Healthy Hints: Product Review

I'd like to introduce a new post-category "Healthy Hints". In these posts I'll share with you tips, tricks and products that have been helpful to me in making healthier lifestyle choices.

FULL DISCLOSURE

• This product review was part of my participation in a bzzagent.com campaign where I received a free sample of the product, coupons and "my reward points" for participating
• I like and use other Kashi products all the time, so in all fairness, I may be a bit biased in favor of the Kashi brand before even trying the chips
• All my usual small print disclaimers apply

Kashi Hummis Chips (Olive Oil and Sea Salt flavor): It is what it is. And it's still yummy.

Not everyone does healthy eating the same. What works for one person may not work for another. Luckily there are several successful tactics that work. One of them is substitution, and that is where these chips are most handy. 

Being a foodie, I'm more of a limit / abstain style. I'd rather have the food I like less often rather than substitute a healthier choice all the time. The amount of sugar (or what have you) is controlled by frequency, not by serving.

For other people, a substitution style is the solution. It works better for them to consistently have the type of food that they crave, but substitute a healthier option each time. Their intake is controlled on a serving by serving basis rather than by overall frequency.

If you are fond of crispy, tasty, salty foods (who isn't?) but want to decrease your carb and fat intake, this is an excellent substitution-type choice.

As you would expect from the name, these chips are made from healthy, tasty chick peas. There is some tapioca starch in them for binding, which gives the chip a bit of a bland, pasty texture after you've chewed them a bit. On the other hand, the first crunch is very satisfying, much like a thick cut "kettle chip". The flavoring is robust, savory, with hints of onion and parsley. The flavor is strong enough to more than make up for that hint of starchy, bland, pasty quality at the very end.

Per 120 calorie serving, the chips have 3.5 g of fat, none saturated, 21 g of carbohydrates, 4 g of which are fiber and 3 g of protein. 

Without a lot of research, I took a glance at some other labels while shopping. If memory serves, another name-brand "popped" multigrain snack had only 1 g each of fiber and protein, less fat, but more total carbs. Good old potato chips had next to nothing as far as protein and fiber, abundant carbs, and more in the way of fats. Although this is a highly processed and preserved product, it has lower overall glycemic load than either of the other snacks. Given the fats that are in the hummis chips are predominantly monounsaturated (the healthier kind) the choice is fairly reasonable on the basis of lipid-intake as well. 

The real acid test was giving them to my daughter. Her comment was "pretty good" -rave reviews from a teenager. My husband just finished the rest of the bag without comment, also a good review.

If you are controlling your fat intake, then this is an ok choice. If you are trying to watch carbohydrates or glycemic index, all crunchy snack chips, crisps and crackers are your nemesis - but with a net carb count of 28 grams per serving, Kashi hummis chips are the healthiest choice from that category of foods that I've seen yet.