Are Goldfish Crackers Really a Healthier Choice for Kids?
When it comes to feeding kids, snacks are a big deal.
Sometimes, it can seem like kids love snacks more than their actual meals.
And then, how do you decide what to serve for a snack? So many products in the grocery store seem like they are made just for kids. But, are they really any better for kids? Or is it just a marketing trick?
Today, let’s take a look at a classic kids’s cracker: Goldfish. We’ll see what Goldfish are made of, and how they compare to all those other cheesy crackers (like Annie’s Bunnies and Cheez-It).
Why snacks are such a big deal for kids?
It’s my favorite back-pocket trick to get my 3-year old to stop what she’s doing, clean up, and come to the table. When I announce “Snack Time!”, it’s like nothing else in the world matters, because snacks. are. here!
But, seriously, snacks are a big deal for kids. And for good reason!
Kids have small stomachs, and they are generally great at regulating their appetites to eat just the right amount of food at each meal. When their stomachs are full, but not too stuffed, they more than likely will need a snack to sustain them until the next meal. Older kids may not need a snack between breakfast and lunch, but will likely need one to hold them over for the long stretch between lunch and dinner.
Enter, the Goldfish cracker.
A classic kids snack
One of my most cherished childhood snacks, and maybe one of yours too, was Goldfish crackers. They’re crispy, they’re crunchy, they’re savory, and they’re absolutely adorable. What’s not to love?!
Nowadays, there are lots of different cheesy crackers available. Let’s compare three of the most popular: Goldfish Cheddar, Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies, and Cheez-It. We’ll take a look at the ingredients, the nutrition, and of course, the price.
Comparing Goldfish, Annie’s Bunnies, and Cheez-It crackers
Ingredients
Goldfish (cheddar): Enriched Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Cheddar Cheese ([Cultured Milk, Salt, Enzymes], Annatto), Vegetable Oils (Canola, Sunflower and/or Soybean), Salt, Contains 2% or Less Of: Yeast, Sugar, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Paprika, Spices, Celery, Onion Powder, Monocalcium Phosphate, Baking Soda.
*Summary: flour, cheese, oil, salt, spices, baking soda
Annie’s Bunnies: Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Expeller-Pressed Sunflower Oil, Salt, Organic Cheddar Cheese (pasteurized organic milk, cheese cultures, sea salt, non-animal enzymes), Baking Soda, Organic Yeast, Organic Paprika, Monocalcium Phosphate, Cultered Organic Milk, Organic Nonfat Dry Milk, Organic Annatto (for color), Organic Onion Powder, Organic Celery Seed Powder, Non-Animal Enzymes.
*Summary: organic flour, organic oil, organic cheese, spices, baking soda, nonfat dry milk
Cheez-It: Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin B1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid), vegetable oil (high oleic soybean, soybean, palm, and/or canola oil with TBHQ for freshness), cheese made with skim milk (skim milk, whey protein, salt, cheese cultures, enzymes, annatto extract color).Contains 2% or less of salt, paprika, yeast, paprika extract color, soy lecithin.
*Summary: flour, oil, cheese, spices
What’s the difference?
Goldfish and Annie’s contain baking soda, and Cheez-It do not
Annie’s are made with organic ingredients, Goldfish and Cheez-It are not
Annie’s includes nonfat dry milk, and Goldfish and Cheez-It do not
Overall, the ingredients between these 3 snacks are pretty much identical. Both the Annie’s and Goldfish contain baking soda, which helps baked goods rise. This makes sense, since those cute fish and bunny shapes are nice and puffed. Cheez-It are a flat cracker, so they don’t need any baking soda in them.
Nutrition (per ounce)
Goldfish (cheddar): 140 Calories, 5 grams fat, 250 milligrams sodium, <1 gram fiber, 3 grams protein, 1.3 milligrams Iron
Annie’s Bunnies: 140 Calories, 6 grams fat, 250 milligrams sodium, <1 gram fiber, 3 grams protein, 0 milligram Iron
Cheez-It: 150 Calories, 8 grams fat, 230 milligrams sodium, <1 gram fiber, 3 grams protein, 1 milligram Iron
What’s the difference?
Cheez-It have more fat than Goldfish and Annie’s
Goldfish and Cheez-It are fortified with Iron, and Annie’s is not
There really are no major differences in nutrition other the fact that Cheez-It have a little more fat, and Annie’s doesn’t contain Iron. This may be important for you if your child is anemic, because foods made with Iron fortified flour can help. But otherwise, the sodium, fiber, and protein is nearly identical between all 3 foods.
And, as far as those new Goldfish varieties, with the “vegetables” in them… no difference. Maybe a tiny bit more fiber (1 gram per serving instead of <1 gram), but everything else (Calories, fat, sodium, protein) is the same.
Price (per ounce)
Goldfish (cheddar): $0.30 per ounce
Annie’s Bunnies: $0.43 per ounce
Cheez-It: $0.24 per ounce
What’s the difference?
Goldfish crackers cost 25% more per ounce than Cheez-It
Annie’s Bunnies cost 43% more per ounce than Goldfish, and 79% more than Cheez-It
Since Annie’s Bunnies are made with organic ingredients, it’s expected that they are more expensive than the Goldfish and Cheez-It crackers.
Summary: there’s no “best” choice for cheesy crackers
As a parent, you’re thinking through a lot of options when grocery shopping. You think about things like:
Price
Nutrition
What your kids like to eat
What you like to eat
When it comes to cheesy crackers, like Goldfish, Annie’s Bunnies, and Cheez-It, you don’t have to worry about one being nutritionally superior than the other. Unless you rely on foods with Iron-fortified flour to help your kid meet their Iron needs, than any of these 3 choices deliver pretty much the same nutritional values.
As far as price, it seems like you’ll pay a bit of a premium for those cute goldfish-shaped crackers, and even more so for the organic bunny-shape.
After that, it really comes down to preference. If everyone in your family loves Goldfish, go for it! If you’re a Bunny family, that’s great! And if your kids don’t care much for fancy shapes, Cheez-It may be the choice for you.