Introduction: Biscuits are a common snack that both adults and children enjoy. However, commercial biscuits come in a wide variety, and each type claims different nutritional benefits. So, how nutritious are these different types of biscuits really?
1. Soda Crackers
Low in fiber and B vitamins are almost completely lost.
Soda crackers contain less sugar and oil and have the unique flavor of fermented products due to the addition of yeast. They are often considered the most nutritious type of biscuit and are eaten by many for breakfast. However, this is not the case. To achieve the layered effect, baking soda is added, which reduces the B vitamins in the flour, and can even cause them to disappear completely.
Scallion Soda Crackers
2. Wafer Biscuits
High in calories, low in density, and easy to overeat without noticing.
Different from other biscuits, wafer biscuits are mainly made from millet flour (glutinous rice flour) and starch, which are slightly more nutritious than refined white flour. However, the cream filling in wafer biscuits has a very high fat content, averaging 60 calories per piece. Moreover, their low density means they are not filling, making it easy to overeat without noticing. In fact, three chocolate wafer biscuits can contain over 200 calories.
3. Cookies
High in sugar and fat, low in protein.
Cookies contain more sugar and fat than other types of biscuits. A single small cookie can often have more calories than a glass of strawberry juice! Crispier cookies are made from "low-gluten flour," which is wheat flour with a lower protein content. These biscuits can be even lower in protein than steamed buns.
Peach Blossom Cookies
4. Whole Wheat Biscuits
Improved nutrition, but also increased fat content.
Whole wheat biscuits, which are high in fiber, often have a poorer texture. To compensate for this, manufacturers tend to add a lot of oil, resulting in a high fat content. However, if the so-called "whole wheat," "oats," "rye," or "multigrain" ingredients listed on the packaging appear near the bottom of the ingredient list, they may not be genuine grain biscuits.
5. Filled Biscuits
The "filling" is made from synthetic additives, not real fruit.
Filled biscuits are baked goods with various fillings, mainly composed of sugar, fat, or jam, sandwiched between two biscuits. The filling in these biscuits often uses additives like flavorings and colorings to achieve taste and appearance, with very little real fruit actually added. For example, an orange-flavored filling is not made from oranges but is created by mixing additives. Although these additives may not be harmful, they provide no nutritional value and might be less healthy than plain biscuits. Therefore, no matter how delicious, biscuits should only be a small snack. Furthermore, biscuits are often quite dry and can easily lead to symptoms like "heatiness" (internal heat) after consumption. In daily life, it's best to eat filled biscuits in moderation.
Jam Filled Biscuits