Cracker diets have ranged from the ridiculous to the relatively practical. While most crackers are made from refined flour and may be high in fat, others rely upon whole grains and a light texture to keep the total fiber count high and the calories low. Whether you're considering crackers as a low calorie addition to your diet or you are trying a so-called cracker diet, the right crackers are key.
History
The original cracker diet was developed by a Presbyterian minister, Sylvester Graham, in the 1830s. His diet plan had less to do with weight loss and more to do with morality, according to Buck Wolf at ABC News. Graham developed a bland, vegetarian diet that was intended to reduce sexual impulses and improve moral character. A nutritious wholewheat cracker was an essential part of his diet. Today, his name continues in the honey sweetened cookies we call Graham crackers.
Types
Diet crackers often bear little resemblance to the crackers you might opt to place on a cheese tray. Cracker diets require a high-fiber, low-calorie cracker that may be relatively low in carbohydrates. Scandinavian GG crackers, recommended by F-Factor diet founder Tanya Zuckerbrot, fit the bill, as do several other crackers available in health food stores.
Function
Cracker diets, like the F-Factor diet, rely upon these crackers to provide filling fiber without adding calories to the diet. Fiber can keep you feeling full, helping you to control your diet, according to Zuckerbrot. Some diet crackers may have as few as 12 calories but contain as much as 5 g of fiber. Include eight high-fiber crackers in your diet each day, recommends the F-Factor Diet.
Considerations
High-fiber crackers are low in flavor but can be used as a bread substitute for other, more flavorful foods. Top your crispbreads with diet-approved low-fat cheese, defatted dehydrated peanut butter or vegetables, recommends the F-Factor Diet. Regardless of your food preferences, Zuckerbrot calls the high-fiber, low-calorie crispbread the secret to long-term weight loss.
Benefits
Fiber is essential for good health. While many of us think of fiber in terms of digestion, it can also help to control blood sugar, reduce cholesterol and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. While guidelines recommend 25 g of fiber for women under 50 years of age and 38 g for men, according to the Mayo Clinic, the high fiber F-Factor cracker diet suggests a substantially higher fiber intake to support weight loss.
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