The Cracker Test That Reveals If You're Actually Eating Healthy
Spoiler: If it has more than 4 ingredients - probably not
After my first bite of Kraut Krackers, I immediately texted Max, the founder at Central Coast Live Foods: "Only a matter of time before Whole Foods is fighting to get these on their shelves."
And here’s why that feels inevitable: we've reached a breaking point with "healthy" snack foods. The same slop products with some clever marketing. All with the intention to extend shelf life. Chances are if you’re here, you’re a health-conscious consumer and you’re not looking for doomsday prep crackers. You’re buying them to eat within a 3-4 week period, not to be preserved for the next 3-4 years. Therefore that eliminates the necessity for any hydrogenated seed oils, artificial flavors, or other preservatives.
At first, these minimal ingredient, (very) micronutrient-dense crackers feel almost too good to be true. However, per usual - the health space on Substack & 𝕏 is out in front on just about everything. Kraut Krackers is just one of many cases within the clean nutrition space.
We're back with another product review this week.
Ingredient Breakdown
Fortunately enough - the bros at Central Coast Live Foods made it simple for us to break down with only four ingredients. Yes. Four. That’s it.
Let’s break down the contents of Kraut Krackers:
Organic Red Beets → These give the crackers their earthy sweetness & vibrant red color via betalains - antioxidants that combat oxidative stress & enhance nitric oxide production for better blood flow. Beets here also amplify the probiotic synergy boosting nitrate conversion to support endurance.
Organic Purple Cabbage → The fermentation foundation. Delivers prebiotic fiber and live probiotics like Lactobacillus strains fostering gut microbiome diversity. Also rich in anthocyanins.
Organic Golden Flax Seeds → Flax acts as the cracker’s binder for crunch without the processed grains. Packs 4 g of omega-3 ALA fatty acids per serving.
Pink Himalayan Salt → The unrefined salt flavor offers subtle electrolyte benefits without any of the typical artificial additives. Enhances the palatability without compromising the clean, minimalist ingredient profile.
Taste & Flavor Profile
From the second you open the bag, you get this potent smell of fermented vegetables. Similar to a fresh sauerkraut with an earthy undertone.
First bite and you immediately start to experience the complex flavor. A clean sourness from the fermentation. Sharp & tangy without the harshness. Sophisticated acidity that only proper fermentation can produce. As you chew more, the Himalayan salt delivers a straightforward saltiness that gets nicely balanced by the red beets’ earthy sweetness. Then the golden flax seeds give them a rich, nutty umami flavor that make the taste profile so uncanny.
With a lot of typical crackers, you get a quick hit of flavor followed by a synthetic, cardboard-coded aftertaste. Instead, Kraut does a great job at maintaining flavor intensity through the entire eating experience. Plus, your mouth doesn’t feel coated with artificial flavors or preservatives as you finish.
And my favorite feature of all: the satisfying texture. A perfect crunch from the clean ingredient profile. Amazing things happen when you don’t compromise ingredients for shelf stability…
Best Uses
Kraut Krackers are the type of food product you can really get creative with. But here are a few of my favorite uses thus far:
Salsas → Starting with my favorite. These have become the ideal vehicle for my new Trader Joe’s salsas addiction. Do not sleep on the Trader Joe’s Cowboy Caviar Salsa or the seasonal Pumpkin Harvest Salsa.
Cheese Boards → Probably the most popular use & one advertised on their site. We recently placed these on a charcuterie board when we hosted a few friends over a couple weekends ago. Obviously the vibrant red cracker stuck out so we got some questions. Our guests (also health enthusiasts) were pleasantly surprised. And in disbelief when we told them the minimalist, four-ingredient recipe.
Crouton Substitute → Snag a couple crackers. Crush them up & you’ve got a salty, much more flavorful crunch added to your salad.
Salmon/Tuna On The Go → This has become a recent travel staple for me. Pack out a couple packets of tuna/salmon along with a bag of Kraut and you’ve got yourself as micronutrient-dense of on-the-go meal as you can possibly create. The synergy of these crackers with fish is unmatched.
I've now ordered Kraut Krackers twice in the past few months for the Phys household - they’ve quickly become a favorite here and for our occasional guests. And once you try them yourself, you'll understand why these are replacing any ultra-formulated, store-bought brand.
If you like the sounds of Kraut Krackers & want to see what the buzz is all about, use the link here & enjoy 15% off at checkout with code PHYS15.
Stay nourished,
BTP
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