Crackers to sink into that tasty dip

By Janet K. Keeler, Times Food and Travel Editor
Published December 26, 2007

Crackers left to right: Kashi TLC Stoneground 7 grain, Dare Grains First Whole Grain and Pepperidge Farm Harvest Wheat.
	[Times photos: Cherie Diez]

All crackers are not created equal, especially when it comes to the wheat-y, grainy sort. Our new affection for fiber has sent the nation's crackermakers into overdrive. A saunter down the cracker aisle confirms that: Even though the packages boast whole grains and wheat, not all have the fiber content to back it up.

If you're looking for a healthier foil for dip or cheese this New Year's Eve, here's a guide to a basketful of crackers.

Archer Farms Organic Multigrain (Target store brand, $2.49 for 5 ounces)

Tasty and small with lots of wheat flavor, though they don't much look like the crackers pictured on the box. Of all the varieties we sampled, this package had the most broken pieces. For five: 150 calories and 1 gram fiber.

Kashi TLC Stoneground 7 grain ($2.99 for 6 ounces)

A big, sturdy square perfect for a mound of chicken salad or a heavy bean dip. Lots of seeds though sesame stands out the most with an occasional zing of salt. One of our favorites. For six: 130 calories and 3 grams fiber.

Dare Grains First Whole Grain ($2.50 for 8.8 ounces)

Dare is a Canadian company that gets it right with this flavorful cracker. It's got great snap and a satisfying, earthy taste. Eat alone, serve with a garlic or herb dip or a hunk of smoked cheese. We love it. For four: 90 calories and 2 grams fiber.

Kellogg's All-Bran Multigrain ($2.50 for 10 ounces)

We like these for a kids' tea party because of their sweetness and strong cinnamon taste. In fact, they taste like cereal made into a cracker. Hard to imagine on the adult buffet. For nine: 130 calories and 5 grams fiber.

Pepperidge Farm Harvest Wheat ($2.50 for 10.5 ounces)

More like a buttery biscuit than a cracker with just a touch of sweetness. A perfect match for a hot seafood dip or a big schmear of cambozola, the camembert-gorgonzola blend. For three: 80 calories and less than 1 gram fiber.

Keebler Club Multigrain ($1.94 for 15 ounces)

They have the same shape but a sturdier snap than the original Club cracker. For a multigrain we found them to be quite delicate, buttery even. Give us one with a big slab of Cheddar on top. For four: 70 calories and less than 1 gram fiber.

Keebler Toasted Wheat ($3.19 for 8 ounces)

The box says "brings distinctive taste to everyday occasions." We thought just the opposite. A hint of onion and butter but not much to make it rise above the rest of the pack. For five: 80 calories and less than 1 gram fiber.

Keebler Town House Bistro Multigrain ($3.59 for 12 ounces)

Is it a cracker or a boogie board for Malibu Beach Barbie? This huge plank might be good to scoop up tuna salad in a take-along work lunch, but it would eat up too much room on the party table. The batch we sampled tasted burned. For two: 80 calories and less than 1 gram fiber.

Nabisco Ritz Whole Wheat ($3.39 for 15 ounces)

They tried to make us eat these crackers and we said "no, no, no." These taste like your mother got on a health-food kick and refused to buy the regular Ritz. Dry, not much flavor. Our package had a lot of breakage. For five: 70 calories and less than 1 gram fiber.

Nabisco 100 Percent Whole Grain Wheat Thins ($2.04 for 10 ounces)

Sturdy enough for scooping and small enough to pop the whole thing in your mouth. This prevents double-dipping. There's a distinct flour aftertaste, but we like the saltiness. A good stand-in for the original. For nine: 140 calories and 2 grams fiber.

Sunshine Krispy Wheat Saltine Crackers ($2.69 for 16 ounces)

Good for adding a very little bit of fiber to tomato soup. Too wimpy for anything more than American singles, but you'll run the risk of your kids rejecting them for being too brown. We probably wouldn't bother buying again. For five: 60 calories and less than 1 gram fiber.

[Last modified December 21, 2007, 17:06:29]