Diet Food Reviews
Health Valley Graham Crackers
By: | Nov 14, 2007
Graham crackers were originally invented by a Presbyterian minister as a digestion aid. Coarse graham flour made the crackers a fibrous treat for those suffering from gastrointestinal maladies. But despite their healthy beginnings, graham crackers have now morphed into highly processed snack. Today, most brands use enriched wheat flour instead of graham flour, thereby diminishing the crackers digestive benefits. In addition, mainstream varieties contain little to no fiber but provide a good dose of sugar and partially hydrogenated oils.
To return graham crackers to their nutritious roots, Health Valley has created three varieties using a different flours as its base: oat bran, amaranth bran, and rice bran. After spending so many years in a graham cracker-less state of despair, you can imagine how excited I was to try these treats. Unfortunately, they did not live up to my expectations. I tried the Oat Bran Health Valley Graham Crackers, and my first disappointment came upon opening the box. Instead of the classic graham cracker "sheets" I was expecting, these crackers were small and packaged in rows of molded plastic. Then, once the crackers were in my mouth, I had to check the box to make sure that these were actually graham crackers. I thought I had mistakenly picked up some ginger snaps because instead of that signature honey graham cracker taste, this snack has a not-so-subtle gingery bite.
To make this snack even more of a bummer, the serving size is teeny. One serving is 6 crackers (28 grams), and while that may sound like a lot, remember that each cracker is a about the size of a Teddy Graham. One serving contains 120 calories, 3 grams of fat (5% of the RDA), 3 grams of protein, and 22 grams of total carbohydrate, which includes 3 grams of fiber (12% of the RDA) and 3 grams of sugar.
Health Valley Graham Crackers are made with whole grains and natural ingredients, but while these crackers might be a more nutritious alternative, they just don't cut it. Nutrition can't beat taste all the time. zone box (7 servings) cost $3.29 at Whole Foods - but these are not going back on my chopping list. Another option is Honey Maid Thin Crisps Grahams. These aren't made with whole grains, but the taste is much better - and it comes in 100 calorie packets - built in portion control.
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I like the back to nature Honey Graham Sticks. They have...
No Trans Fat
No Hydrogentaed Oils
No Refined Sugars
No Artificial Preservatives, Flavors or Colors!
They also taste EXACTLY like graham crackers should.
The Nutritionals are...130 calories for 14 sticks and only 2.5g fat (4%) with no saturated fat!
These come in single serve too!
Safeway also makes their own generic brand of graham crackers. They have one that's marked "low fat" that for two (big) sheets of cookie has 130 cals. They taste just like regular graham crackers. Of course, the 100 cal packs, as already suggested, are another good way to go, but safeway often puts their brand on sale.
I was SO hoping you were going to rave about these!! Apparently Whole Foods makes a whole grain graham cracker, but I have no Whole Foods near me in Charlotte, NC. Too bad these were a disappointment :(
I also found these a little disappointing. I found the texture to be lacking as well, they didn't have the same crisp 'bite' of traditional graham crackers.
Why do graham crackers have fat?
Graham crackers have fat because they wouldn't have a cohesive dough or flaky final texture without it.
I've seen these, though I haven't tried them. I probably won't, either.
i tried the amaranth ones and they are GROSS. exactly how you described.
@emily: that Back to Nature graham crackers sound great - I'll have to keep an eye out for it.
The dented can store by my house has these for $1.25 a box. They are pretty good. This is a good review of them.
I love getting a pack of 100 cal teddy grahams. they last forever...