Gluten Free Snacks: Crunchies Corn Snack - Product Review #111

Gluten Free Snacks: Crunchies Corn Snack

PRODUCT NAME:                       Corn Snack

BRAND:                                      Crunchies

COST:                                         $4.89

SIZE:                                           3.25oz  

COST PER OZ:                            $1.50/oz                             

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:          YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           GFCO

ORGANIC:                                   NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:           NA

VEGAN:                                       YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:             UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:             California 

SHELF LIFE:                                18 Months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:

Crunchies has come up with what they call “Nature’s Ultimate Snack food.”  Crunchies are a line of freeze dried fruits and vegetables.  In the free drying process, water is removed in a refrigerated vacuum, which preserves all of the enzymes and nutrients and leaves you with a product that is crunchy.  A few weeks back, Crunchies sent us some samples of their products to try, including these Corn Snacks.

Crunchies Corn Snacks are freeze dried corn kernels.  This snack is very similar in form to Corn Nuts, except they are a little easier on your teeth.  The freeze drying process, if popped correctly, leaves you with a popped corn kernel that is light and crispy.  I will say that there were a few kernels in the bag that didn’t pop and were pretty hard.  So if you have sensitive teeth, stick to the popped kernels in the bag.  The taste of this snack is very similar to that of popcorn.  It is slightly salted and has a very nice corn flavor.  Be careful though because they get addicting. 

Nutrition Facts

There are many ways you can enjoy this snack.  Some suggestions are eating it as a snack as-is, topping your salads with it and mixing it into trail mix.   The calorie and fat content in these snacks is about the same as Corn Nuts, at 130 calories (52 from fat) and 7 grams of fat (1g saturated).  One category Crunchies is much better in is the sodium at 85mg per serving.  While these values aren’t outrageous, you should still practice portion control and pay attention to your overall daily values.  It even comes in a resealable pouch so you can split it up into separate servings and still keep it fresh. 

Overall, we liked these Crunchies Corn Snacks a lot.  They tasted great, they had pretty good texture and they are something a little different from the norm.  If you’re a corn fan, this is the snack for you.  The only real downside I see to this is the price tag.  They are priced at $4.89 per 3.25oz bag.  For more information about this product, visit the Crunchies website at: www.crunchiesfood.com.  

Taste: These Crunchies Corn Snacks pack a great salted popcorn flavor in a light and crispy package.  They are great on their own, but would go great in a salad, in soup or in trailmix. 

Labeling:  The labeling on this package is very colorful.  They use bright colors to attract your attention.  The clear window in the package lets you see exactly what you are getting. 

Packaging:  Great packaging on this product because it is resealable, which allows you to keep the corn snacks fresh over the span of your snackings.   

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 4             

Taste:                     4             

Value:                    2

OVERALL:              3.3

Reviewed 4/21/11 by Calvin C. 

Gluten Free Chips: Boulder Canyon Canyon Cut Wavy Potato Chips - Product Review #110

Boulder Canyon Canyon Cut Wavy Potato Chips

PRODUCT NAME:                         Canyon Cut Wavy Potato Chips

BRAND:                                        Boulder Canyon Natural Foods

COST:                                           $23.88 (12-Pack)

SIZE:                                             5oz        

COST PER OZ:                              $0.40/oz         

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:            NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             NA

ORGANIC:                                     NO

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:             NA

VEGAN:                                         NO

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              Boulder, CO

SHELF LIFE:                                  6 Months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:

When it comes to chips, potatoes are king.  They come in different shapes and sizes and it’s all about what you like.  We were at the supermarket last week and came across these Boulder Canyon Natural Foods Canyon Cut Wavy Potato Chips.  We have had Boulder Canyon chips in the past and they are great, so we knew we had to give these a try.  Like their other chips, these are also all natural and gluten free.  These chips come in Honey BBQ, Sour Cream & Chive, Totally Natural, and Salt & Cracked Pepper.

If you’re a potato chip purist, you will love these chips.  Take one bite into them and you can really taste the potato, especially in the Totally Natural variety.  The chips are light and crispy and are the perfect consistency.  The waves add strength to the chips, which is great for dips.  If you decide to enjoy these chips with dip, the waves will help hold the dip. 

These chips are simple.  The totally natural is contains potatoes, vegetable oil and salt and the other varieties are similar, but with flavor additives.  The Totally Natural variety contains just 150 Calories, 7g of fat, 135mg of sodium, and 2g of protein.  Comparing this with similar chips on the market, these are pretty good values.  The other varieties have similar nutrition facts, but slightly higher sodium content (200mg range). 

Overall, we loved these chips.  They had great potato flavor and had the perfect texture and consistency. It is the perfect chip for a potato chip purist.  For more information about these Boulder Canyon Natural Foods Canyon Cut chips, visit their website at: www.bouldercanyonfoods.com

Taste: These chips are great.  They are perfectly seasoned and have a great light crunch. 

Labeling:  The labeling is very simple.  These are all natural, gluten free and delicious.

Packaging:  On the packaging, they have a Green Energy label.  They purchase renewable energy credits to cover 100% of their products.  They chips come in a chip bag made of a mixture of plastic and paper. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     5             

Value:                    3

OVERALL:              4.3

Reviewed 4/20/11 by Calvin C.   

Gluten Free Chips: Late July Multigrain Snack Chips - Product Review #108

Gluten Free Chips: Late July Multigrain Snack Chips

PRODUCT NAME:                         Multigrain Snack Chips

BRAND:                                        Late July

COST:                                           $3.39

SIZE:                                             6oz        

COST PER OZ:                              $0.57/oz

CERTIFIED GLUTEN FREE:           YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            GFCO

ORGANIC:                                    YES

CERTIFICATION AGENCY:            QAI

VEGAN:                                        YES

GLUTEN FREE FACILITY:              UNKNOWN

LOCATION OF FACILITY:              USA

SHELF LIFE:                                  6 Months

*These statements are based on the information printed on the product packaging.  We cannot verify the accuracy of this information.  For verification of the statements above, please contact the manufacturer.   

         

REVIEW:

On a recent trip to the supermarket, we ran across Late July Organic Snacks’ multigrain snack chip in a flavor called Sea Salt by the Seashore.  Seeing that it was certified gluten free, we knew that we had to try it.  Digging around on their website, we found out that these chips are organic, certified gluten free, 100% whole grains, has 280mgs of omega-3s, contains no GMOs, no trans fats, and no artificial colors or preservatives.  On top of that they donate 10% of their profits to summer camp scholarships.  What more can you ask for?

Looking at the chip, the first thing that came to mind was that these were tortilla chips.  Take one bite into them and you will quickly see that it is more than that.  They may be in the shape of tortilla chips, but they are so much better.  These chips are made with a mix of seeds and a blend of whole grains like ground whole corn, quinoa and brown rice.  They taste great.  They are very light and crispy and have a nice light flavor.  The variety we purchased was just seasoned with sea salt so you can really taste the flavor of the grains.  The sea salt flavor was very mild and is not something we would eat on its own, but it would be great with your favorite dip. 

Nutrition Facts and Ingredients

These chips have a lot going for it.  They taste great, have great texture and they’re actually pretty good for you.  We had the Sea Salt by the Seashore variety and the serving size for these chips is about 13 chips.  Those 13 chips contain 120 calories (40 from fat), 4.5 grams of fat, no cholesterol, just 70mg of sodium, 2 grams of dietary fiber and 2 grams of protein.  These are pretty good numbers considering many of the alternatives on the market have much higher values.  Combine that with the fact that they are certified gluten free and peanut and tree nut free, and you have yourself a great snack

Overall, we liked these chips a lot.  They are light, have good natural flavor and are pretty healthy for you.  It’s the perfect snack to enjoy with your favorite dip.  These chips are also available in Mild Green Mojo (green chilies with cheese and a hint of lime) and Dude Ranch (tangy sour cream and a perfect blend of herbs and spices).  These are definitely a snack we would buy again.  For more information about these chips or about Late July Organic Snacks, visit their website at: www.latejuly.com. 

Taste: These chips pack a great natural whole grain flavor in a light and crispy chip.  These would be perfect for dipping. 

Labeling:  The graphics on the package were very bright and fun.  The text is easy to read and all of the certification labels are on the bag. 

Packaging:  Sealed chip bag. 

Reader’s Reviews: Please share with us your review of this company’s other products + where you purchased the product + how long you have been using this product. Please no review from the family + friends of the company producing the product…

RATING:

Texture:                 5             

Taste:                     4             

Value:                    3             

OVERALL:              4

Reviewed  4/15/11 by Calvin C.