For MOMS & MOMS-TO-BE and BABIES 10 MONTHS+
Snacking isn’t something most of us associate with being healthy. Unless it’s a piece of fruit or crudité, snacks generally consist of foods that are filled with too much sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and/or all of the above.
And while you can find “healthy” snacks out there, they usually don’t taste that great and don’t satiate our cravings like many of their unhealthy brethren’s do.
That’s why I was so pleased when I was introduced to Mary’s Gone Crackers (MGC). Whether you are more of a cracker or a pretzel person, or you like simple flavors or ones with more pizazz, MGC has something for you!
THE PRODUCT: Mary’s Gone Crackers was started after 43-year-old Mary Waldner was diagnosed with celiac disease (an autoimmune disorder that causes an inflammatory response when ingesting gluten, a protein found in wheat and all of its cousins: barley, rye and most oats). Cutting out all gluten immediately, she soon turned to her lifelong passion for baking and began creating all kinds of gluten free goodies – from crackers and cookies to pancakes and pretzels. Her favorite concoction, a whole grain cracker made with brown rice, quinoa, flax and sesame seeds.
Taking them everywhere, she’d bring them along in a little bag, eating them at restaurants (instead of eating the bread) and at parties, coupling them with soft cheeses, fresh guacamole, tangy salsas and other toppings provided at these events, or any time she just wanted a snack.
People were obviously curious, and after trying them, everyone loved them and wanted more. So, on New Year’s Day, 1999, Mary told her husband, Dale, that “we need to manufacture these crackers.” Five years later, they had their business plan and some initial investors.
Fast forward to today, and Mary and Dale now manufacture all their products in their own dedicated gluten-free facility: all of which are organic, vegan and gluten-free.
Available in 7 tasty and unique Cracker flavors, including Original, Herb, Black Pepper, Super Seed, Hot n’ Spicy Jalapeño, Caraway and Onion, there are also 3 flavors of Pretzels, including Everything, Sea Salt and Tomato Chipotle.
NUTRITION-WISE: Those at Mary’s Gone Crackers believe in “Conscious Eating” and therefore, choose ingredients and manufacturing methods that are “better for you, better for the animals (and the bees!), and better for the planet.” This means that their products contain: no pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (living organisms whose genetic structure has been altered often by inserting a gene from another species) – aka, all of their products are Organic.
This also means that all of their products are vegan and do not contain any meat, dairy (including butter), eggs or any animal-derived ingredients. They are also gluten-free [since experts believe that 1 in 133 people in the U.S. have celiac disease (although only 5%, are diagnosed)].
Baked with a wide array of healthy grains and seeds, including quinoa, amaranth, millet, and chia, flax and sesame seeds, Mary’s Gone Crackers also pays special regards to using the “ancient” varieties. It is said that these ancient grains and seeds retain more of their nutritional value and rich taste because they have been relatively untouched by modern plant science. In contrast, food engineers breed modern grains and seeds for high crop yields, pest resistance and improved tolerance for storage and handling – not for flavor or nutritional value.
Coming in at around 140-150 calories per serving (13 crackers or 15 pretzels), 45 of which comes from healthy fats, you will also find around, 3-4 grams of both fiber and protein, and 0 grams of sugar, give or take depending on the flavor.
*Mary’s Gone Crackers is the perfect chip, cracker or pretzel alternative for both kids and adults alike. Filled with healthy fats, protein and fiber, as long as your little one is able to gnaw on crunchy snacks, then these foods are great!
WHERE TO BUY: Mary’s Gone Crackers are conveniently available Online, or you can visit their Store Locator to find the retail location nearest you.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Finding healthy alternatives to snack foods (especially when it comes to crackers and pretzels), is not very easy – especially when you want them to taste good! Well fortunately Mary’s Gone Crackers has done a great job of making both these items do just that. With a wide variety of cracker flavors that contain both fiber and protein without any sugar, you can dip them, crumple them up as a topping, or even eat them straight out of the box.
All of their crackers really are delicious and have a great texture too. However, I will admit that I’m not the biggest fan of their pretzels. Although the texture is good and they are nutritious, for those who love traditional pretzels, you probably won’t be too impressed. My 2 year old son, on-the-hand, has never had a “real” pretzel before and absolutely loves the Mary’s Gone Crackers versions. This is a win-win in my book and will definitely have me going back to buy him more.
Try any or all of Mary’s Gone Crackers today and see for yourself how snacking can be both healthy and delicious!
To learn more about Mary’s Gone Crackers, please visit their website and check them out on Facebook.
And remember, Contact Healthy.Fit.Fab…Moms today to create a personalized plan so you and your family can live a healthy, fit, and fabulous life!
