Nutritional Analysis of Cheez Its Original Snack Crackers

Cheez-Its Original Snack Crackers are a processed snack food made from a handful of ingredients. Let's analyze each major ingredient to get a sense of the nutritional value: 1. **Enriched Flour**: This is wheat flour with lost nutrients replaced artificially. It provides necessary carbohydrates for energy but is less nutritious than whole grain flour. 2. **Vegetable Oil**: This contributes to the fat content of the crackers. This oil may contain trans fats, which raises bad cholesterol and lowers good cholesterol, contributing to heart disease. 3. **Skim Milk**: It is a source of protein and dairy, but as a processed food ingredient, its nutritional value is limited. 4. **Whey Protein**: This another source of protein, indicative of the cheese content of the snack. 5. **Salt**: This contributes to the sodium levels in the snack, which if consumed in large amounts, could raise blood pressure and contribute to heart disease. 6. **Cheese Cultures and Enzymes**: These ingredients are needed for cheese production. They have minimal nutritional implications at the quantities present in these snacks. 7. **Annatto Extract Color and Paprika Extract Color**: These are natural food colorings and generally considered safe, but contribute no nutritional value. 8. **Yeast**: This is used in the baking process and could contribute to the vitamin B content of the snack, but at very minimal levels. 9. **Soy Lecithin**: An additive used to maintain product consistency. It’s considered safe, but doesn't contribute substantially to nutritional value. Cheez-It crackers are a source of some vital nutrients like carbohydrates, protein, and fat, but their high process, sodium, and potential trans fat content offset these benefits. They are low in fiber, vitamins, and minerals compared to healthier snack options. Overconsumption could contribute to unhealthy weight gain, elevated cholesterol, and hypertension, among other health issues. They're best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.