As a Celiac and type II diabetic, I am always looking for foods that I can eat without getting sick from the gluten, and that don’t have too much sugar. These chips fit that description.  The things that make Beanitos so healthy and delicious are real ingredients, nutritious calories, and beans. Beans are naturally loaded with health benefits such as vitamins and minerals.  Doug and Dave Foreman,  the owners of Bean Brand Foods, say “Beanitos is a nutritional powerhouse: a corn free, gluten free, low glycemic, 100% whole bean snack chip packed with Omega 3′s, protein and fiber.”   They are also high in fiber and contain 2 1/2 times the protein of corn or potato chips. I say, they are quite tasty and filling as a snack.

Beanitos come in two varieties: Black Bean and Pinto Bean with Flax Seeds. The Black Bean flavor has 5 grams of fiber and 140 calories in a 10 chip serving.  To get the same amount of fiber from potato chips, you would 75 chips with 750 calories. And potato chips offer no Omega 3′s at all!

I tried the Black Bean flavor by itself as a between meal snack. The recommended serving size of 10 chips was plenty to fill me up and satisfy my hunger. They have a very pleasing flavor, and I think they would be good with cheese dip or as nachos.

Beanitos suggested retail price is $3.99 for a 6 oz. b and can be found in many stores nationwide, including H-E-B and Whole Foods.  If you can’t find them at your favorite local store, visit the Beanitos website to download a product fact sheet to give the manager nex time you go.  Order them online at Snack Warehouse.

Ingredients: Whole black beans, whole grain rice (brown and/or long grain white, pure vegetable oil (one of the following: canola, sunflower, safflower), guar bean gum, sea salt.

Calories per serving: 140    Carbohydrate content: 15 grams  Protein: 4 grams