Once, back in the days when I used to assemble after school snack platters, I presented my go-to dutiful little display of apples and peanut butter and set it on the table before the girls. Phoebe grabbed one or two but Abby stood up and started scanning the pantry. โWhatโs the matter?โ I asked. โYou donโt like apples and peanut butter anymore?โ
Itโs not that, she said.โI like it, but snacks should beโฆโ She thought about this deeply. โSnacks should be crunchy.โ
Yeah, I hear you, I said, thinking of the holy grail of all snacks: the Cape Cod kettle cooked potato chip. โBut arenโt apples crunchy?โ
โNo, Mom, they are crispy,โ she countered. โThereโs a big difference. And plus, they donโt come in a fun crinkly bag.โ
Even though Abby has moved on, I have not, and have since developed a real fondness for healthy-ish crunchy-not-crispy snacks that come in a crinkly bag that arenโt potato chips. (Not that thereโs anything really terrible about potato chips if you have a handful or so, but for me, itโs one of those foods where applying the whole all-in-moderation philosophy of eating is almost laughable.) The good news is that it feels like we are in the middle of a crispy-healthy-crinkle bag Renaissance of sorts. Everywhere I look, there is a new entry to consider, and a new bag to rip open after school, on road trips, or to keep in bulk in the car when Iโm shepherding my charges to their various athletic pursuits. Here are six of my most recent favorites.
Crunchy Chickpeasย (Saffron Road) They make these in falafel, chipotle, Korean BBQ, sea salt, and wasabi, too, but this flavor is the family favorite. Theyโre roasted, gluten-free and feel just fun enough to offer to dinner guests with the cheese platter.
Cashew and Tahini Kale Chipsย (Trader Joeโs)ย They have these in โZestyโ nacho flavor too, but I think the cashew-tahini one is the more natural tasting option. I also like them crumbled over rice bowls โ but maybe thatโs because their consistency resembles seaweed.
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Wasabi and Soy Sauce Almondsย (Blue Diamond)ย Itโs not like these are so hard to come by (the Blue Diamond line is sold at every major supermarket) but itโs become a ritual of mine to track them down on a road trip when we pull into a rest stop.
Pure Parmesan Whispsย (Cello)ย An addict herself, my friend Sue is the one who got me hooked on these. Iโm not sure they are healthy exactly, but for the gluten-free, carb-free snackers out there, they are gold. (Also falls under the category of If You Bought Parmesan Crisps At Whole Foods Youโd Pay Three Times as Much.)
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Pomegranate Flavored Pisatchiosย Sahale has a whole line of these, but the Pomegranate Pistachios are my favorite. No matter which one you choose, youโll get the signature salt-sweet-crunch-chewy-spicy interplay. So addictive.
Apple Chips (Bare) For the kid who will eat a crunchy apple but not a crispy one. (Look, Abby, it even says โcrunchyโ on the package!)ย There is one ingredient on the label here: Apples. Thatโs always a good sign.
I know you need to earn money from this blog, and appreciate how you have disclosed partnerships in the past. It would be great if you would post a policy about always noting in a post when you have a financial arrangement re: product placement. (You get a pass on your own books!) That would allow me to read a post like this in a totally different light.
I am not paid by a single one of the companies/products mentioned here, otherwise Iโd be obligated by the FCC to disclose that. I once did a video for Food52 which Sahale sponsored, but I did not earn any money for it. Otherwise, I am both an Amazon and Thrive affiliate (I get a small percentage of sales that originate from DALS) but neither company ever tells me what products to push. Hope that helps. I am always very curious to hear how people react to sponsored posts (where bloggers are paid x amount to write about a companyโs product) which I donโt do, but am always considering. So if anyone else wants to chime in please feel free.
Do you know if itโs true or not that participating in affiliate link programs needs to be disclosed somewhere on a blog? Sometimes I see this in the โAboutโ section, or in a permanent sidebar, but often itโs nowhere to be found. Even if itโs just a few cents here and there, it adds up, especially for blogs with huge readership and regular roundups. I read once that it legally it needs to be disclosed โsomewhereโ but Iโm no lawyer. Thanks, Jenny! (And my favorite crunch are those exact chickpeas and the Trader Joeโs sour cream and onion corn puffs.)
You know who does a great job at specifying sponsored/not sponsored posts? Your friend Joanna over at Cup of Jo; she is very clear when itโs just a rave about something she or one of her writers has found, but also lets her readers know when a post is sponsored, and thanks them quite sweetly for โsupporting the brands that support Cup of Joโ.
I agree!
Hi there! I work at an affiliate network and I can tell you that YES it is a legal requirement that bloggers disclose that they work with affiliate networks. Usually, this would be found in a privacy policy, either attached to the โabout meโ, bottom, or sidebar section of the site. Technically bloggers are supposed to disclose affiliate links in every post BEFORE the links appear. However, I can tell you that majority of bloggers, (especially the big onesโฆahem, Joanna) are guilty of not doing this.
I just made fried chickpeas a week or so ago and could not stop eating them! They were really easy and could be customized in endless ways. Iโve also made โfricoโ which looks similar to those Parmesan Whisps. Basically you grate cheese (a hard cheese like Parmesan), put tablespoonfulls on parchment paper and bake about 10 minutes. So easy and so so good!
Have you had the crunchy mochi bites from Trader Joeโs? Holy Moses. I cannot be trusted around an open bag.
We donโt live in the States, so my ability to comment on the snack sin question is limited.
HOWEVER
I feel the need to tell you- from the bottom of my heart- how much I appreciate you using the word addictive properly! It made me so excited.
I think I have just resigned myself to bloggers saying โaddictingโ, which makes me grind me teeth with annoyance!
Me too!! I hear/see this everywhere, not just on blogs and it makes me nuts.
I am addicted to wasabi almonds!
I am addicted to wasabi almonds!
Try Bhuja snacks: http://majans.com/products/us/bhuja-snacks/ (the seasoned peas and nut mix are best, imho). They are delish and way up there on the crunchy scale.
Very well written. All the very best for further articles. Youโre doing a great job.
Late to the party here, but I had to post because I discovered them yesterday: BLUE DIAMOND SALT + VINEGAR ALMONDS. Iโve seen the wasabi ones before but thatโs not quite my jam when I need a satisfying snack. Iโm very into Salt + Vinegar chips but try to save them for special occasions. Found these babies in my neighborhood corner market and I canโt stop consuming them; they are so so satisfying and have that zing-crunch combo that is irresistible to me in the snacking realm. Extra great for aperitivo with a glass of wine or a spritz. Ok PSA over.
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