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Ginger snaps are often touted as a better-for-you cookie swap, but many brands have little or no ginger at all, and more white flour, sugar, and oil than anything else. In today’s Love it, Like it, Hate it, we’re Getting the Skinny with Molly on the best and worst ginger snaps and gingerbread cookies on shelves.
Health Benefits of Ginger:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Improves digestion / gastrointestinal benefits
- May protect against certain types of cancer
- Relief of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy
Love it!
Back to Nature Triple Ginger Cookies
- Whole wheat flour is first ingredient; no white flour.
- Per 5 cookies: 140 calories – 100 mg sodium – 21 grams carb – 2 grams fiber – 10 grams sugar
- Contains ginger in 3 forms: ginger (crystallized with sugar), ground ginger, ginger extract
Like it!
Mi-Del Gluten Free Ginger Snaps
- Per 5 cookies: 140 calories – 120 mg sodium – 20 grams carb – 1 grams fiber – 11 grams sugar
- Ingredients include gluten-free flour (corn flour, soy flour, potato flour, rice flour, corn starch, potato starch), can sugar, canola oil, molasses, ginger…
Hate it!
Nabisco Ginger Snaps “Made with Real Ginger & Molasses!”
- Per 4 cookies: 120 calories – 190 mg sodium – 23 grams carb – 0 fiber – 11 grams sugar
- Mostly white flour and sugar
- Contains more leavening (baking soda) than ginger!
Pepperidge Farm Ginger Family Cookie Collection
- Per 3 cookies: 120 calories – 80 mg sodium – 20 grams carb – <1 gram fiber – 8 grams sugar
- Contains <2% spices, including ginger. More hydrogenated oils and corn starch than ginger.
LoftHouse Holiday Gingerbread Boy Cookies
- Per 4 cookies: 130 calories, 110 mg sodium, 21 grams carbs, <1 gram fiber, 8 grams sugar
- Contain no ginger at all; ingredients are primarily white flour, sugar, butter
