New Food Lifestyle – Great Snacks

In making the switch to healthier eating, I thought one of the biggest challenges would be finding healthy snacks that still tasted great. Now it has become an adventure to try new and interesting things (It’s amazing what you find once you get off the “chips” aisle!) Wanted to share some of our current favs:

Sproutzels Pretzels
They say: “For the health-conscious snacker, Sproutzel’s uses sprouted wheat and sprouted brown rice to make 100% whole-grain flour. Then they combine it with a touch of honey and other delicious ingredients to bake a wholesome, great-tasting pretzel good enough to enjoy any time of day.”
We say: These are great, really delicious. They do have added sugar (honey) so enjoy these in moderation, but for a snack craving they are hard to beat.

Terra Sweet Potato Chips
They say: “Terra Sweet Potato Chips are crinkle-cut sweet potatoes seasoned with sea salt. From the moment you open the distinctive shiny black bag, you’ll understand the Terra difference. Every bagful is a feast for your eyes and a delight for your taste buds, offering a sophisticated snacking experience unlike any other because every vegetable is hand selected and prepared in small batches. The bountiful colors may intrigue you. The unique crunch may surprise you. And the taste? The taste will keep you coming back for more. You want a chip that tastes as good as it looks.”
We say: These absolutely conquer The Tinker’s craving for potato chips, no small feat. Great tasting.

Planters Nut-rition
They say – “A Healthy Handful of Peanuts. Protein helps keep you satisfied. And peanuts—which are not actually nuts but, like peas and beans, are legumes—have seven grams of protein per one–ounce serving. Fiber – Peanuts are a good source of dietary fiber, which can help keep you feeling full longer and can aid digestion.”
We say – The ultimate mid-morning/mid-afternoon/late-evening snack. We buy these in the pre-packaged individual servings to toss in lunch boxes on work days, or just have some portion control at home. I love the blueberry nutrition mix myself, almost like having a dessert. Gobs of varieties to choose from. Pay attention though, some are better from a sugar/carbs standpoint than others.

Beanitos Chips
They say: “Beanitos are an honestly delicious snack made from super nutritious beans that have fiber and protein grown right in them. Theyre real food, full of crunchy flavor, free of preservatives, and made with only natural non-GMO ingredients.”
We say: We’ve enjoyed Beanitos since well before the lifestyle change, just great chips. Now we really appreciate how healthy they are! Lots of varieties keep things interesting, although we’re big fans of the Honey Chipotle Barbeque flavor. These also have kept nachos in the food options as a swap for regular corn chips – actually an upgrade!

Regenie’s Falafel Chips
They say: “A new twist on tortilla chips, Regenie’s Mediterranean Falafel Chips are made using wholesome fava beans, chickpeas, corn and a hearty blend of nutritious spices: black pepper, cloves, marjoram, coriander, cumin and garlic. Just like real falafel balls—with lots of protein, fiber and great crunch—they’re satisfying too.”
We say: another great swap for corn chips, these are just outstanding with hummus. While I (immodestly) make a great homemade hummus, I don’t always have the time or energy during the week to knock it together. Hence the next entry.

Pita Pal Spicy Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus
They say: “Made with a short ingredient list and less fat than other hummus brands, this roasted garlic hummus is a healthy snack for any time of day. Their secret? They don’t dilute the hummus with oil to cut cost; they add only a few squirts of extra virgin olive oil to the top as a garnish so what you see is what you get. It’s perfect as a side dish or as a meal unto itself. Perfect with pita bread, regular bread, crackers or vegetables as a snack when you’re on-the-go.”
We say: Yum. Just yum. I love using hummus in wraps and on the now-rare sandwich, along with using it as a dip. Their jalapeno hummus gives us just the right Tex-Mex kick. They have tons of varieties, too, so keep an eye out for different flavors to add variety to your snacking.