Tag: healthy snacks

Discover the Delicious World of Vegan Crackers: A Healthy Snack Option

Ricardo Davis

– Some crackers may not be suitable for a vegan diet as they often contain dairy products to enhance flavor, color, and texture.
– Dairy-based seasonings, such as cheese, onion, nacho, ranch, sour cream, and barbecue, are frequently used in crackers.
– However, there are many vegan cracker brands available, or at least some vegan flavors within certain brands.
– It is important to check the sodium content of pre-packaged crackers, as they often have high sodium levels.
– Savory snacks, including crackers, contribute to about 40% of the sodium consumed by Americans.
– To maintain a balanced diet, sodium intake should be kept below the daily value level of 20%.
– Some crackers may contain trace amounts of dairy in their seasoning blends, specifically from whey solids, so it is important to check the ingredient label.
– Added sugar is commonly found in pre-packaged foods, including vegan crackers. The American Heart Association recommends a limit of around 6-9 teaspoons of added sugar per day.
– Saturated fat, which can be high in pre-packaged foods like crackers, should be consumed in moderation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming less than 10% of daily calories from saturated fat.
– Some top picks for vegan crackers include Doctor In The Kitchen – Organic Flax Seed Crackers, Flackers Organic – Cinnamon & Currant Flax Seed Crackers, Mary’s Gone Crackers Herb, and Mary’s Gone Crackers Organic Everything Super Seed. These crackers have high nutritional value, little to no processing, and low carbon and water footprints. They also have low saturated fat and added sugar content.
– Lundberg Family Farms – Organic Lightly Salted Wild Rice Cakes: Nutritional value: Certified Vegan, 1g of saturated fat, 219mg of sodium, and 0g of added sugar per serving. Processing: Unprocessed or minimally processed. Ingredients: Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice, Organic Wild Rice, Sea Salt. GreenScore®: 5.0 stars (5 reviews), contains dietary fiber (4% DV).
– Simple Mills – Cracked Black Pepper Almond Flour Crackers: Nutritional value: Certified Vegan, 0g of saturated fat, 25mg of sodium, and 0g of added sugar per serving. Processing: Unprocessed or minimally processed. Ingredients: Nut and Seed Flour Blend (Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Flax Seeds). GreenScore®: 79/100, contains dietary fiber (not specified).
– Majans Snack Nibbles – Bhuja Cracker Mix: Nutritional value: Certified Vegan, 0g of saturated fat, 180mg of sodium, and 0g of added sugar per serving. Processing: Moderately processed. Ingredients: Multigrain Noodles (Yellow Peas, Chick Peas, Sunflower Oil, Rice, Potato, Tapioca, Sesame, Salt, Cumin), Rice Crackers (Rice, Soy Sauce, Cane Sugar, Tapioca, Sesame, Seaweeds, Chilli), Green Peas, Peanuts, Chick Peas, Sultanas, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Spices (Turmeric, Chillies, Paprika), Maltodextrin, Cane Sugar, Vegetable Powder. GreenScore®: 82/100, contains dietary fiber (7% DV).
– Crunchmaster – Sea Salt Protein Snack Crackers: Nutritional value: 0g of saturated fat, 170mg of sodium, and 1g of added sugar per serving. Processing: Moderately processed. Ingredients: Brown rice flour, garbanzo flour, brown rice protein, sesame seeds, potato starch, safflower oil, sea salt. GreenScore®: 77/100, contains dietary fiber (7% DV).
– Real Food From The Ground Up – Cauliflower Crackers Sea Salt: Nutritional value: 0g of saturated fat, 170mg of sodium, and 0g of added sugar per serving. Processing: Moderately processed. Ingredients: Cauliflower flour, wholegrain rice flour, cassava flour, potato starch, rice flour, potato flakes, cassava starch, rspo palm oil, salt, sugar, baking powder, rice fibers, sunflower lecithin. GreenScore®: Not specified.
– Nabisco’s Premium Saltine Crackers and Christie’s Premium Plus Crackers in Canada are vegan-friendly, certified by PETA. Sunshine Krispy Saltine Crackers and Keebler Saltine Crackers, produced by Kellogg’s, are also vegan. All of these brands have similar ingredients, including enriched flour, soybean oil, salt, and baking soda. There are also variations like unsalted and whole wheat options available.

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Is Granola Gluten Free? Debunking Common Misconceptions

Ricardo Davis

– Oats are naturally gluten-free, so granola is generally gluten-free
– Some granola producers process their oats on machines that also process wheat and barley, leading to potential cross-contamination
– Commercially made granola can potentially contain gluten due to cross-contamination with wheat and barley during processing
– Baked granola can last up to six months, while unbaked granola should be consumed within a week or frozen for extended storage.

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Exploring the Benefits of GlutenFree Protein Bars: A Comprehensive Guide

Ricardo Davis

Top 10 gluten-free protein bars:
1. Pure Protein Bar
2. Misfits Protein Bar
3. Larabar
4. Huel Protein Bar
5. Think Protein Bar
6. Luna Bar
7. Kind Bar
8. Quest Nutrition Protein Bar
9. Kirkland Signature Protein Bar
10. Trek Protein Energy Bar

Considerations when choosing gluten-free protein bars:
– Price, taste, and flavors
– Amount of carbs and protein
– Texture (some bars may be dry and crumbly)

Tips for finding better prices:
– Purchase from online retailers like Amazon or the company’s website
– Check wholesale retailers like Thrive Market

Look for bars with:
– Natural flavors and real ingredients instead of artificial flavors and sweeteners
– High protein-to-carb ratio for muscle gain
– Higher carbs for endurance workouts
– Similar amounts of protein and carbs for meal replacement and weight loss

Other information:
– Gluten-free protein bars may have more than 20 ppm of gluten
– Some bars undergo independent third-party certification
– Gluten can be found in grains like wheat, rye, barley, and oats
– Gluten-free protein bars tend to be more expensive than generic protein bars, with an average cost of $2 to $3 per bar

Additional options:
– RXBAR Protein Bar
– Homemade gluten-free protein bar recipes (e.g., No-Bake Double Chocolate Nut-Free Protein Bars, No-Bake Gluten-Free Homemade Brownie Protein Bars)

Always read the labels and check the gluten-free status of each protein bar brand.

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Are Quest Bars Healthy? The Facts and Myths Explored

Ricardo Davis

– Quest Bars are protein bars that have gained popularity as a healthy on-the-go snack.
– They have a high amount of protein and fiber, with only 1 gram of sugar.
– The protein blend in Quest Bars is derived from whey protein isolate and milk protein isolate, which are not natural sources of protein and can cause digestion issues.
– The ingredient isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) is added to Quest Bars after a lengthy processing method and is harder for the body to digest.
– Sucralose, an artificial sweetener, is also used in Quest Bars.
– Studies have found that sucralose increases the chances of cancer and digestive diseases.
– While Quest Bars can be tasty and convenient, there are healthier options available for a nutritious on-the-go snack.

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The Best Dried Fruit: A Nutritional Powerhouse!

Ricardo Davis

– Traina Foods offers tips on finding the healthiest varieties of dried fruit
– Dates have become popular due to vegan and paleo diets that restrict refined and artificial sugars
– Dried apples, peaches, cranberries, and apricots have lower calorie counts per serving
– It’s important to pay attention to serving sizes when enjoying dried fruit, as it is easy to overeat them
– Dried fruits tend to be high in fiber, which helps keep the body feeling fuller longer
– Figs, dates, prunes, and apricots are some of the most fiber-rich dried fruits
– Traina Foods offers a variety of individual packages and blends of dried fruit for various uses
– Apricots are a good source of vitamins E and A, copper, potassium, and dietary fiber
– Prunes have a laxative effect and are rich in potassium, vitamin B6, and antioxidants
– Raisins are potassium- and antioxidant-rich and can lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes
– Dates are sweet and contain condensed sugars
– It’s important to choose unsweetened dried fruit options and be aware that drying fruits can cause loss of certain vitamins, like vitamin C
– Dried fruits such as dates and cranberries are often used as a sugar substitute in vegetarian and vegan recipes
– Dried dates have a shelf life of a year or longer and come in golden or reddish hues
– They are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, and can help maintain a healthy immune system
– Unsweetened dried cranberries are difficult to find, but can still be a healthy choice when eaten in moderation
– They can be enjoyed as a snack or added to salads, cereal, or oats.

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