Crunchmaster Multigrain Crackers Roasted Vegetable

Crunchmaster Multigrain Crackers Roasted Vegetable
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

When walking down the snack aisle, which will be filled with tons of different cookies and crackers, the one thing that shoppers can count on is that just about every item on the shelf will have made friends with wheat or gluten. And this is a shame since there are so many delicious flavors out there for crackers these days that just look like they should be ripped off the shelf and immediately devoured. 

For the gluten intolerant among us, this has required a search through various gluten-free boxes of crackers to try and find a snack that was a good approximation of a wheat-filled version. Most of the time the substitute ingredients used in such crackers (such as flax or even beans) are rather strong in and of itself and this can make various gluten-free crackers taste just a little bit too different to be an actual gluten replacement.

Crunchmaster Multigrain Crackers Roasted Vegetable
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Sure the crackers might have some value on their own as a snack, but they still taste different enough from a wheat variety that if someone isn't a flax fan or isn't a big proponent of various alternative ingredients, they might not like some of the chips out there. Fortunately, this sentiment does not apply to Crunchmaster as these folks have seemingly made some terrific varieties of their chips and the flavors are a perfect partner for the gluten-free cracker varieties that are on the market right now.

It's worth pointing out that there are several different varieties of these crackers and they each seem to have a different strength and aroma when it comes to their flavor versus the actual taste of the cracker itself. Depending on the ingredients, sometimes it's an experience that tastes a lot like various grains while other varieties will seem to focus much more on the additional flavor such as cheese or white cheddar.

For the purposes of this review, the crackers chosen are the Crunchmaster Multigrain Crackers Roasted Vegetable variety and these crackers are definitely very flavorful and present a terrific option for a delicious snack. There's a really good balance between the taste of the basic cracker and the vegetable flavoring upon it so the cracker overall is a nicely balanced and crunchy experience.

Crunchmaster Multigrain Crackers Roasted Vegetable
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The nutritional content on these crackers is pretty decent as well since the manufacturer goes out of its way to let buyers know that the crackers are free of saturated fat and have a fairly low overall amount of fat in each serving (which is a really good thing since it's way too easy to just toss an entire bag back in one sitting!)

Overall, these crackers are really good and they're a great option for someone who wants to provide a snack to guests but doesn't want to have to put up with a snack that is so obviously gluten-free that someone doesn't even have to look on the front of the cracker box (or bag as it were) to realize that they're gluten free. 

These crackers simply have a terrific taste to them and for anyone who puts these out in a bowl at a party on the snack table, it's likely that these crackers will disappear in seconds if people get a whiff of them or are lucky enough to have a taste. These crackers do stand well on their own and don't really need and accompaniment, but they'd probably be a great addition to a few slices of cheddar cheese (or any sort of snack cheese) and might be a great part of a snack spread at a small party that would include some grapes, cheese cubes and other basic snacks. 

Crunchmaster Multigrain Crackers Roasted Vegetable
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Crunchmaster Multigrain Crackers Roasted Vegetable Report Card

The Good Things

On every front that counts - taste, texture and aroma - these crackers deliver. They're a zesty vegetable flavor that just tastes terrific. Out of all the varieties that Crunchmaster makes, these crackers are probably a little more zesty than the other varieties, but that's not a bad thing. If you're looking for a snack with a subtler taste, there's the white cheddar variety to check out as well.

Honestly, there aren't a lot of gluten-free crackers that can match the awesome taste of these crunchy, square snacks. If you're at all a fan of vegetable flavored snacks, these suckers will definitely be worth a try.

What Could Improve

There isn't anywhere to go when you're at the top. These crackers are tasty and would be a great way to satisfy that snacking urge.

Blue Diamond Baked Nut Chips Nacho

Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

Doritos. They are the zesty, cheesy cousin to Cheetos and they leave a delightful amount of cheesy particles on the fingers of whoever is lucky enough to have a bag of them in their cupboard. Unfortunately for anyone who loves nacho cheese flavored snacks and has problems with wheat or gluten, Doritos are off the the list of allowed food. And they really are a delightful food, which is why this author has searched for quite a few years now to find a suitable replacement.

One such possibility is Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho, which is one of many different types of nut-based snacks that the company makes. From actual regular almonds that come in a tin to a round shaped nut "thin" that's sort of like a cracker, just about everything the company makes has the words "gluten free" stamped onto it. And the familiar triangle shape and nacho flavor on the company's Nut Chips seems to beg a comparison. We now seem to associate anything that's nacho flavored as having to come in the shape of a triangle.

It's best to get the bad news out of the way so you don't feel yourself sitting on pins and needles to find out if Blue Diamond Nut Chips are actually Doritos clones. 

They are not.

Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

And there's nothing wrong with this as sometimes it's best to simply eat a food and like or dislike it on its own merits and not how it compares to another food. And these nut chips do have some positive elements which would likely be attractive to someone seeking a snack with some healthy elements. Not only are they infused with almonds, but the bag also suggests that there is a healthy amount of whole grains included, courtesy of some brown rice. 

The maker also likes to advertise that there's less saturated fat than a regular bag of chips. But let's face it, saturated fat tastes good. Everybody knows it. If you're aiming for a healthy snack, it's worth trying the nacho flavor just to see how they taste, but you might have some luck trying the Blue Diamond Nut Chips, Sour Cream and Chive flavor.

Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho Report Card

The Good Stuff

These little cracker.... chip... things are a nice snack type diversion, but it's unlikely they'll be anyone's favorite food. Nachos and almonds just don't seem to be a great partnership. It's possible that finding some sort of condiment for dipping would improve the experience.

The nutritional content of the chips is likely a big plus for anyone seeking their whole grains requirement for the day and the fact that the chips don't have a lot of fat or calories in them (you can toss back about half the bag for around 250 calories) is a big plus for anyone who likes to snack. There's also no trans fat which is great.

What Could be Better

In their present form these little chips are a decent snack, but I have to question why they decided on a nacho flavor for some chips made with almonds. It just seems a pairing of two fairly distinct flavors that don't have any reason to be put into the same recipe. But perhaps it will float someone's nacho flavored boat. They're a healthy snack to be sure, but if the nacho flavor isn't your speed, try the many others the company has up for grabs.