Which Are The Healthiest Whole
Crackers are common options that we choose for snacks or to just munch on. They taste great as they are or can also be paired with a variety of healthy toppings.
There are many cracker options available, but most of them are unhealthy for a diabetic patient. They are either too high in calories or have too many carbs that ultimately raise the bodys blood sugar levels.
This can be a risky addition to your diets that hamper your diabetes health management.
But theres nothing to worry about because we have found the best nutritious whole-grain crackers that you can include in your diabetic meal plans. Whole grains are filled with fiber and other nutrients that keep the blood sugar levels steady. They are a better option than other regular grain crackers.
Here are some of the healthy options that you can look for:
Tips To Reduce Chip And Cracker Calories
If you love to snack on crackers, but find that you eat too much of them there are a few sneaky ways to reduce your intake. Most importantly, be mindful about where you store them. Like chips, we have a tendency to overeat crackers if they are right in front of us. For that reason, diet experts recommend that you store crackers out of sight.
- High cabinets or low cupboards are best. If you have to work a little harder to get to your favorite snack foods, you’re less likely to mindlessly indulge.
- Don’t keep snacks on the counter. Your kitchen counter is the worst place to store your crackers and chips. Why? Because you’ll be more tempted to snack on them when you’re not really hungry.
- Store snack foods in the original bag or box. While storing crackers in a resealable plastic container may help to keep them fresh longer, you lose the benefit of the Nutrition Facts label when you throw away the package. By keeping crackers in the original box, you have a regular reminder of the calorie and fat grams as well as the standard serving size.
And lastly, when you choose to snack on crackers, never eat directly out of the container. It’s nearly impossible to keep track of how much you’re eating when you mindlessly snack out of the package. Instead, take just a few crackers, put them on a plate with your favorite healthy topping and enjoy a single serving.
Are Ritz Crackers Healthy For You
Most of the crackers are notorious for having high sodium and fat content. That is the reason people are suspicious about Ritz crackers too. Is Ritz healthy? Are Ritz Original crackers healthy? Is Ritz good for you? These types of questions about Ritz crackers are very common. So, let us have a debate on how healthy are Ritz crackers?
It is debatable whether Ritz crackers are a healthy snack but the reason some countries do not allow the sale of Ritz crackers has to do with the ingredients list and how they are made. The major problematic ingredient is partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. It is a type of trans fat that is not allowed in many European countries including Austria, Denmark, Hungary, Norway, and Switzerland. It is also prohibited in some regions of the United States.
Trans fats are created during the refinement process of vegetable oils that turn them into a colorless and odor-producing oil, according to the Environmental Working Group. They refine the oil to improve its sensory value and to make the oil more versatile and interchangeable. Hydrogenated oil increases the shelf life of a product and helps the ingredients mix well together.
Read Also: Oatmeal Good For Diabetics
A Couple Of Dark Chocolate
Strawberries are naturally fat-free, making them a healthy choice for diabetes, and theyre also rich in vitamin C. One cup provides your entire DV of the vitamin, according to the USDA. Their sweetness when they’re ripe makes this snack taste rich and decadent, too.
Dip these juicy fruits in creamy dark chocolate to create a thin coating. Dark chocolate has less added sugar compared with milk chocolate, notes the USDA. This added dimension of flavor will have you savoring each bite. Mind your portions: Three to four of these chocolate-covered berries have 13 g of carbs and 120 calories.
Best Type 2 Diabetes Snacks
Healthy Combinations Ready in Minutes When you have type 2 diabetes, a smart strategy for controlling your blood sugar levels is to think of snacks as miniature versions of meals and plan your carbs accordingly. Snacks with a good mix of protein, fat, and fiber will help keep hunger at bay and your blood sugar on an even keel throughout the day. “Since a meal should include 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates, a snack should have around 15 to 20 grams,” says Katherine Basbaum, MS, RD, a clinical dietitian in the Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation departments at University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville. By the same token, she says, fill your snack plate the same way you would for a regular meal. That means half should be non-starchy vegetables, one-quarter should be lean protein, and one-quarter a starchy carb. Here are 10 terrific options for healthy diabetes snacks.Continue reading > >
Also Check: Is Pasta Bad For Diabetics
How To Choose Healthy Crackers
When buying crackers, there are a few things you need to consider to ensure you’re buying the best.
- Make sure “whole grain” is the first ingredient: “You want to make sure that they are 100% whole grain crackers. The first ingredient should be 100% whole grain flour,” says registered dietitianAmanda A. Kostro Miller, RD, LDN, who serves on the advisory board for Smart Healthy Living.
- Look for crackers with at least 3 grams of fiber. “Another thing to strive for in a healthy cracker is fiber. Look on the nutrition label of your crackers. Strive to search for crackers that have the most fiber compared to other brands. Some of the crackers in the grocery store may only have 3 grams per serving,” Kostro Miller says.
- Beware of high sodium levels. “When possible, try to choose crackers that have less sodium, because controlling your sodium intake is important for everyone,” Kostro Miller says.
- There should be little or no added sugar. Most Americans are already consuming a high-sugar diet. You want to make sure that savory crackers aren’t taking on to your daily limit of added sugar. “A little added honey is alright, but it’s usually best to avoid high fructose corn syrup or crackers with more than one type of sugar. If you’re looking for a healthy cracker choice, keep the added sugar in check: no more than 1-2 grams of sugar per serving is best,” says dietitian Caitlin Self, MS, CNS, LDN.
Peanut Butter And Jelly On A Whole
The good news about PB: Including it in your breakfast can help improve satiety, reduce hunger, and decrease after-meal glucose levels, according to a small, past study.
Spread 1 tbsp on ½ of a high-fiber, whole-grain English muffin for a wholesome, nourishing snack. One option, Natural Creamy Jif Peanut Butter Spread, roughly contains 85 calories, 8 g fat , 4 g carbs, and 3.5 g protein. Meanwhile, one whole-grain English muffin from Thomas has an estimated 120 calories, 1 g fat , 23 g carbs, and 5 g protein.
Top it off with 1 tbsp of sugar-free jelly for a PB& J that is not only satisfying but also good for you. Smuckers Sugar-Free Strawberry Preserves, for example, contains no fat or protein, and only 5 g carbs.
Read Also: What Colors Represent Diabetes
What To Look For On The Label
Be a savvy shopper and know what to look for on the label. Whole grains should be first on the ingredients list, which means the primary ingredient is a blood-sugar stabilizing, fiber-rich whole grain. Look for a label that says “100 percent whole grain.” Labels that say “made with whole grains” can be misleading they will contain some whole grains but may be primarily made with refined grains. Check the fiber count per serving. The higher the fiber count, the better. Make sure you also look at the serving size — even if crackers have only a small amount of net carbs per serving, eating several servings can mean you’re still eating lots of carbohydrates.
References
Sweet And Savory Pears And Prosciutto
Jennifer Shrodes, RD, CDCES, at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, recommends that people with diabetes prioritize blood sugar-friendly choices and make them incredibly tasty. One classic protein-and-carb combo is ½ of a piece of fruit, like an apple or pear, with thinly sliced prosciutto, which is dry-cured ham.
Heres what youll get from this fancy-feeling snack: Two thin slices of prosciutto contain 70 calories, 5 g fat , 1 g carbs, and 8 g protein, according to the USDA. One-half of a juicy pear has 50 calories, no fat or protein, and about 14 g of carbs, per the USDA.
Recommended Reading: Can Metformin Cause Low Blood Sugar
Best Gourmet: Rustic Bakery Handmade Sourdough Flatbread
Although it doesn’t meet our fiber requirements, Rustic Bakery is a dietitian-approved cracker when you’re whipping up a fancy cheese plate. “Hands down the best store-bought crackers are from Rustic Bakery. The sourdough option is my favorite because the baking involves fermentation, which attracts yeast and bacteria. These live organisms digest the complex starches in the dough. The length of time that the dough ferments is directly related to the break-down of gluten in a process called hydrolysis,” says Laura Lagano, MD, RDN, CDN, integrative & functional nutritionist with an in-person & virtual private practice. Lagano notes that fermented crackers like this can be helpful for people who are sensitive to gluten, but they’re still not best for individuals with Celiac disease.
There Are So Many Great Packaged Snacks For Diabetes On The Market But You Need To Know What To Look For
Having easy to grab, on-the-go snacks makes life a lot easier when you are managing diabetes. Keep reading for my comprehensive list of the best packaged snacks for diabetes!
*Disclaimer: This blog post is not sponsored in anyway. These are all truly my favorite packaged snacks for diabetes. However, I do work with some of these brands occasionally. Thatâs actually one of my favorite things about my job⦠some of my favorite foods to eat are also my clients! And some of the links in this post are affiliate links. What does that mean? It means that if you click on a link and end up purchasing that product, I may get a small commission, but it doesnât cost you anything extra.
Also, this article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services. This article and the links contained in it provide general information for educational purposes only. The information provided in this article is not a substitute for medical care, and should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or registered dietitian.
Read Also: The Side Effect Of Metformin
Avoid Starchy And Sugary Snacks
Your body converts foods that are high in starch or sugar into glucose immediately after eating, which can cause a quick spike in blood sugar levels. This can also lead to a large drop in blood sugar later, Stephens says.
Ideally, you want your blood sugar levels to be as stable as possible it’s the sharp swings that can cause health problems. But starchy and sugary carbs do just this.
Starchy carbs include white bread, white rice, pasta, and potatoes. Sugary carbs include fruit juices, sweets, chocolate, and desserts. Overall, Stephens recommends avoiding the following:
- Fruit juices
- Dried fruit
- Pastries
- Cakes
- Muffins
- White bread
For people with diabetes, the Joslin Diabetes Center recommends 40% of daily calorie intake should come from carbohydrates.
Stephens recommends people with diabetes should aim for about 15 to 30 grams of carbs per snack and about 120 to 150 grams per day depending on how much physical activity they do, whether they want to maintain or lose weight, and other health factors.
Back To Nature Stoneground Wheat Crackers
Back to Nature Stoneground Wheat Crackers Ingredients: enrichedflour, organic safflower oil, ground wheat flour, whole wheat flakes, whole brown flax seed, evaporated cane juice, brown rice syrup, sea salt, leavening, barley malt extract, soy lecithin.
Reasons to avoid Back to Nature Stoneground Wheat Crackers crackers:
- Refined flour is first ingredient
- 281 mg of sodium per serving
- Contains evaporated cane juice, brown rice syrup, and barley malt extract, all types of added sugar
Read Also: Excretion Of Glucose In The Blood Is A Symptom Of
Low Carb Cracker Options From Amazon
Inside the Diabetes Meal Plans Members Club, weve got our own flax/sesame cracker recipe. Its easy to make but if you want an option thats similar, these Dr in the kitchen crackers are the ones.
$5.69 for a 5 oz / 142 g pack.
Ingredients: Organic Flax Seeds, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Bragg Liquid Aminos , Organic Garlic, Organic Onion, Organic Red Chili Pepper, Organic Basil.
6 crackers = 1 g net carbs.
Zero carbs.
$8.38 for 1 8 oz/ 226 g pack.
Ingredients: Organic cracked flax seed, organic chopped flax seed meal, salvia Hispanic L. milled chia seed grains, chia seed meals, and natural dietary vegetable plant fiber.
This company has really good low carb products but they are very expensive, out of the price range for most people Id imagine.https://diabetesmealplans.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=5643& action=edit
Even a bulk pack of 12 will cost you $11.50 per 8.5 oz/ 241 g box.
Ingredients: Almond Flour, Organic Flax, Chili Powder, Onion Powder, Sea Salt
20 crackers = 4 g net carbs.
A bit higher in carbs but if you have 8 crackers it would be 11.5 g so thats not too bad I guess.
$3.29 per 4.29 oz/ 120.5 g box.
Ingredients: Rice flour, pecan meal, potato starch, expeller pressed safflower oil, salt, natural pecan flavor and natural butter flavor.Contains: Milk. Produced in a facility that also makes products containing: Soy, almonds, hazelnuts and wheat.
$9.25 for 4 oz/ 113 g pack.
8 crackers = 2 g net carbs.
$6.99 1.75 oz/ 50g pack.
A Small Handful Of Crunchy Pistachios For Protein And Healthy Fat
Pistachios contain a powerful punch of protein as well as a mixture of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which can help reduce your cholesterol levels, notes the Cleveland Clinic. Lowering unhealthy LDL cholesterol can also cut your risk of developing heart disease, a common complication of diabetes, according to the CDC.
A 1-oz portion equals about 160 calories, per the USDA. Theyre also a good source of fiber, with 3 g.
Also Check: What Is A Dangerous Level Of A1c For Type 2 Diabetes
Are Ritz Crackers Healthy The Untold Truths About Ritz Crackers
Ritz crackers are the third leading crackers brand in the United States with sales of $485.6 million according to a statistics report. When it comes to snacks, Ritz crackers may be at the top of your list whether you are shopping at your local supermarket or in the grocery aisles of big box stores like Walmart or Target.
These versatile crackers are great to dip into hummus or guacamole, top with Chinese or deli meat or pop in your mouth just as they are. If you attend a party or a gathering, its easy to grab a box of Ritz crackers and a dip and you will be all set to contribute something delicious to the festivities. But the question arises, Are Ritz crackers healthy? Well, the article is all about the answer to this question.
Table of Content
Best Crackers For Diabetes
Looking for a nutritious and delicious cracker to snack on? Try one of our 18 cracker winners or finalists that are dietitian-approved and taste-tested. We conducted blind taste panels with more than 100 people, including people with diabetes, and named the top-rated crackers the winners of our Diabetic Living What to Eat contest.
Also Check: Most Common Side Effect Of Metformin
Are Snacks For Type 1 Diabetes Different Than Snacks For Type 2 Diabetes
Since I get asked pretty frequently if the products I recommend and recipes I develop are just for people with type 1 diabetes , I want to clarifyâ¦
Just like all of the other content I put out here on my website and on social media, the recommendations for snacks in this post apply to people with all types of diabetes, and anyone looking to balance blood sugars and energy levels.
Are Ritz Peanut Butter Crackers Healthy
Ritz peanut butter crackers are very delicious. Peanut butter is sandwiched between two crackers. Nut butter-containing products are considered for health as they contain vitamin E and other essential nutrients. Vitamin E prevents heart diseases, reduces inflammation, boosts immunity, and is good for the health of the eyes.
So, are peanut butter Ritz crackers a healthy snack? Yes, they are healthy as they contain a lot of proteins. Proteins are good for the health of muscles. Eating peanut butter crackers can make you feel full for longer as proteins in peanut butter give a satiating effect. It has limited calories and it can help you lose weight.
You May Like: Will Drinking Water Lower Blood Sugar
The 21 Best Snack Ideas If You Have Diabetes
Choosing healthy snacks can be difficult when you have diabetes.
The key is to choose snacks that are high in fiber, protein and healthy fats. These nutrients will help keep your blood sugar levels under control.
Its also important to snack on nutrient-dense foods that promote overall health.
This article discusses 21 excellent snacks to eat if you have diabetes.