Oatcakes v's Ryvita

baybike

Ok, so after reading through these posts a few months ago, I gave up any notion of ricecakes being good for you.
Since then I've been eating oatcakes...but I'm liking them so much I'm beginning to wonder if they are good for me!
So, my question is, which would be the healthier choice: oatcakes or ryvita?

EileenG

Depends. Read the nutrition label. Some oatcakes have a lot of added sugar and fats to make them tasty, so they are more like oat biscuits than the traditional oatcake. Check the fiber as well, if it doesn't have a decent amount of fiber, it's not a good bet.

Personally, I think you get more food for your calories with Ryvita, but it does depend on the brand.

JMULL

whats the story with ricecakes?, didnt know they were bad for you

Frogdog

JMULL wrote: »

whats the story with ricecakes?, didnt know they were bad for you

High in quick-release carbs, not slow release (complex).

EileenG

Plus, they taste like polystyerene, so you have to put lots of stuff on them.

baybike

Thanks for the replies!
So, it's much of a muchness as long as I check the labels?

EileenG

Really, it depends what you want from them. Most people eat Ryvita because it's lower calorie than bread. I assume if you are eating oatcakes, at least part of it is because you like the taste of them? If so, you have to factor that in.

baybike

I'm eating oatcakes, as I decided to try reduce the number of 'white' carbs I'm eating in order to lose the last few stubborn pounds...and it's worked a treat!
I have come to love the taste of oatcakes, but was just wondering about introducing a variety just in case I get bored of the oatcakes and go back to bread!

Frogdog

baybike where do you buy the oatcakes? I'm thinking of adding them into my diet but haven't seen them anywhere yet (tbh I haven't looked too hard). The ones I have seen are usually stocked with the chocolate bars etc and have loads of ingredients and additives.

Also, EileenG or rubadub ye might be able to help me with this - I want to combine some protein with the carbs from the oatcakes. I bought the 1kg tub of peanut butter from Holland and Barrett. Would it be a good combination??? Tastewise as well as for a pre-training snack (marathon training and weight lifting). Thanks.

EileenG

I personally wouldn't combine peanut butter and any sort of carbs, even Ryvita or oatcakes. I'd eat it on its own or with celery sticks or chicken.

How about something like cottage cheese or the low fat cream cheeses you can get in Tesco or M&S? They both have high amounts of protein and taste good with oatcakes.

baybike

I get them in Tesco(ownbrand...shelved with the ryvita/tucs etc.), also get a brand called Nairns, either in Tesco or Supervalu. Not sure how 'clean' the ingredient list is to be honest, but it's got to be better than white bread!

Never knew that about combining the peanut butter and oatcakes:oI'll have to cut that one out(even though it seems to satisfy my sweetness cravings when I'm having a cuppa - that's probably a psychological thing though!)

Mellor

any suggestions for what to put on Ryvita,
and please nobody say veanut butter. Too many calories to include in my diet at the minute. I used to use philidelphia, but haven't had it in a while so no idea of the nutritional data on it. Cottage cheese is an option

corkcomp

Mellor wrote: »

any suggestions for what to put on Ryvita,
and please nobody say veanut butter. Too many calories to include in my diet at the minute. I used to use philidelphia, but haven't had it in a while so no idea of the nutritional data on it. Cottage cheese is an option

low fat philidelphia (spelling?) is good on ryvita and is lowish on the calorie count, it sticks to the crackers better than cottage chese too, if that makes any sense!

rubadub

EileenG wrote: »

I personally wouldn't combine peanut butter and any sort of carbs, even Ryvita or oatcakes.

Is this just a personal taste, or any other particular reason?

Mellor wrote: »

any suggestions for what to put on Ryvita,
and please nobody say veanut butter. Too many calories to include in my diet at the minute.

I put tomato puree & cheese on them and microwave or grill them to make pizza type things. Another is hotdog style mustard & ham. Tesco do a mustard which is very similar to french's american style mustard, I used to eat disgraceful amounts of it, so its good to get a cheap supply. Watch out for other brands of "deli mustard" though, many are loaded with fat, while the tesco & frenchs have no added oils, just naturals ones from the mustard I think.

My tesco has new oatcakes alongside the ryvitas (which have come down a lot in price).

metamorphosis

cottage cheese and whole apple apple sauce ftw on ryvita.

I am gonna try R's suggestion per above. Sounds savage.

baybike

Tried the Ryvitas...cut the gums off me!!:eek: so I'll stick with the oatcakes!

Toppings, I go for: peanut butter(maybe not anymore though!), cottage cheese with a dusting of cinnamon, slice of tomato and cheese grilled(with either fresh basil, or a touch of chilli paste), cottage cheese with sliced apple or pear(great for sweetness), tuna and cheese grilled, leftover roast chicken with cheese grilled...anything that you used to put between bread really!