Wholesome Crackers

Have you ever really looked at the ingredients to most crackers on store shelves?  Well, here is what you will find in Ritz (taken directly from their website): Ingredients: UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE {VITAMIN B1}, RIBOFLAVIN {VITAMIN B2}, FOLIC ACID), SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL, SALT, LEAVENING (CALCIUM PHOSPHATE AND/OR BAKING SODA), HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, SOY LECITHIN, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NATURAL FLAVOR.

There is really no nutritional value, but all that other stuff?  Hydrogenated oils are terrible for you, as is high fructose corn syrup (surely GMO), soy lecithin, and natural flavors (does not even have to be an actual natural item, the flavor is just "natural"; this phrase is completely unregulated by the FDA).

Think Wheat Thins would be better?  The word "wheat" is in the title, they have to be right?  Here is the ingredients, (take from HERE): 

Ingredients

WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT FLOUR, SOYBEAN OIL, SUGAR, CORNSTARCH, MALT SYRUP (FROM CORN AND BARLEY), SALT, REFINER'S SYRUP, LEAVENING (CALCIUM PHOSPHATE AND/OR BAKING SODA), VEGETABLE COLOR (TURMERIC OLEORESIN, ANNATTO EXTRACT). BHT ADDED TO PACKAGING MATERIAL TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS.CONTAINS WHEAT.

I am very happy to see that they do not use hydrogenated oils any more, but there is added sugar, malt syrup (another sugar) and BHT?  YUM, chemicals!  

Instead, take about 5-10 minutes to make your OWN crackers!  

I found a great recipe from an app call The Whole Pantry.  You can get it HERE!

Bean and Flax Chips

1 cup buckwheat groats

1 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup flax (linseed) seeds

1 can organic cannelloni (or Great Northern) beans, drained and washed

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon sea salt

1/2 tablespoon chili pepper flakes

juice of 1 lime

1/2 tablespoon cumin powder

Step 1: place the buckwheat in a blow and cover with water and a pinch of sea salt.

Step 2: place sunflower and flax sees in a separate bowl and cover with water and a pinch of salt.

Step 3: soak both for 2-7 hours (this process removes enzyme inhibitors that disrupt digestion; it is recommended, but optional).

Step 4: preheat oven to 140

Step 5: rinse buckwheat and add to the bowl of a food processor with the beans.  Process until smooth.  

Step 6: rinse the sunflower and flax seeds and add them to the food processor along with the remaining ingredients. 

Mine looked like this: 

Step 7: line two 1/2 sheets with parchment paper and spread the mixture across evenly

Step 8: bake for about 2 hours... cooking time will depend on the thickness of your batter, so just check them periodically until crispy.  Let them cool and break apart.

It sounds like a lot of work, but most of the work is just waiting.  

Best part is, you know what is in them, and they are filled with protein, no wheat, no gluten, no dairy or animal products, just wholesome goodness.