Snack Attack: Healthy Chips
Monday, September 20, 2010
Putting together my kids’ school lunches made me realize something important that my boys and I share. We. Love. Chips. So I was really excited when I started seeing healthier options pop up on grocery shelves. And because I care so much about you (and because I was, well, hungry), I sampled a few interesting, non-potato-based options. Here, my top five fave new munchies. Not only do they capitalize on other crops, but they all have less fat, more protein, and tons of personality.
Photo by Stu Spivack
Arico Cassava Chips: These light, crispy rounds look just like potato chips, but come with twice the fiber and 40% less fat than their tater-based counterparts. Cassava, another member of the tuber/root plant family, also has a good amount of calcium and Vitamin C. My flavor pick is spicy Ginger on Fire, but there are three other flavors: no-nonsense plain, sea-salt, and smoky barbecue.
Mediterranean Snack Food Co. Baked Lentil Chips: Thick and crunchy, these gluten-free cracker-chip hybrids are high in fiber and protein, and 70% less fatty than potato chips. Dip tip: the Sea Salt and Cracked Pepper chips pair perfectly with hummus.
Plocky’s Hummus Chips: Made with olive oil, these rounds are surprisingly crispy considering they’re baked with real hummus and olive oil. All the flavors — Roasted Garlic (the best!), Roasted Red Pepper, and Original – come with half the fat of potato chips and no GMOs or transfats. Bonus: Plocky’s donates them to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Beanitos Black Bean Chips: Scoring high on the ingredient simplicity scale, these bean-based chips are made with just five things – all which are pronounceable. One serving packs in four grams of protein and a healthy dose of Omega-3s, without the addition of gluten, soy, or wheat. I obsess over the fiery Chipotle BBQ flavor, and the cheesy pinto bean option is a close second.
Boulder Canyon’s Lemon & Cracked Pepper Rice & Bean Chips: These rippled crisps are a perfect combo of sweet and savory, with slightly sweet adzuki beans, zesty lemon kick, and bold pepper. They’re also free of gluten, trans fat, and cholesterol. Though it’s not quite appropriate in the chip category, their new white cheddar multigrain puffs are another pantry staple for my fam.
So, tell me – what are your favorite non-potato chips? Drop me a line here, I’m excited to try something new!
Cafeteria Lady: Perfecting the School Lunch « Real Moms Love To Eat 7:46 pm on August 22, 2011 Permalink
[...] Do add snacks or desserts! Obviously I couldn’t forget this one. I say kids deserve a treat—just make sure it’s not packed with sketchy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup. Better yet, give ‘em homemade goodies so you can fully control the ingredients.My suggestions: amazing pumpkin chocolate chip muffins from Sassy Mom Blogger or Snack Girls Crispy Rice Squares. For savory snacks, there are plenty of non-greasy, organic, healthful alternatives to the usual suspects. Check out some top picks here. [...]