Garden of Eatin’ Greek Isle Pita Chips

I like the flavor of these chips, even though it’s a bit intense. Eating them plain might leave you a little shocked; I recommend hummus or some other dip to calm the spices. Still, if regular pita chips are too bland for you, then here is your solution!

Price: $3.29

Where: most grocery stores, www.gardenofeatin.com

Rating:

Tangy Mustard Seeks Love at First Sight

***featuring guest blogger, In-and-Out burger lover, Preet!***

So I walk into the local grocer, hoping for a nice little sandwich (reuben for the win) to uplift my dreary day. It’s raining out, of course, and the weather matches my mood, which, oddly enough, is a pretty normal occurrence in The Greatest City in America. Coke? Sprite? Mr. Pibb? No. I’ll go for the Dr Pepper, but only because he doesn’t use a period after his title. Naturally (ha), I reach for a bag of Kettle Brand potato chips. But today, just like the cute girl in Psych Lab, something catches my eye. Why the hell is this bag of chips orange? To be honest, I really didn’t care; the color enough got me. I walk home through the rain, sans umbrella. Three years and no umbrella; color me hopeful. I make my way to the TV, turn on Good Will Hunting (it’s always on Encore, probably 24/7 on EncoreDamon). I sink into the couch, and spend about a minute opening the big ass bag of Kettle chips. At this point I’m a little mad I chose the Hardest Chips to Open in America. After stabbing the bag with my keys I take a handful and pick the best looking chip of the bunch, only to later realize that every single chip that comes out of the bag would be better than any chip I had ever eaten. And you know how sometimes you have an epiphany or think you’ve finally found love at first sight and you embellish every moment when you retell the story to you favorite gal-pal? I’m not doing that. These chips are really that good. There’s a kiss of dijon in each bite, countered by a dose of honey. All natural (like me). No trans-fats. If I had a one-nighter with these chips, I would call them the next day. No games. I push the chips on pretty much everyone I know that’s willing to try them; I haven’t had a single disappointed customer (save for my dog, but Yogi doesn’t enjoy vegetables like I do). I also carry a bag with me almost everywhere I go. One time I packed the chips instead of my keys; locked myself outside for a few hours… but at least I had my new best friend(s) with me. People tell me that they know what love really is, but I doubt they have what we have. <3

Price: $2.39

Where: most supermarkets and specialty stores, www.kettlefoods.com

Rating:

-Preet

Nature’s Path Organic Hemp Plus Granola

I felt like I could taste the earth in this granola. It did not feel processed or artifical whatsoever and was a bit of a departure from, say, a Chewy bar. It has a decent flavor and makes an easy and quick snack. But, it was almost a little too “natural” for my palate.  Also, in case you’re curious, the box explains that hemp seeds have been used in food products since the early 1990s and hemp and marijuana come from two different kinds of cannabis plants.  And, it is much more nutritious than its “outlaw cousin.”

Price: $2.39

Where: Trader Joe’s, health stores, Whole Foods, www.naturespath.com

Rating:

-Carey

Nature’s Promise Natural White Cheddar Puffs

I’m impressed–I never really thought that a supermarket store-brand product would be so tasty.  The puffs were nice and airy and had just the right amount of white cheddar flavor.  Great to have just a handful of.  And, of course, there’s no trans fat or artificial additives.  I’m hooked.

Price:  $2.09

Where: Giant/Stop & Shop
Rating:

-Carey

Valenciano’s Artisanal Sea Salt Crackers

I originally chose the crackers as a complement to the aforementioned sauce (or as I originally thought – dip), but found that I liked them just as well on their own for a perfect pre-dinner snack. I tried the sea salt flavored crackers, although they come in sesame as well. Not too heavy or salty, they have a good crunch and a lot of flavor. They’re also the perfect shape for dipping, and taste great when paired with raspberry jam. Compared to the sauce, these crackers were fantastic.

Price: $1.98

Where: I also found this product at a local farm market, but the overarching brand, Mitica, has a website at forevercheese.com, which offers a multitude of products.

Rating:

-Elizabeth

Trader Joe’s Cheddar Cheese Twists

I love all things cheese—Goldfish, Cheez Its, and especially Cheetos. However, aware that daily doses of such snacks are pretty bad for you, I was excited to see Trader Joe’s much-reduced calorie/fat/all other bad things Cheese Twists. Two sticks had 90 calories and 3.5 grams of fat, which isn’t amazing, but quite the improvement over the more artificial-brand cheese snacks. Plus, they were delicious. I finished the whole box in a matter of days, and though I wanted to include them in a soup or salad, I ended up becoming too addicted and finishing them just by snacking.

Price: $2.49

Where: Trader Joe’s

Rating:

-Carey

Trader Joe’s Patisserie Twists

Trader Joe’s Patisserie Twists are a delicious after dinner treat. This almond flavored puff pastry twist (which also comes in cinnamon) is wonderfully flaky and melts in your mouth. With only 60 calories per twist and 4 grams of fat, you may even be able to indulge in two twists for dessert. With zero trans fats, low sodium and no cholesterol, this is one sweet snack you don’t have to feel guilty about enjoying. Pair it with a cup of tea or coffee and you have a new after dinner ritual. J

Price: $2.29

Where: Exclusively at Trader Joe’s

Rating:

-Elizabeth

Trader Joe’s Pita Chips

Trader Joe’s Pita Chips with cinnamon and sugar are an excellent alternative to a sweet snack. They give the satisfying crunch of a chip, with the sweet cinnamon sugar to finish it off. One serving is about 10 chips and only 130 calories with 4 grams of fat – and no trans or saturated fats. The bag also boasts 60% less fat than potato chips. However, if you’re looking for something to quench a salty, chip craving, these are not what you’re looking for. Overall, these pita chips are a great snack any time of the day, as long as you can limit your portion. Before you know it, the entire bag could be gone!

Price: $1.99

Where: Exclusively at Trader Joe’s

Rating:

-Elizabeth

Bear Naked Granola

A couple of weeks ago I embarked on a quest to find the perfect granola to put in my yogurt for breakfast. I sampled a wide variety of granolas from different brands and price ranges, all with their own unique qualities. After all that work, it turns out that the first granola I tried, Bear Naked’s Apple Cinnamon Granola, ended up being the best.

BN’s Apple Cinnamon Granola has the perfect balance between crunchy and chewy that I look for in a granola. It is slightly more on the chewy side, which is great for those of us who can’t stand hearing someone munch their way through an entire bowl of cereal. To keep your texture sensors interested, the granola has a fairly generous amount of large clusters. Topping it off are the whole almonds and bits of dried apple that are seamlessly embedded into the mix. But the best thing about the granola is that it’s all natural and it tastes healthy. Is it actually healthy? If you stick to one serving, yes. Try not to get scared away by the whopping 140 calories for a measly ¼ cup serving. One serving actually fills you up!

Price: $4.99

Where: Most specialty food stores and grocery stores

Rating:

-Kate M

Lesser Evil Kettle Corn

At least they got the name right. Lesser Evil’s Black & White all natural kettle corn is low fat and contains no trans-fatty acids. If you are watching the pounds, this is definitely for you—only 120 calories and 2 grams of fat in 1 serving. However, although it may be a guilt-free sweet snack, the 16 grams of sugar overcompensate for the missing calories. Kettle corn should have a mild sweetness; this one is overpowering and it drains any remnants of a popcorn flavor. It is a fine line between “evilness” and taste—the snack may be less evil but it is also less good.

Price: A 4-pack costs about $13.95.

Where to find: www.lesserevil.com. Available in natural or gourmet grocery stores nationwide as well as some movie theater and video rental stores.

Rating:

-Carey