-to-pronounce additives. Here are some other things to look for:

Green Lights: Whole grains are essential in healthy whole-grain crackers -- look for the word "whole" in the ingredient list.

Red Flags: Stay away from crackers with any of these ingredient offenders:

  • Partially hydrogenated oils (a.k.a trans fats)
  • Palm oil
  • Sugar listed as one of top 3 ingredients
  • High fructose corn syrup or corn syrup
  • Artificial colors
The Nutrition Facts

Don't forget to read the nutrition facts!  Look for crackers that meet these criteria:

  • 150 calories or less per serving
  • 2 grams of fiber or more per serving

TELL US: What’s your favorite brand of whole grain cracker? We feel a taste test coming on!

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. See Dana's full bio »

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