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I just wanted to blog about my favourite cheese crackers. Since August 12, 2009 (so, three months now), I have given up eating chips (potato chips, Asian chips, nachos, etc.) but I certainly cannot give up cheese crackers. It’s not like I was gorging on Cheese Nips–even I can be snobby against those.

My boss at the place where I used to work deposited a few times a foil-wrapped tray of cheese crackers so I never knew the brand. If I was the only person there, I couldn’t resist scarfing down more than my share of the crackers. Ugh.

I was walking around my neighbourhood Save On looking for the newest and latest that the market decided to re-sell and in the marked organic section in the crackers aisle, I saw the boxes that were clearly what my former boss was bringing in, John WM Macy crackers!

Because these crackers provide intensity in the realms of cheesiness and crunchiness, I must try all the flavours available (and then “retry” them); fortunately there are only four flavours available at the local market!

Cheese Sticks

I think the only flavours available are Romano Garlic and Melting Parmesan. Dijon Swiss, Cheddar & Scallion, and Tuscan Swiss certainly are not among the flavours imported to the store. Cheese sticks are elegant but there can only be so many in a box and then you’re out.

Cheese Crisps

Cheese crisps I know much more intimately! The two flavours Save On carries are Melting Romano and Cheddar & Asiago. They do not carry White Onion, Smoked Jalapeno, and Sesame Gruyere. (Mmm, that sesame gruyere sounds super!) Of the two flavours available, I like cheddar & asiago much more–it is sharper with the extra spices.

I should update this post with some nutrition comparison with, say, Cheese Nips which are definitely not found in the green-marked organic section of the crackers aisle but here is what I know about the cheese crips: 15 crackers cost you 195cal; the whole box costs you 590cal. I can forgo dinner and eat a box, eep.

Vendor: Save On Foods
Price: $4.59
Website: John WM Macy

During one of my self-destructive strolls through the IGA Marketplace near work, that is when I’m armed with a wallet, I picked up chips (ugh) and cookies (ugh) and continued to stroll through the aisles looking for what’s new, or new to me. Perhaps I would find something that I did not have to hide in my drawer at work and sneak snacks from!

In the crackers and “healthier snacks” aisle, I was drawn to the Lundberg Family Farms rice cakes because of the yellow sale sticker. =P IGA had some or all of the savoury cakes selection but it was an easy pick to go with Tamari with Seaweed. Seaweed is definitely exotic on my rice cake where I’m tired of my favourite flavours – ketchup that doesn’t taste like ketchup chips ketchup, and sour cream and onion – and other flavours are just so… Western. You know what flavours I’m talking about: butter, caramel, kettle corn, white cheddar! Shudder.

Somehow, I didn’t start in on the rice cakes until over a week after the purchase and thank goodness! I have re-discovered rice cakes with the pungent, slightly salty seaweed (nori) that is sprinkled across the ever-so crispy rice cake.

Lundberg boasts that the finest whole grain brown rice is used in this product and that there is twice as much rice as found in other rice cakes. Having more rice is not a problem… when it’s brown rice!

The nutritional details can be found at their webpage. I had 3 and was awfully satiated. Each rice cake has 70 calories, no fat, no cholesterol, 125 mg sodium, 90 mg potassium, 15 grams of carbohydrates (1 gram fiber), and 1 gram of protein.

Vendor: IGA
Price: $1.99 (Sale price)
Website: Organic Tamari with Seaweed Rice Cakes