Snikiddy Baked Fries

Snikiddy Baked Fries
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

French fries are quite often covered in delicious types of toppings and flavored dusting that always seem to be rife with wheat and this means that most of the time, the conversation held at the table of someone who needs gluten-free items will go something like this:

Do your fries have a topping?

Yes.

Is there wheat in the mixture?

Let me check with the kitchen.

(waiter comes back after an agonizing thirty seconds)

Yes.

Snikiddy Baked Fries
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And even if the fries don't have a topping and they're free of gluten, they've very likely been put into a fryer with other assorted wheat-laden items and this means that it's almost impossible to guarantee that even the plainest french fries have been created with gluten-free cooking in mind.

Sometimes a restaurant will offer a gluten-free fryer (this option is usually accompanied by a larger than average selection of gluten-free menu choices), but not every restaurant or snack maker has caught onto the need for gluten free toppings.

While Snikiddy Baked Fries aren't the same sort of fries that might come on the side of a cheeseburger at a diner, they are a tasty snack that resembles a fry in shape and also has a fun seasoning on them. The flavoring covering the fries has ingredients like garlic, onion powder and turmeric, to give you an idea of the sort of taste that might be expected of this snack.

One of the positive elements of the company that makes this snack is that they confirm on their packaging that they do indeed segregate the facilities which create gluten-free food from those foods that do include wheat or gluten. It's worth pointing out for individuals who have Celiac disease, however, that there are areas of the factory that include the production of foods with soy and wheat.

Snikiddy Baked Fries
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

As far as the nutritional content is concerned, this snack does have a solid amount of calories in it, but it's not going to be a huge dent in anyone's diet. There are a few grams of fat more than might be appropriate for a snack, so this probably means that eating these crispy fries is supposed to be a treat and not a regular occurrence.

The general taste of this snack is something akin to Funyun (if you've ever had that onion-infused snack) and they're pretty light and crispy as well. They definitely don't have nearly as strong a smell as Funyuns though so don't think you have to eat them in seclusion so as not to let the world know you love onions.

Overall, this snack is pretty fun to eat and if you like the flavors included on the ingredients list, it's something that would be a nice midday snack or something to eat on a hike. It's kind of messy though so it's probably a good idea to have some napkins around. The messy factor is also a good reason to eat this snack outside or while over an area where it doesn't matter if there are a ton of crumbs around.

Snikiddy Baked Fries
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Snikiddy Baked Fries Report Card

The Good Stuff:

This is a fun and tasty snack and the best way to describe it is that it's a seasoned potato chip that just happens to be in the shape of a fry. Definitely worth trying if you'd like a seasoned potato type snack.

What Could Change:

The fat content in this snack is kind of high and while it's not something that would scare anyone away completely from eating it, downing an entire bag probably isn't recommended. A few handfuls here and there in the middle of the day are probably the best way to enjoy this snack.

Beanitos Pinto Bean & Flax Chips

Beanitos Pinto Bean & Flax Chips
Photograph Copyright 2013 by Kelsey Wyatt

Flax is something that has been touted as a type of "super food" in recent years and a number of manufacturers who have been making health food have been attempting to include flax in their ingredient list so as to suggest that their food is going to help fight everything from heart disease and diabetes to breast cancer and weight gain. While most of the studies suggesting such results are in their infancy, it's likely safe to say that flax is something that certainly won't harm anyone.

And it's a rather handy ingredient to have in any gluten-free meal that is made in such a way that it's supposed to mimic a type of food that would ordinarily have regular wheat flour in it. Since flax is something that isn't just touted by gluten-free advocates, but which is also seen as a healthy part of a natural diet, flax-laden entrees are starting to appear on many store shelves even if a store doesn't have a dedicated health food or organic section.

Beanitos Pinto Bean & Flax Chips
Photograph Copyright 2013 by Kelsey Wyatt

Most chips contain some sort of wheat flour in them even if they're a corn-based chip (it's usually in whatever coating goes onto the chips to flavor them) and so even purchasing a bag of corn chips can result in problems because just about everything has some wheat flour in it. 
Fortunately for Beanitos Pinto Bean & Flax Chips, they are not only wheat-free, but also include a hefty amount of natural and healthy ingredients so the chips are probably something that would attract more than just the gluten-free crowd.

Of course, the big question is whether someone might enjoy the chips whether they need to eat gluten-free products or not. And the one thing that might prevent total enjoyment of these chips is that they're not really just "cheddar cheese" flavored. They would definitely be more accurately labeled as "nacho" flavored as they do have a zest to them that is rather unexpected. It is just this writer's opinion that something labeled as "cheddar' shouldn't taste.... spicy.

So the best way to think about these chips (well this particular flavor anyway) is that they're a grainy sort of bean-like nacho chip. They have a kick to them and even seem to be somewhat dry (only way to describe them) so after you have a few handfuls, you might want to chug a giant glass of water. They seem to be a decent snack if you eat about a dozen of them, but going any further seems to lessen the overall taste as they're fairly dry.

Beanitos Pinto Bean & Flax Chips
Photograph Copyright 2013 by Kelsey Wyatt

The biggest attraction for these chips is likely that they're completely full of all sorts of healthy ingredients (the text on the bag goes far in suggesting this as they seem to be corn free, soy free, potato free and are even kosher... among many other positive attributes). These chips definitely taste as though they're made of pinto beans. It's almost like you're eating nacho flavored pinto beans in chip form.

Which might be more acceptable if the bag would lead one to believe that the chips were actually spicy and not just a mild cheddar flavor. If you're not a fan of spicy chips, you probably won't prefer this flavor of Beanitos (the company makes more than one flavor).

Beanitos Pinto Bean & Flax Chips Report Card

What They Did Well:

There are a ton of gluten-free chips out there that all have different flavors and these chips actually provide a rather unique taste experience. They're not a corn or potato chip and are actually very "beany." Something worth trying if you'd like a different chip-eating experience. They're also filled to the brim with all sorts of healthy elements (beans are quite healthy regarding their nutrients) and so as a snack, they're probably one of the best things you could munch on.

Beanitos Pinto Bean & Flax Chips
Photograph Copyright 2013 by Kelsey Wyatt

What could Improve:

These are nacho flavored! Don't let the bag convince you that it's just cheddar in there. They are spicy and crisp and can be mildly overwhelming in large quantities. 

They're also somewhat dry (yes, I know chips are always dry, but these seem excessively so... perhaps it's just a lack of grease like potato chips tend to have) and this can wear on the taste buds after a few chips. Best eaten in small quantities or as part of a meal and not the main component.

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Fun for snacking or fun as a side with some sandwiches (that are made with gluten-free bread of course!), chips come in a million different varieties and finding a tasty flavor in a gluten free form is generally not too difficult as they do seem to be as plentiful these days as chips that do have gluten (although this author would love to see some tortilla chips made with soy sauce where the soy sauce didn't have wheat!).

And the one thing that really seems to stand out when you first open a bag of Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger chips is the whopping big load of spicy that comes out of the bag and shakes you a fair bit. That's okay sometimes. Strong chips can be rather delicious. But even a fan of chips such as these might be surprised at the significant sensation of burning that might seem to come from their poor taste buds after eating a few.

It can be a satisfying experience to open up a bag of potato chips (or any type of chips, really) and just toss them back while gazing, glass-eyed at the television or while watching a movie, but you can't do that with these chips. By the time you get to the end of this bag, your mouth would be on fire. And while that might be okay if you're drinking a little bottle of Tabasco sauce, it's kind of disconcerting when it's a bag of chips.

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Regarding the basic taste and and appeal of the chips on the basis of their recipe, it's actually not clear to this writer just which flavor in the recipe has made them so incredibly spicy. The ginger is definitely there, but there's something else as well.

The bag suggests that there's also something in the recipe called cassava root, but from the research I've completed, this particular type of tuber isn't what has made these chips particularly spicy. It's probably just an over-abundance of ginger.

The number of calories and fat in these chips are approximate to what you'd find in just about any normal potato chips and the nice thing about them is that they don't have trans fat, which is often something that mainstream chip companies still seem to sneak in their chips somehow. Really, trans fat is something that no food companies should be offering their customers, but since it still exists in some chips, it's a good idea to always take a look at the back of the bag to make sure it's not there.

If you're looking for a chip that's a different experience from the sort of chips that would generally be found on the average store shelf (cheddar, plain, sour cream & onion), these chips could be an interesting twist on a classic snack. They definitely look like potato chips, but the flavor is probably something you've never had before.

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Arico Cassava CrispRoot Ridged Cassava Root Chips Thai Ginger Report Card

Good Stuff:

The consistency and crispy texture of these chips are such that it would likely be a great idea to pair them with a sandwich for lunch, although eating too many of them might be a bad idea. Just a serving or two is enough and if you like ginger, these chips should be a fun snack.

Not So Good Stuff:

For the most part, these chips are such that their taste is kind what you'd expect out of a bag of jalepeno chips (spicy!) and the technique of making those chips so spicy is a questionable technique since the bag doesn't really warn the purchaser that they're buying a bag of ferociously spicy chips. But if spicy is your thing, these chips will definitely deliver and do so in a type of way that's not the expected spices and herbs or vegetables.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

It would seem that chips of all kinds are one of the more popular items for companies to offer the public in a gluten free form and this is often because traditional tortilla chips don't usually have any wheat flour in them anyway unless it's in the flavor mixture. 

Notice I say "usually" as a lot of seemingly innocent tortilla chip manufacturers toss soy sauce in their mixture and this ingredient has wheat - so always look on the label of any tortilla type chips to confirm ingredients and even then, consider asking the company itself whether its chips contain any gluten or wheat, even if the listing of ingredients suggests they don't.

But generally speaking and as far as snack or tortilla chips are concerned, a company can usually come up with a tasty topping for the chips that is naturally gluten-free or isn't really missing anything significant if substitutions are made. The nice thing about a number of these chip varieties is that they often taste almost the same as a general snack for anyone to eat whether they have problems with wheat and gluten or not.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

And often such chips can also be considered copies of mainstream gluten-filled options such as Doritos (who would have thought Doritos would have wheat?) as often the texture and taste of a lot of these chips will tend to mimic more well-known varieties and brands.

(Note that Frito Lay suggests on their website that several varieties of their Doritos DO NOT contain wheat. The original flavor of Doritos - Nacho - DOES contain wheat)

Copying well known manufacturers is fine in most cases as there's no reason to reinvent the wheel. Since ranch tastes good on everything (personal observation but likely an opinion held by anyone who has ever tasted ranch dressing), it's not surprising that a gluten-free style chip would be created in this flavor.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Regarding Late July Dude Range Multigrain Snack Chips, these chips are likely trying to imitate the popular Doritos flavor "Cool Ranch," as they are not only triangle in shape but are a tortilla-style chip that's ranch-flavored. And generally speaking, the taste of these chips does come close to what an actual bag of Doritos would taste like although the Late July chips seem to be a little thicker overall.

Taste-wise, there aren't any real complaints to be had outside of the general note that these chips are somewhat impressive in their ability to come visiting your senses for hours after you actually eat them. You might have popped a few of these during lunch, but you'll definitely be left a stark reminder in your nostrils hours later when you sit down for dinner. 

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

One of the better aspects of these chips though is that they've got significantly lower calorie and fat content than Doritos as 28g of chips from Late July (which is approximately 12 chips) has 120 calories and 5 grams of fat while Cool Ranch Doritos pack 150 calories for the same weight and a heavier 8 grams of fat. 

Even if you're not looking specifically for gluten free products (which, realistically you could actually eat the Cool Ranch Doritos if you chose and had gluten-free requirements), the calories and fat on the Late July chips are a lot more attractive.

Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips Report Card

The Good Stuff:

There are a lot of chip varieties that you wouldn't think would have wheat, but do indeed contain a type of gluten and so if you're a fan of ranch chips, this snack should do the trick. The calories and fat, as pictured above, are also pretty respectable for a bag of snack chips.

What Could be Better:

These chips won't knock your socks off and you probably won't fall to your knees thanking the heavens above that you've been granted some ranch flavored chips, but they do the job admirably and anyone who enjoys ranch flavored tortilla chips and requires gluten-free food should be plenty satisfied with a bag of Late July Dude Ranch Multigrain Snack Chips.

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Out of all the common flavors for potato chips these days, sour cream and onion is likely the one that will offer the most significantly pungent and noticeable aroma. One of the general issues with potato chips that have a very noticeable smell is that they can tend to overtake the other foods that might be eaten at the same time (say a sandwich or soup of some sort). 

This is why it's usually best to keep the chips closed until the main course is done unless the chips are just a plain sort without any heavy flavoring. But there are some varieties of potato chips out there that won't knock someone over when they're opened up and aren't going to be a flavor that a person seems to smell in their general vicinity hours after they actually ate the chips.

One of these tasty varieties is Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato chips, which are one of a fairly extensive line of different flavors that have been on the market for a few years from a company suggesting that its snacks are healthier than most of the other versions out there on the market right now. And generally they would be right since their version of potato chips often has less fat and fewer calories than many of their competitors.

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

But the Popchips folks seem to go a bit further than just offering a chip that has more attractive nutritional stats as they also suggest that their chips don't have unneeded extras such as preservatives, artificial flavors and colors and cholesterol. And of course one of the best parts of this approach is that they don't have any gluten either.

The company has put out a fairly extensive advertising campaign to get people to try the chips based on their friendly nutritional content, such as the lack of trans fat in the chips, but honestly, all this company would need to do is offer free samples to get people on their bandwagon. The famous faces acting as spokespeople for the chips are literally overkill because these chips are a really great snack, no matter their nutritional content.

And the great thing about them from a gluten-free perspective is that there is likely a flavor out there to suit every taste and if the Sour Cream & Onion variety doesn't float your boat, there are at least a dozen other flavors out there that range from the fairly common (cheddar) to the more exotic (Thai sweet chili).

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The most important thing about any food that is gluten free is that the person eating the food because they're allergic to wheat or gluten should be able to enjoy the food without thinking they're having to put up with some sort of lesser substitute. Popchips definitely don't taste like a gluten-free substitute and their light and fluffy (really, they're fluffy, only way to describe them!) texture makes for a fun snack.

For their Sour Cream & Onion flavor, the manufacturer has done a decent job of allowing the taste to stop just short of slapping you across the face with that pungent and familiar flavor of onions.

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips Report Card

Popchips Sour Cream & Onion Potato Chips
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

The Great Things:

As you can tell from this review, I'm a fan of these things. Although the Sour Cream & Onion isn't their best flavor, this might be a purely subjective observation. 

Not only do Popchips have a great texture and consistency, but they're fairly guilt free as far as the calories and fat content are concerned. 

Often a person requiring gluten free food will have to be very careful with some products as they do tend to be highly caloric or filled with copious amounts of fat (likely due to the manufacturer having to find a replacement for gluten). Not so with Popchips. Feel free to toss back a bag as they taste great and they're not going to put a dent in your diet.

What Could be Improved:

There isn't a lot to suggest for improvements to these little chips. They taste great and are a decent price, plus you get the benefit of the whole "no preservatives, no artificial stuff" advertising pitch as well. It is recommended that you try the different flavors though as it's likely a particular flavor might strike your fancy more than another.

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Plain potato chips, plain french fries, unadorned mashed potatoes... enjoying potatoes as someone who can't eat wheat or gluten is often an exercise in eating plain food as so often the tasty topping and dusting of flavors placed on chips and french fries have been to Crazy Town with Wheat and Gluten.

This usually means that half the time a person who needs gluten free food walks into a restaurant, they can't even have a simple side of chips with their fish.

But plain food isn't something that gluten free folks will have to put up with forever as various manufacturers are indeed warming to the idea that there are certainly methods available to provide toppings for potatoes that aren't infused with wheat. Some restaurants are starting to be extremely cognizant of such allergies and will actually provide a gluten-free fryer in their kitchen for the preparation of foods that might otherwise become contaminated with gluten or wheat if they are prepared in a common area.

But for anyone who is looking for a tasty potato-themed snack at home, Boulder Canyon makes a series of pretty tasty potato chips that are all rated as being gluten free. The garlic and Parmesan variety are quite tasty and offer a pretty subtle way to get your garlic fix. The same cannot be said for the jalapeno and cheddar variety as they are quite a kick to the tastebuds. 

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

I honestly don't recommend eating these if you're especially hungry and are in danger of wolfing the entire bag down in a few bites. The Boulder Canyon folks really mean it when they say these chips taste like jalapeno. Some companies just joke around and put only the faintest touch of jalapeno taste into their chips. Not so with Boulder Canyon. They like their jalapenos and they like their chips to slap you around a bit if you're unwise enough to eat through a whole bag without taking a breather. Do have a glass of water nearby if you feel like scarfing these things.

And that's probably one of the only issues with these chips. If you've decided to have some chips with your grilled cheese and have these on your plate, they will completely take over your taste buds and it's possible that you won't really get to taste that much of any other food while you're eating these chips. Of course, some people do like this sort of kick-in-the-pants when it comes to their snacks. 

Either way, Boulder Canyon does put a fine scald on their flavored potato chips and this variety is recommended for a taste if you're a fan of jalapeno and cheddar flavored snacks.

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Boulder Canyon Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips Gluten Free Report Card:

The Good Stuff:

Overall, Boulder Canyon gives people who have a gluten intolerance or who have problems with wheat a great, tasty snack and they're one of the only vendors on the market who makes flavored potato chips that don't otherwise have wheat in the flavoring mixture.

What Could Change:

They could likely try a bit less of a kick on the flavoring for these chips, but this comment might stem from my personal opinion. They are a bit strong. They will stay with you for the day and visit your senses far beyond when you initially ate them. But if that's your thing, these chips might fit the bill.

Boulder Canyon Kettle Chips Parmesan and Garlic

Boulder Canyon Kettle Chips Parmesan and Garlic
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

Uttering the word "garlic" tends to send some people running due to the overwhelming aroma of that very pungent spice, but it is considered by many cooks to be an absolutely vital ingredient to many different recipes. And it would seem that the Boulder Canyon Natural Foods company has seen it fit to combine this distinct herb alongside the more subtle taste of Parmesan, which is definitely intriguing.

Now, potato chips are a universal snacking food of which very few people are allergic. But whenever the bag gets a few additions to it such as spices or herbs, the potential for some sort of evil wheaty or glutenous content becomes all but certain. Any time that there's ever a plate of fries (potatoes) that have been cooked up in a restaurant and covered with some sort of delicious topping, there has always been some sort of flour tossed about in the mixture.

And the folks at Boulder Canyon seem to be aware of this issue as they have specifically suggested on the top of their bag in big letters that their kettle chips are gluten free. Which is sort of awesome. 

Because how common is it to find toppings on fries and chips that are gluten-free?

Boulder Canyon Kettle Chips Parmesan and Garlic
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

It tends to happen about as often as finding a freeway with no traffic on it in Los Angeles, according to the experiences of this writer. And sometimes companies don't even bother to provide at least one variety of chips that haven't otherwise been draped with pounds and pounds of gluten infused toppings. So seeing "gluten free" stamped on the front of a bag of chips is likely to make me snatch them off the shelf immediately.

And Boulder Canyon Kettle Chips Parmesan & Garlic are the first potato chips of this sort that I decided to try simply because they were on sale at my local Sprouts. And what a good choice that was, too. Because these chips are pretty terrific. Kettle cooked potato chips are generally a deliciously sinful way to eat potatoes and when there are toppings involved, the experience only gets better.

The people in charge of seasoning these things at the Boulder Canyon manufacturing place definitely know how to use their spices as the chips are not overwhelming with their aroma, such as might be the case with a bag of Funyuns where the moment they're opened everyone runs for the hills to avoid the tsunami of onion smell that unfurls.

The Boulder Canyon chips have the expected taste and texture (and greasiness) that is expected of such kettle cooked potato chips and the fat content and calories are similar to what you'd expect from such food.

Boulder Canyon Kettle Chips Parmesan and Garlic
Photograph Copyright 2012 by Kelsey Wyatt

Boulder Canyon Kettle Chips Parmesan & Garlic Report Card

The Good Stuff

Everything. If you like garlic and Parmesan, these chips are a great option as the two flavors definitely sit well together on those potato chips. The garlic isn't overpowering and there's just enough of the seasonings included on the chips for a really enjoyable snacking experience.

What Could be Better

While it's not something I would recommend the company change, the calories and fat in these delicious suckers are definitely something of which to be aware. Just like any other calorie-laden snack, eating these chips should be a treat and not an entire meal. Eat them in moderation! If you can. Because the contents of that bag tend to disappear rather swiftly...

Blue Diamond Baked Nut Chips Nacho

Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

Doritos. They are the zesty, cheesy cousin to Cheetos and they leave a delightful amount of cheesy particles on the fingers of whoever is lucky enough to have a bag of them in their cupboard. Unfortunately for anyone who loves nacho cheese flavored snacks and has problems with wheat or gluten, Doritos are off the the list of allowed food. And they really are a delightful food, which is why this author has searched for quite a few years now to find a suitable replacement.

One such possibility is Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho, which is one of many different types of nut-based snacks that the company makes. From actual regular almonds that come in a tin to a round shaped nut "thin" that's sort of like a cracker, just about everything the company makes has the words "gluten free" stamped onto it. And the familiar triangle shape and nacho flavor on the company's Nut Chips seems to beg a comparison. We now seem to associate anything that's nacho flavored as having to come in the shape of a triangle.

It's best to get the bad news out of the way so you don't feel yourself sitting on pins and needles to find out if Blue Diamond Nut Chips are actually Doritos clones. 

They are not.

Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

And there's nothing wrong with this as sometimes it's best to simply eat a food and like or dislike it on its own merits and not how it compares to another food. And these nut chips do have some positive elements which would likely be attractive to someone seeking a snack with some healthy elements. Not only are they infused with almonds, but the bag also suggests that there is a healthy amount of whole grains included, courtesy of some brown rice. 

The maker also likes to advertise that there's less saturated fat than a regular bag of chips. But let's face it, saturated fat tastes good. Everybody knows it. If you're aiming for a healthy snack, it's worth trying the nacho flavor just to see how they taste, but you might have some luck trying the Blue Diamond Nut Chips, Sour Cream and Chive flavor.

Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho
Photograph Copyright 2012 Kelsey Wyatt

Blue Diamond Nut Chips Nacho Report Card

The Good Stuff

These little cracker.... chip... things are a nice snack type diversion, but it's unlikely they'll be anyone's favorite food. Nachos and almonds just don't seem to be a great partnership. It's possible that finding some sort of condiment for dipping would improve the experience.

The nutritional content of the chips is likely a big plus for anyone seeking their whole grains requirement for the day and the fact that the chips don't have a lot of fat or calories in them (you can toss back about half the bag for around 250 calories) is a big plus for anyone who likes to snack. There's also no trans fat which is great.

What Could be Better

In their present form these little chips are a decent snack, but I have to question why they decided on a nacho flavor for some chips made with almonds. It just seems a pairing of two fairly distinct flavors that don't have any reason to be put into the same recipe. But perhaps it will float someone's nacho flavored boat. They're a healthy snack to be sure, but if the nacho flavor isn't your speed, try the many others the company has up for grabs.