Pita crackers are a popular snack food item sold at Trader Joe’s grocery stores. They come in several flavors like sesame, multigrain, and garlic herb. But what exactly are the ingredients that go into Trader Joe’s pita crackers? Let’s take a detailed look at the nutrition facts and ingredient lists of some of the most popular Trader Joe’s pita cracker varieties.
Nutrition Facts
First, examining the nutrition label on a box of Trader Joe’s pita crackers provides an overview of what these snacks contain. Here are the nutrition facts for some popular flavors:
Trader Joe’s Multigrain Pita Chips
| Serving Size | 15 chips (28g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 130 |
| Total Fat | 3.5g |
| Sodium | 170mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 22g |
| Protein | 3g |
Trader Joe’s Garlic and Herb Pita Chips
| Serving Size | 15 chips (28g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 140 |
| Total Fat | 5g |
| Sodium | 270mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 20g |
| Protein | 3g |
Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Pita Chips
| Serving Size | 15 chips (28g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 120 |
| Total Fat | 5g |
| Sodium | 170mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 19g |
| Protein | 3g |
These nutrition facts give us an initial glimpse at what is contained in Trader Joe’s pita crackers. We can see they provide calories, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, and a small amount of protein in a 15 chip serving. Now let’s look even closer at the complete ingredient list.
Ingredient Lists
Checking the detailed ingredient lists on Trader Joe’s pita cracker packaging reveals more specifically what goes into making these crunchy snacks.
Trader Joe’s Multigrain Pita Chips
– Whole wheat flour
– Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
– Sunflower oil
– Sugar
– Yeast
– Salt
– Malted barley flour
– Citric acid
– Soy lecithin
– Ascorbic acid
– Guar gum
– Enzyme
Trader Joe’s Garlic and Herb Pita Chips
– Whole wheat flour
– Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
– Sunflower oil
– Sugar
– Salt
– Yeast
– Maltodextrin
– Garlic powder
– Citric acid
– Ascorbic acid
– Rosemary
– Onion powder
– Parsley
– Sage
– Natural flavor
– Soy lecithin
Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Pita Chips
– Whole wheat flour
– Unbleached enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
– Sunflower oil
– Sugar
– Sea salt
– Yeast
– Roasted garlic powder
– Malted barley flour
– Olive oil
– Citric acid
– Ascorbic acid
– Guar gum
– Soy lecithin
– Enzyme
Key Ingredients
Reviewing the detailed ingredient lists shows the main components that go into making Trader Joe’s pita crackers are:
Flours
The primary ingredient is a flour blend that contains both whole wheat flour and enriched wheat flour. The whole wheat flour provides nutrients from the entire wheat grain. The enriched wheat flour has niacin, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, and folic acid added back in after processing.
Oils
The pita crackers are made with added oils like sunflower oil or a blend of sunflower and olive oils. This provides monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
Salt
Another major component is salt, which adds flavor. Some varieties also include sea salt.
Yeast
Yeast is used to make the pita dough rise. Active dry yeast helps give the crackers their airy, crunchy texture.
Sugar
A small amount of sugar is added both for sweetness and to aid in fermentation and browning during baking.
Seasonings
Spices like garlic powder, onion powder, and herbs such as rosemary, parsley, and sage are mixed in for flavor in varieties like the Garlic & Herb pita chips.
Leavening Agents
Leavening agents like citric acid and ascorbic acid help dough expand and take on the pita’s characteristic air pocket shape.
Preservatives
Preservatives including malic acid, guar gum, and soy lecithin are used in small amounts to help extend shelf life.
Enzymes
Enzymes help break down wheat proteins to relax the dough for easier stretching and shaping.
No Artificial Ingredients
One thing you won’t find in Trader Joe’s pita crackers is artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives like potassium bromate. The ingredients are relatively simple and basic for this type of savory snack cracker.
Nutritional Pros & Cons
Now that we see what Trader Joe’s pita crackers are made of, here is a look at some of the nutritional pros and cons:
Pros:
– Provide energy from carbohydrate-rich flour as well as small amounts of protein and fat
– Contain fiber, B vitamins, and minerals from whole wheat flour
– No cholesterol or artificial ingredients
– Lower in calories than many cracker and chip varieties
– Make a crunchy, satisfying snack
Cons:
– Flour-based so they don’t provide as much nutrition as whole foods
– Can be high in sodium, especially the flavored varieties
– Lack nutrients found in veggies, fruits, dairy, etc.
– Easy to overeat because they have a crunchy texture and savory taste
Serving Size
To keep the nutritional cons in check, pay attention to the serving size on Trader Joe’s pita crackers. The servings are reasonably sized at 15 crackers (28g). But it’s easy to overdo it and end up eating 2-3 servings in a sitting without thinking about it. Measuring out a single serving when you want a snack will help keep calories, carbs, and sodium in check.
Trader Joe’s Pita Cracker Alternatives
Trader Joe’s shoppers who like pita crackers but want to try some alternatives can also consider these options:
Trader Joe’s Reduced Guilt Pita Chips
These are baked instead of fried and made with whole grains, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, amaranth, and quinoa.
Trader Joe’s oven baked cheese bites
These crunchy snacks are bite-sized pieces of baked cheddar cheese.
Trader Joe’s Simply Pita Chips
This no-frills option contains just 4 simple ingredients: whole wheat, sunflower oil, salt, and yeast.
Trader Joe’s Corn Chip Dippers
These crunchy corn sticks can be used for dipping or snacking.
Trader Joe’s Soft-Baked Snickerdoodles
For a sweet option, these cinnamon cookie bites make a tasty alternative to savory crackers.
Conclusion
Taking a close look at the nutrition labels and ingredient lists reveals that Trader Joe’s pita crackers are made primarily from flour, oil, salt, and yeast. The use of enriched wheat flour replacing some whole grains provides a boost of B vitamins and minerals like iron. And the addition of seasonings gives flavored varieties like garlic and herb more taste. But all the types contain refined carbs and sodium, so enjoying pita crackers in moderation is key. Measuring out a single serving and exploreing other crunchy snacks from Trader Joe’s are great ways to keep your snacking on track if you are a fan of their convenient pita crackers.