Choosing healthy crackers for long day care menus

In this article
Introduction
Crackers are a popular option for morning and afternoon tea in long day care services. They are quick, convenient and easy for little hands to manage. When planning your menu and shopping, it’s important to choose crackers that meet the Menu planning guidelines for long day care.
What makes a cracker a good option?
Look for crackers that are:
- Plain varieties (without added flavours)
- Wholegrain or wholemeal where possible
Some good options include:
- Wheat crispbread e.g. Cruskits, Ryvita crispbread, Salada
- Reduced fat wheat crispbread e.g. Light Cruskits, Salada light
- Brown rice cakes (plain) e.g. SunRice, Ceres Organic, Woolworths, Coles rice cakes
- Plain rice crackers e.g. Sakata, SunRice rice cakes
- Plain corn cakes e.g. Corn thins
- Multigrain corn cakes e.g. Corn thins multigrain
- Corn crispbread e.g. Orgran crispibread
Avoid crackers that are:
- High in salt or saturated fat
- Flavoured (e.g. BBQ, cheese or sour cream varieties)
- Made with added fats and oils
Serving size
The Menu planning guidelines recommend offering 2 children’s serves of grain (cereal) foods per child per day.
When serving crackers, one children’s serve is:
- 3 – 4 crackers or crispbreads
- 3 thick rice cakes
- 6 thin rice or corn cakes
- 12 plain rice crackers
Tips for serving crackers
- Pair with sliced cheese, mashed tuna or egg
- Serve with nutritious dips like hummus, tzatziki or avocado
- Serve alongside fresh fruit or sliced vegetables
Looking for more food and drink ideas? Explore the food & drink ideas page.
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