Beanfields: Bean & Rice Chips

I'm always on the look-out for healthier, preferably gluten-free snacks to try.

And I've tried a lot of them, in the past few months.
Some good, some ho-hum and some just plain bad!

 

On a recent trip to our local food co-op, I noted: Beanfields Bean & Rice Chips and decided to give them a try. I'm glad I did!

 

Of all the rice, veggie, gluten-free... chip snacks I've tried, these are the closest in taste/texture to actual potato chips.

So if you've been dismayed by the bad rap that most potato chips are getting these days and have been looking for a healthier alternative that still tastes like your old favs, give Beanfields Bean & Rice Chips a try. They really do taste like "the real deal".

 

I started with a bag of the Pico De Gallo and they were soooo good!

A nice spicy kick to them but not overly hot.

I've also tried the Salt n Pepper flavor. A bit milder taste for these but also good and not overly "peppery".

 

With both flavors I tried, it was that "potato-chip like" taste and texture that kept me reaching for more. And with a salsa dip, yummm...even better.

And not an overly crispy/hard texture like some of the healthier chip choices available; these were just right!
 

 

Here are some additional "good things" about these chips:

 

-29% less fat and twice the protein and fiber of most tortilla-type chips

 

-Non GMO project verified

 

-No gluten OR corn

 

-No peanuts or seeds

 

-Vegan

 

-4 grams of complete protein in a 28 gram serving

 

-Only 140 calories in a 28 gram serving

 

-No saturated or trans-fats

 

***

 

The only term that I didn't see on their ingredient list that I would have appreciated was CERTIFIED ORGANIC. Hopefully that's something that will be a consideration for future production.

 

And if you're thinking these might have an overly "beany" flavor that's unappealing, think again. I don't think I would have even known there were beans in these chips, if I had tasted them out of a sampler bowl instead of out of the bag. :<)

 

And speaking of beans, do you know just how good they are for you? You can read more about the many health benefits of beans here. I'm already a bean-lover so I didn't need to be convinced. LOL

 

 

 

Available in these flavors:

  

 

You can read more about the Beanfields company: their story, values and all products at their attractive and informative website.

 

 

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

 

 

 



Lundberg Rice Chips

 

I'm all for healthy snack choices like: fresh fruits, raw seeds and nuts, raw veggies etc...but sometimes, I crave a REAL "chip" snack and nothing else will do. Unfortunately, many of the healthier versions of these types of snacks leave a lot to be desired. Bland, tasteless and anything but snack-o-licious. 

 

I recently tried Lundberg Rice Chips for the first time and this is one healthier chip snack that delivers and in a big way. Oh so yummy, great flavours, a satisfying crunchy texture and with an ingredient list that won't make you cringe. 
                                                                               

 

Here's what's in the Fiesta Lime flavoured chips:
 

Organic whole grain brown rice, organic rice flour (organic whole brown rice flour, organic rice flour), high oleic expeller-pressed safflower or sunflower oil, organic whole masa corn flour, organic sesame seeds, less than 2% of the following: salt, dried cane syrup, organic nonfat dry milk, organic buttermilk powder, tartaric acid, citric acid, organic rice concentrate, dried parsley, lime oil, and natural caramel color.

 

 

Some additional information from the Lundberg site about these Rice Chips:

 

Now made with 70% organic ingredients and all organic grains, you'll find them in new updated packaging with bright vibrant colors and a matte finish, making them easier to spot on your grocery store shelves. The Whole Grain Stamp and the Non-GMO Verified logo have been added to every bag so you know you're getting a wholesome, healthy-for-you snack. And when you check out those nutrition labels, you'll notice we listened to your concerns about yeast extracts, removing them from our ingredients.

***

 

Gluten free, no trans fats, non GMO and approx. 300 calories per 20 chips. And these are nice big triangular chips. Most of them in the bag are whole too, not a bunch of broken up pieces; I appreciate that. A 170 gram bag sells for about $3.50 locally, so comparable to other "junkier" brands of chips and cheesy-type snacks and with some nutritional value going for them, unlike so many popular mainstream snack items.

One negative: they are fried not baked, that's one thing I wish they could change.

***

 

I've tried several of the flavours already and they've all been good but my favs are:

 

 Fiesta Lime, Santa Fe Barbecue and Honey Dijon.

 

If you've been looking for a better snack alternative that actually tastes good and satisfies that "gotta have chips" craving, give Lundberg Rice Chips a try. They won't replace carrot sticks when it comes to "good for you" but they certainly are a better choice when it comes to chip-type snacks.

 

  

 

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of  5.