Though I’m not a fan of special K snack bars (think: an unsatisfying sugary cereal bar trying to post as healthy), I am sucker for crackers of all forms. I couldn’t resist the sale at Target (go figure) and after a quick scan over the “seems healthy to me” ingredients, decided I’d give it a go.
Welcome the Kellog’s Special K Multi-grain Cracker
Special K Cracker Ingredients: WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR, ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE [VITAMIN B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VITAMIN B2], FOLIC ACID), SUGAR, HONEY, SOYBEAN OIL WITH TBHQ FOR FRESHNESS, TOASTED DEFATTED WHEAT GERM, WHOLE OAT FLOUR, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, CONTAINS TWO PERCENT OR LESS OF SALT, BAKING SODA, MALTODEXTRIN, RICE FLOUR, WHEY, ONION, POTATO STARCH, NATURAL MIXED TOCOPHEROLS AND BHT FOR FRESHNESS, SOY LECITHIN.
Special K crackers Stats: For 24 crackers (1 serving) – 120 Calories, 3g fat (0g saturated), 260mg sodium, 22g Carbs (2g fiber, 6g sugar), 3g Protein
Posing with my flip phone to put some size into perspective here.
At first glance, these crackers look like really skinny, pale Wheat Thins (which I like). Compare to the ingredients used in Nabisco Wheat Thins.
Special K Crackers Flavor & Texture: These crackers taste so similar to slightly sweeter, less salty Wheat Thins! I really enjoy the cracker plain, light, and crispy on its own. Though I have to say it is smaller and slimmer than a Wheat Thin, this has a great crunch and holds up very well to a dip (such as dessert hummus.) There are little bits of grains in the cracker itself, giving it a minutely gritty texture – kind of like the funny fibers you see in whole wheat flour. YUMMY!
Now compare to Original Wheat Thins…
Original Wheat Thins Ingredients: ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SOYBEAN OIL, WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, DEFATTED WHEAT GERM, CORNSTARCH, MALT SYRUP (FROM BARLEY AND CORN), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SALT, MONOGLYCERIDES, LEAVENING (CALCIUM PHOSPHATE AND/OR BAKING SODA), VEGETABLE COLOR (ANNATTO EXTRACT, TURMERIC OLEORESIN), SOY LECITHIN. CONTAINS: WHEAT, SOY.
Wheat Thins Stats: For 14 crackers (1 serving) – 140 Calories, 5g fat (1g saturated), 230mg sodium, 22g carbs (2g fiber, 4g sugar), 2g Protein
Ingredient Winner: Clearly Special K even though both crackers share very very similar ingredients. There is NO high fructose corn syrup in the Special K cracker, though it is sweetened with sugar and honey. Also, the first ingredient is whole wheat flour versus enriched flour in the wheat thins, giving the Special K cracker a little bit of a leg up.
Nutritional Stats Winner: As you can see, you get to eat a lot more Special K crackers for fewer calories and 1g more protein than Wheat Thins. However, you’ll also be eating more sodium and a little more sugar. However, the winning factor is that it has 40% (or 2g less) of fat than Wheat Thins. WT also has 2.5g of TRANS fats. Not good!
Overall: I am more a fan of these Special K crackers than Wheat Thins. I like that the cracker is sweet and a little salty, Crunchy and cute! You can eat a higher quantity of crackers (although they are smaller) than Wheat Thins, (but that’s okay with me since the ingredients make me feel a little more comfortable)! I would buy them again if I really craved a refined, sweet ‘n salty cracker. Unless someone wants to recommend another cracker to me!
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Second order of business – I wanted to share with you a NY Times restaurant critic’s advice on:
How to spend your dough WISELY at a “fancy” restaurant
According to him, the safest and best way to order (if you’re a Foodie that is) is:
1) Scratch off the appetizers and entrees that are most like dishes you’ve seen in many other restaurants, because they represent this one at its most dutiful, conservative and profit-minded. The chef’s heart isn’t in them.
2) Scratch off the dishes that look the most aggressively fanciful. The chef’s vanity — possibly too much of it — spawned these.
3) Then scratch off anything that mentions truffle oil.
4) Choose among the remaining dishes.
I have frequently made these restaurant “mistakes”, particularly #1. (Hello seared ahi tuna)😛
What’s your biggest restaurant menu vice?
P.s. CoCo (Balance Joy) & Not-so-psycho Jess, please e-mail me your address to claim your free ZenSoy coupons!!!
P.s.s. Check out the giveaway at Green Doggie!
haha i can just imagine bringing this list to a fancy restaurant and crossing things off the menu with a sharpie until there’s one thing left.
I like trying new stuffs at new restaurants but I keep ordering the same favorite meal in my favorite restaurants!😀 So #1 doesn’t count for me!
I don’t usually buy crackers because I can’t control myselft to just eat one portion!!! Maybe count them and put them in a plate would help? Maybe not for me!😉
YAY🙂
I’m sad wheat thins lost the challenge – i LOVE wheat thins🙂
ohh nice cracker smackdown. i will have to try those special k ones, they look a lot like the kashi crackers which i love! that list cracked me up, well #3 did.. haha, ok? weird tip! but when i am out at a restaurant that is fancy i usually just order whatever i am feeling, i love new things! xo
Mmm those dumplings look delicious!!
I think I’m probably the same as you – ordering the common things that I can’t get enough of! Seared ahi tuna is a weakness of mine, too! I also am sometimes a victim of #2 b/c I think “I’ll never get that anywhere but here.”
I’ll have to try those Special K crackers. I have to admit, I know Wheat Thins are not the healthiest (uh, especially when one eats half a box with Diet Coke), but I LOVE THEM!
And the har-gow (sp))? OMG. Favorite. Dim sum dish. Ever.
Michelle,
Thanks for your comment on my blog. As I continue to watch this show I am sure I will come up with even more dislikes than likes. I had no idea that Jillian was so against artificial sweeteners, yet they promote the Yoplait lights?! Ridiculous. That is something that doesn’t surprise me though, as the show gets more popular I have a feeling that kind of stuff will get worse. And the promotions…I’m sure there will be more and more as the years go by. They have to keep making money off of people, I mean come on!
Regarding the crackers, I’m not a huge cracker fan but I will keep in mind the Special K brand! I do like them in my soup in the winter🙂
Haha, I tend to do #1 as well–grilled salmon! I do agree, that “The chef’s heart isn’t in them” if they’re the standard items. However, if it is something like ‘Grilled salmon with a exotic coconut butter sauce, served with fresh mango chutney’ (I totally made that up), I guess I would still fall for it!
What??? Wheat thins have HFCS? What doesn’t have them anymore😦 Well, I guess that means I’ll check out those Special K crackers =)
I go into restaurants with the goal of trying something completely new…though there is something fun to me about trying different twists of old favourites and getting things I have had countless times before…
Interesting cracker comparison. I’ve always like Wheat Thins, so now I’m curious.
Great restaurant tips.
I am going to have to find those crackers – that’s a generous serving! Glad your hot sausage worked out – that will be next week, and I’ll probably make the breakfast sausage over the weekend.
Love the restaurant tips!😀
Mmm, those crackers sound great! Love me some wheat thins!
YAYYY! I’ll email you😀 Thanks!
❤ jess
i loved the cracker comparison thanks for that! I just came across your blog. loving it! nat
24 crackers in a serving is huge!! at least it seems that way! loved the comparison! you are always so thorough in your reviews!!!
is that some dim sum?! omg drool! pass some ova this way!!
love your restaurant tips!
TBHQ is actually a form of poison – i learned that awhile ago. they use it as a preservative, but it is poison. sooooo…i may rethink that special k thing. i will see if i can remember where i read that – i remember it was somewhere reputable!
will get back to you – have a good weekend!
I LOVE these special K crackers — though I definitely do not recommend the sundried tomatoes flavor.. blech! no me gustaaa.
uhh what’s wrong with truffle oil…
I use it ALL the time in cooking..
hahaha i keeeed
those s k crackers aren’t too shabby!
Haha, that list cracks me up…. I definitely have been a sucker for the truffle oil before!! Although I was just given some for my birthday, and after using it on some kale chips, it’s really nothing too special!
Also, I’m having a giveaway to win a year’s subscription to Vegetarian Time magazine, if you are interested!🙂
My biggest restaurant mistake is ordering menu items with a vague description, then being disappointed when they’re not what I thought they would be.
I love love love Wheat thins, but I’ll have to give those Special K crackers a try!
I too was worried about SOYBEAN OIL WITH TBHQ FOR FRESHNESS. Eeek. I don’t even know what TBHQ is! Fortunately, I’ve given up crackers but love having the comparison when I need it. Good investigative work!
Restaurant vice? Sweet potato fries. If I’m ordering something that could use fries as a companion, and there are sweet potato fries as an option, I’m all over that.
I love special k crackers!! I prettu much used to live on these!