Is Coconut Cashew Crisp Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, looking at the ingredient list for Coconut Cashew Crisp tells a story of conflicting goals. On one hand, you have coconut and cashews, which are staples in a keto pantry due to their healthy fat and moderate protein content. However, the formula relies on two major carbohydrate sources to achieve its texture and sweetness.

The primary offender is coconut sugar. While often marketed as a 'natural' alternative to white sugar, chemically speaking, it is still primarily sucrose. It has a high glycemic index and contributes significant net carbs, making it strictly off-limits for deep ketosis. The second issue is cassava flour. Derived from the cassava root, this flour is a dense source of starch. Unlike almond or coconut flour, cassava flour behaves much like wheat flour in terms of carbohydrate load, adding unnecessary net carbs to the product. The cocoa powder and sea salt are non-issues and add flavor without impacting the carb count significantly.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this product is a calorie-dense snack. The fat content from the cashews and coconut provides energy, but that energy comes at a cost to your carb limit. The sugar content is the deciding factor here. Even a small serving of a product containing coconut sugar and cassava flour can easily consume the majority of your daily net carb allowance (typically 20-30g) on keto. While it offers some fiber, the net carbohydrates usually outweigh the benefits for someone strictly tracking macros. It fits better into a 'Paleo' or 'Whole Food' diet than a ketogenic one.