Chips are probably my vice. I know it’s not good for me, but it’s just so delicious to quit. I can eat chips any time of the day! Unfortunately, you feel the adverse effects of chips as you age. Bloatedness and acid reflux are some of the adverse effects after I have a whole bag to myself. I know, I have a problem.
Determined to address this “life issue”, I have committed myself to find healthier alternatives to potato chips. I have asked suggestions from family and friends, nutritionists, and of course, the vast network of the Internet. I have scoured forums and different threads.
Knowing that potato and salt are my enemies, I figured I should find a different kind of chips. Before I came across today’s snack, I have tried many chip variants: cassava, salted egg, fish, fish skin, banana, mixed fruit, sweet potato, pumpkin, you name it, I’ve probably tasted it. Yes, I was not afraid to taste all these for the love of chips.
Until a particularly late night on the Internet when I could not sleep, I stumbled upon this unique snack item: it is Enlightened’s Roasted Broad Bean Crisps. I guess you could say my curiosity was piqued and I had to know more about it.
Before we proceed, I want to be upfront with you: I do not like beans. But what I do like are chips and in efforts to “sustain” my chip vice, I was more than willing to make adjustments. This was more than enough for me to familiarize myself with Enlightened and their roasted bean crisps.
Enlightened first broke into the food scene in 2013 when they launched their ice cream bars to “push boundaries of conventional snacking to bring delicious and nutritious products that are beyond just “better for you”. Soon after their products started selling like hotcakes, they began to expand and started producing ice cream pints, marshmallow treats, and eventually, broad bean crisps. They believe that to “enlighten” people’s favorite treats, it means bringing them a step up from glorified junk foods with empty health claims. They go beyond reducing calories - they let go of sugar and fat and instead use fiber, protein, and other quality ingredients to make people’s favorite treats health-friendly.
Enlightened’s story and mission moved me. I personally felt like their name has such a profound meaning for me not to give them a try. But I am not one to be convinced just by the name, so I did another research about their Roasted Bean Crisps. Here’s what I found:
Enlightened’s Roasted Broad Bean Crisps are made from broad or fava beans. These beans come in soft, green pods that yield sweet and tender springy beans. To actually get the fava beans, you have to shell it. First, you have to snap off the end of the fava pod, then string it, and simply remove the beans from the pod.
I would like to reiterate that I do not like beans. However, roasted bean crisps are a whole different story. Enlightened’s Roasted Broad Bean Crisps is made from broad or fava beans, sunflower oil, rice flour, cinnamon, cane sugar, and stevia. Actually, they come in different flavors namely: cocoa dusted, garlic and onion, mesquite bbq, sea salt, sriracha, sweet cinnamon, and wasabi. Each serving of Enlightened Roasted Bean Crisps amounts to an ounce or 28 grams. This has a hundred calories. Its total fat is 2.5 grams, 16 grams of total carbohydrates, and protein is 7 grams.
Enlightened’s Roasted Broad Bean Crisps is non-GMO (genetically-modified organism), gluten-free, vegan, and Kosher. This snack is definitely something you can munch on guiltlessly. Knowing all these things, I placed an order. I ordered a 12-pack in 4.5 ounces. I think there are more size and piece variation, you can check here for your guidance.
My order arrived 30 minutes before I was supposed to eat lunch. But since the chips were calling out to me, I readily responded. When I first tasted it, I had to do a double take. I thought, “Are these really beans?” They did not taste like the beans I normally hate at all. They tasted more like a roasted nut, only seasoned to perfection. My choice of sweet cinnamon was phenomenal. My mind immediately thought of the things I could do with this; I could put it in my salads and even soups! The possibilities were endless. I just have to warn you that some of the beans may be too hard to bite on, but it is not a deal breaker for me.
Overall, I am happy to have found a new and healthier alternative I can mindlessly snack on. Enlightened’s Roasted Broad Bean Crisps is definitely something you should integrate into your diet if you are planning to make some modifications when it comes to your snacking habits. This is definitely the best next thing to the harmful potato chips.