Whether you’re a nostalgic adult or a parent searching for a snack for your kids, you may have come across Teddy Grahams.
Teddy Grahams are a popular cute little bear-shaped snack food. These were introduced by Nabisco in 1988 and quickly became a beloved treat among children and adults alike.
Even to this day, they are one of the favorite go-to snacks for many.
However, despite their cute, cuddly charm and delectable flavors, many wonders whether Teddy Grahams are healthy to eat.
Short answer: Teddy Grahams are not very healthy as they are high in added sugar and contain processed ingredients. Also, they are low in protein and fiber. Still, you can enjoy them in moderation.
Read on to find out more about Teddy Grahams, including their ingredients, sugar, protein content and more.
Also read: Are Animal Crackers Healthy? The Truth About Your Favorite Snack
What are Teddy Grahams made up of?
Teddy Grahams come in different flavors, including honey, cinnamon, chocolate chip and chocolate.
So, the exact ingredients can vary depending on the flavor you choose.
In general, Teddy Grahams are made up of Graham flour as the first ingredient, which has a coarse texture and tends to provide a stronger flavor profile.
The second ingredient is unbleached enriched flour. While unbleached means the flour was not chemically treated, it still undergoes a hefty processing. Therefore, it is low in nutrients.
It is then fortified with some vitamins and minerals.
The third ingredient is sugar.
The good thing is that there is no use of high fructose corn syrup and other harmful ingredients such as artificial colors or preservatives.
However, they contain processed ingredients such as dextrose, maltodextrin and vegetable oils.
Moreover, the Chocolate chip and chocolate flavor contain artificial flavor.
Here is the list of all common ingredients that you would find across each Teddy Grahams flavor,
- Graham flour (whole grain wheat flour)
- Unbleached enriched flour
- Sugar
- Soybean or canola oil
- Dextrose
- Calcium carbonate
- Maltodextrin
- Baking soda
- Soy lecithin
- Natural flavor
Are Teddy Grahams high in sugar?
Teddy Grahams are moderate in sugar-containing 7 to 8g per serving(24 pieces or 30g). That’s about 27% of the daily sugar limit for men(36g).
And for women and children, that’s about 33% of the daily sugar limit(24g).
All the sugar in Teddy Grahams comes from added sugar. Plus, they use artificial sweeteners such as dextrose and maltodextrin.
While little sugar is not bad, too much can contribute to health problems like weight gain, obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
If you consume Teddy Grahams as your daily snack, it is important to balance them with low-sugar meals for the rest of the day.
This is especially essential for those who are inactive.
How much protein is in Teddy Grahams?
Teddy Grahams contain 2g of protein per serving (24 pieces or 30g). That’s quite low.
In addition to protein, Teddy Grahams are low in fiber, containing 1 to 2g per serving.
Protein and fiber are essential parts of food as they promote satiety, prevent overeating, and reduce cravings.
However, because Teddy Grahams are low in both, you may not feel satisfied after eating just one serving and end up consuming more. This can increase the overall sugar intake.
Moreover, if you rely on Teddy Grahams to curb your hunger, they may not be very effective.
Are Teddy Grahams high in sodium?
Teddy Grahams are low in sodium containing 85 to 95mg per serving(24 pieces or 30g).
That’s just 6% of the daily ideal sodium limit(1500mg) set by the American Heart Association.
If you are following a low-sodium diet, snacking on Teddy Grahams won’t be an issue.
Are Teddy Grahams processed food?
Teddy Grahams are considered processed food as they contain ingredients like sugar, dextrose, maltodextrin, vegetable oils and artificial flavor.
All these ingredients go through hefty processing and are generally zero or low in nutrition.
As per Harvard University, processed foods are one of the main contributors to obesity and the rising of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes[6].
However, the good thing is that Teddy Grahams do not contain artificial colors or preservatives.
This makes them slightly better than other processed foods that contain these ingredients.
Are Teddy Grahams good for weight loss?
Teddy Grahams are not very good for weight loss as they contain significant added sugar. Plus, they are low in fiber too.
However, they are low in fat(4g per serving) and calories(130 per serving), so consuming them in moderation won’t likely to have significant impact on your weight.
Remember that weight loss does not depend only on one food but on overall diet and lifestyle.
Are Teddy Grahams vegan?
Except the honey flavor, Teddy Grahams are vegan as they have no animal-based ingredients.
However, it’s important to note that Teddy Grahams contain sugar, which can be a concern for strict vegans.
While sugar itself is vegan, processing white sugar often involves using bone char, which is derived from animal bones.
As a result, most strict vegans do not consider sugar as vegan.
Are Teddy Grahams better than other snacks?
The options are endless when it comes to choosing snacks.
Among them, Teddy Grahams have carved out a special place in people’s hearts. But are they truly the best choice?
Let’s compare Teddy Grahams to some similar snacks.
1. Teddy Grahams vs Animal Crackers (from Stauffer)
Teddy Grahams are healthier than animal crackers.
Animal crackers have primary ingredients such as enriched wheat flour, whereas Teddy Grahams have graham flour.
Additionally, Animal crackers contain High fructose corn syrup and artificial colors, whereas Teddy Grahams don’t.
2. Teddy Grahams vs Bunny Grahams
Teddy Grahams are less healthier than Bunny Grahams.
Bunny Grahams are made up of organic ingredients and contain double the calcium of Teddy Grahams.
However, the protein, fiber and sugar content is almost similar.
3. Teddy Grahams vs Goldfish Grahams
Teddy Grahams are similar to Goldfish Grahams in terms of ingredients and macro-nutrients (protein and fiber).
The only major difference is Teddy Grahams are higher in calcium than Goldfish Grahams.
4. Teddy Grahams vs Kodiak Bear bites
Teddy Grahams are less healthier than Kodiak bear bites.
In fact, Kodiak bear bites are the most nutritious of all. They are high in protein(5g) and fiber (2g) per serving. The sugar content is similar.
However, the sodium content in Kodiak bear bites is higher than in Teddy Grahams.
If I had to rank all these snacks from best to worst, it would be like this.
Kodiak bear bites> Bunny Grahams> Teddy Grahams> Goldfish Grahams> Animal crackers
Final words
Teddy Grahams are not very healthy as they are high in added sugar and contain plenty of processed ingredients. In addition, they are low in protein and fiber.
However, because they are made up of Graham flour and don’t contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors or preservatives, you can enjoy them in moderation.
Moreover, they’re a better choice than most of the other similar snacks and candies.
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