Bonnie: “What are those?” asked a guest in my home when I put out a bowl of Mary’s Gone Crackers to accompany my cheese and hummus nibble platter. Obviously from her tone, she thought the thin, seeded crackers looked odd.

It took but one bite to turn her into the fan that I am.

Mary’s are thin, crisp and nutty crackers that are organic, wheat- and gluten-free, and made with brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds and brown sesame seeds. The crackers also are kosher, non-GMO and dairy-free, with no hydrogenated oils (meaning no trans fats), 450 mg of omega 3s and count as more than one of the three servings of whole grains recommended daily.

In plain English, this is a nutritious, delicious cracker, not to be judged by it’s looks.

Bryan: Mary Waldner originally started going crackers in 1994, when she made the unfortunate discovery that both she and her son had a gluten allergy. Gluten allergies are actually more common than you might think, with a whole host of foods causing problems for sufferers. The dietary difficulties are caused by a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and most oats. You can imagine that eliminating these incredibly common grains from any diet leaves most people with very few choices when it comes to bread, crackers and most baked goods Everything has wheat! Check out a label or two.

It’s not that sufferers have nowhere to turn. There are actually a number of gluten-free flours that can be utilized as alternatives to wheat, with corn, potato and rice flours being some of the most common substitutes. Mary was a constant experimenter, trying out a number of variations, including tapioca and garbanzo beans before she went to work using brown rice as the eventual base for her commercial cracker creations. Mary’s Gone Crackers was born.

Mary’s Seed Crackers now come in Original, as well as four flavored varieties: Black Pepper, Caraway, Herb and Onion. The crackers are a truly wonderful midday snack; the 1.25-oz package provides a salty, fulfilling, low-calorie bite that will just get you past that solitary pang of hunger. Mary’s makes a great addition to any cheese plate; have a heart for the gluten-affected! Keep a bowl of Mary’s crackers around at parties as well; you’ll find them being dipped into humus, topped with guacamole and smothered in bean dip. You can use them in place of any cracker or breadstick, and so can your gluten-hating guests….

Mary’s Gone Crackers is a California-based organic food company producing gluten-free products from organic brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds and sesame seeds. Mary’s Gone Crackers has been flexing its muscle, receiving accolades at the highest levels of the food community. Mary’s won the Gold Award for Outstanding Cracker from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade at the 2008 Summer Fancy Foods Show in New York. Yeah, it’s a mouthful, but so are Mary’s Crackers.

Eric: Mary’s crackers are not just crackers, they’re an experience. Sure, they cater to those with celiac disease with a wheat-free, gluten-free, organic mixture, but as a “mere” cracker, they’re a powerhouse of rich, nutty flavor. The crunchiness is unsurpassed, and the combination of seeds (sesame/flax) and grain (brown rice/quinoa) make this delicious little cracker a nutritious addition to your cupboard.

Now available in the Bite of the Best shop.