The Cheez-It vs. Goldfish debate

Photo Courtesy of Evan Amos- Wikimedia Commons

If there is one thing that everyone can universally agree on, it is that nothing beats the feeling of tearing open a snack bag and satiating your momentary tummy rumble. Among my favorite snacks are the savory cheddar crackers that we all know and love. Now, I know what you’re thinking: which cheddar crackers am I talking about?

If you are someone who loves snacking on crackers, you know that there are many different kinds of cheddar crackers, but the two prevailing options that are seemingly everywhere are Goldfish and Cheez-Its. These snacks both exhibit the lovely yellow-orange baked appearance, which can lead people to the common misconception that the difference between them is simply that one is a square, and the other is a fish. This is indeed a very over-generalized assessment of these snacks. 

Growing up, my family primarily ate Goldfish. The “snack-that-smiles-back” was in the cabinet every time I reached for a little savory treat. Many fond memories of my childhood involve a nice bowl of these delicious crackers. That was, until Cheez-Its came along. 

Cheez-Its were introduced into my household quite a while after Goldfish were established to be the dominant snack in the house. I remember enjoying Cheez-Its, even considering that they were better than Goldfish at some point. But after reassessing my recency bias, I quickly realized that Goldfish would always remain on top. 

So why Goldfish? Why write an article so passionately about these fish-themed, artificial cheddar crackers? Well, it has long been a point of contention in the snack world as to which of these crackers is better. 

Firstly, Goldfish have a better overall aesthetic. When choosing a snack, sometimes visual aesthetics play a huge factor. Would I rather eat a square cracker or a fun, aquatic themed one? Obviously the aquatic themed one! 

These aesthetics also play into the texture of the snack. The texture of Goldfish is definitely bumpier than the Cheez-Its’ streamlined, smooth surface. However, I much prefer this bumpy texture because it is saltier and when one wants a cracker, they definitely want a salty snack. While many health fanatics would argue that Cheez-Its have lower cholesterol and sodium levels, therefore making Cheez-Its a healthier option, this does not guarantee that Cheez-Its are definitely a better option. In fact, according to Karene Hermon at Spoon University, University of Florida, both Cheez-Its and Goldfish are so close in their ingredients that the healthy edge Cheez-Its have over Goldfish is very slim, almost unnoticeable. 

Finally, the flavor debate. Flavor is entirely subjective, but I think most people can agree that Goldfish have the better flavor. Goldfish has the perfect balance between saltine cracker and cheesy snack. Cheez-Its, while acting as a tasty cheddar cracker, fails to strike this balance adequately enough for my taste-buds. 

And while I am on the subject of flavor, it would be nearly a sin to not mention the various flavors that the cracker brands present to the consumer. While Cheez-Its have a variety of cracker flavors, Goldfish proves to be more inventive in its experiments. Extra-Cheddar is unanimously one of the greatest snack flavors ever. 

Again, this debate is entirely subjective, but consider these points the next time you go shopping in the cracker aisle. Cheez-Its, while tasty and maybe healthier, do not have the visual, taste, or creative appeal that Goldfish have.