A Variety of Tortilla Chip

Do you like Tortilla Chips? Do you love Tortilla chips? Then consider trying these two new and very scrumptious variations on the theme.

Garden of Eatin’s  crunchy blue corn tortilla chip, Sprouted Blues--the first on the market made with the unique sprouted grains combination of brown rice, lentils, and quinoa-- blends a tantalizing nutty flavor with a distinctive hearty texture. 

The likewise appealing blend of great taste and important nutrients, Garden of Eatin’ Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips make snacking a fun-filled yet guilt-free taste sensation. Prepared with premium quality organic yellow corn and organic sweet potato that can be seen and savored in each chip, Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips provide 2 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber per serving.  The taste is salty-sweet-crunchy. Very satisfying.

Garden of Eatin’ was established in the early 70’s. Their products are ground and cooked on-site and made with the finest quality natural and organic ingredients, including organic corn harvested on sustainable farms and expertly shaped into delectable chips via a slow-bake process that makes every bite an unforgettable snack experience. They are now part of the Hain Celestial Group.

http://www.gardenofeatin.com/

http://www.hain-celestial.com/

Organically Good--Not Expensive

Crunch into a savory crunchy snack that is organically good and good for you. O Organics is one of the nation’s largest organic brands (by retail sales) and offers consumers and retailers a complete, multi-category lifestyle solution with over 300 products in 50+ categories. Launched in October 2005 at Safeway stores, O Organics now offers to retailers nationwide a complete range of the highest quality organic foods and supplements at affordable prices.

Available in regular grocers, O Organics simplifies shopping since many organic and conventional foods are now in a one location.

Here are just a few of the savory delights:

Blue Corn Chips with Sesame Seeds

Lightly Salted Cashews and Almonds

White Cheddar Popcorn

Fire Roasted Salsa-- the Mild is really more like a medium--nice and piquante.

You'll find many more so pick and choose a few different snacks each week.

The Complete Cracker

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to snack on a cracker that was so delicious and crunchy and, thanks to interesting blends of flavors, had a taste that was so unexpected and delicious that it didn’t need a dip or even cheese to top it off?

Your wish is granted. Back to Nature, the Wisconsin-based purveyor of cookies, granolas, trail mixes, and more has several varieties of crackers to intrigue the palate.

Sunflower Basil—crisp savory crackers with crunchy sunflower kernels and fragrant basil. No cholesterol no trans fat, no hydrogenated oils, no artificial flavors or colors. Thanks to a touch of olive oil, sea salt a dash of black pepper, there is plenty of flavor.

Sesame Tarragon— sprinkled with golden sesame seeds and Tarragon with snippets of Parsley, basil, olive oil, sea salt.

Poppy Thyme -- These crackers are sprinkled with Poppy Seeds and Chopped Thyme with a bit of Parsley, black pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Who needs cheese or dips? But feel free to serve these tasty savory crackers with whatever you choose. You can’t go wrong.

Back to Nature, Forward to Health

Another company offering more natural and good-tasting foods in a variety of forms is Back to Nature Foods. Started in 1960, in Pasadena, California this company has the philosophy that “the best way to move forward…[is] to go back”

Keeping with that thinking, their products have no cholesterol and no trans fat. No artificial preservatives or colors, either.

Here is a look at a few snack offerings:

Bar Harbor Blend (Cranberries, Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds & Vanilla
Almonds)
This is a snack packed with flavors and textures that will keep you reaching for more. The crackling crunch of the Vanilla Almonds and the muted crunch of the Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds contrast beautifully with the Cranberries. What a great combination.

Pacific Heights Blend (Salt Roasted Almonds, Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds, and dried Bing Cherries. Again, a sumptuous combination of textures, flavors and sweet and (just ever-so-slightly) salty.

Another Snack is the Sonoma Berry Blend—All fruit -- Dried Cranberries, Raisins, Bing Cherries and Strawberries. This is a nice surprise--putting those fruits together was an inspiration.

Consider putting these out as snacks for guests and friends instead of the usual chips. Not only are they healthier, the delightful surprising blends will be a hit with anyone who tries them.

Healthy eating on the Go

Suppose you want a snack that is more on the savory side—something with a bit of crunch, but not detrimental to any healthy eating plan you are trying to “become one with.” Something tasty to munch on that will tide you over until your next meal, or if you are more of a “grazer” something to be your next small meal. And if it had a few extra health benefits—even better.
Here are a few suggestions—Snacktrition, a part of Mellace Family Brands, based in California, is a line of about five inspired treats each packed neatly in a re-useable container. Just the names will make you long for a taste—Sea Salt Cashews with Fiber, Sea Salt Almonds with Calcium, Salt & Pepper Cashews with Fiber, Smoked Almonds with Calcium and Fruit & Nut Mix with Fiber and Calcium. What’s especially appealing is these treats are portable and can help you stick to your eating plan. It is also appealing that a portion of each sale promises to “Help Those Who Would Otherwise be Forgotten!” through the company’s Mama Cares Foundation.
Another savory snack comes in a bigger box but you can easily pack the contents into smaller snack-size bags or containers. La Jolla-based Kashi offers several varieties of TLC crackers—the cheddar cheese taste as good—or better- than Cheez-Its and are better for you. Not a big fan of cheese? Try their Fire-Roasted Vegetable, Homey Sesame, Natural Ranch, or Original 7-Grain. They also offer several varieties of “Party Crackers” that we haven’t yet tried, but they look promising.
Another way to thwart an attack of machine munchies is to pack a few snack-size bags of plain almonds or walnuts in your bag or briefcase. Coupled with a bottle of water or juice, or a piece of fresh fruit, and you just built yourself a little fortress against sidetracks to healthy eating.