Snacks, corn cakes, very low sodium
Whole food · Snacks
Photo: Wikipedia
These are light, airy puffed corn cakes, often made from a single ingredient: corn. They have a satisfyingly crisp, airy texture that shatters into a mild, slightly toasty corn flavor. Nutritionally, they are a high-carbohydrate, very low-fat and very low-sodium energy source.
💚 Why it's loved
People love them for their pure, uncomplicated corn taste and the light, crunchy texture that makes them a satisfying snack. They are also prized as a versatile, neutral base that can be topped with sweet or savory ingredients.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Their high-carb, low-fiber, low-protein profile can lead to rapid blood sugar spikes, making them less ideal for sustained energy. To counteract this, pair them with a source of protein (like cheese or nut butter) or healthy fat (like avocado) to slow digestion and create a more balanced snack.
Key benefits
- Extremely low sodium content
- Very low in fat
- Provides quick, digestible energy
- Simple, single-ingredient snack
- Naturally gluten-free if made from pure corn
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The process of making them involves heating corn kernels under pressure until they explode, or 'pop,' into their characteristic puffed shape, a technique related to how popcorn is made.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 4.6 g |
| Energy | 387 kcal |
| Energy | 1619 kj |
| Protein | 8.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.4 g |
| Ash | 1.5 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 83.4 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 19.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 114 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 157 mg |
| Potassium, K | 157 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 28.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 2.0 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.42 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 1.8 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 9.9 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.25 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.05 mg |
| Niacin | 5.2 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.83 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.14 mg |
| Folate, total | 19.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 19.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 19.0 ug |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 12.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 242 iu |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.42 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.36 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.04 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.76 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.76 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.93 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.89 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.03 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.08 g |
| Threonine | 0.30 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.32 g |
| Leucine | 0.84 g |
| Lysine | 0.27 g |
| Methionine | 0.18 g |
| Cystine | 0.12 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.41 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.32 g |
| Valine | 0.44 g |
| Arginine | 0.51 g |
| Histidine | 0.23 g |
| Alanine | 0.54 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.66 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.6 g |
| Glycine | 0.36 g |
| Proline | 0.55 g |
| Serine | 0.40 g |
FAQ
Are these the same as rice cakes?
No, while both are puffed grain cakes, these are made from corn and will have a distinct, sweeter corn flavor compared to the milder taste of rice cakes.
Why is there no sugar listed?
Plain, very low sodium corn cakes are typically made from just corn, which contains natural sugars, but no added sugar is used in the basic product.
Can I eat these on a low-carb diet?
Generally, no. At over 83g of carbohydrates per 100g, they are a high-carb food and would not fit into a standard low-carb or ketogenic diet.