Welcome to “McDaniel’s Bite-Sized Reviews” | Organic Chickpea Puffs Hippeas
It’s a weekly series we’re calling “McDaniel’s Bite-Sized Reviews!” Each Thursday, we’ll share a popular food, drink or supplement one of our MNT Registered Dietitians tried, reviewed and rated. With the growing number products on the grocery store shelves, figuring out which items are getting you the most nutritional bang for your buck can feel overwhelming? Our hope is that we can make grocery shopping at least 0.5% easier!
FYI – these posts aren’t sponsored. They are opinions of unpaid tastebuds.
Check Out Our Past Reviews:
- Week One: Banza Elbow Pasta Made with Chickpeas
- Week Two: Lifeway ProBugs Organic Pouches
- Week Three: Sports Research Collagen Peptides
- Week Four: Lúvo Planted Power Bowls
- Week Five: Kodiak Power Cakes Flapjack & Waffle Mix: Buttermilk
- Week Six: Beyond Meat Burger
- Week Seven: Litehouse Cilantro Greek Yogurt Dressing
- Week Eight: Clif Whole Lotta Bars
Product: Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs | Vegan White Cheddar
Hippeas are baked chickpea puffs made with chickpea and rice flour. They are organic,
vegan, Non-GMO, dairy-free, and nut-free. Hippeas have a that white cheddar flavor taste without the cheese.
Why Did We Try?
Our family is headed out on a road trip to go camping in Tennessee with my family. A balance and variety of healthy and honestly, no so healthy snacks, are a must to keep everyone happy for 7 hours in the car. #prayforme On our last family vacation, my sister introduced me to Hippeas, a snack she often offers her son, Charlie. I almost ate her entire bag. Sorry, Charlie. I loved the cheesy crunch and the hearty bite.
Very often, when snack foods are made with a healthy ingredient like “chickpeas,” you have to question: is it wearing an invisible health halo? So the goal of this review was to size Hippeas up to their white cheddar competition. Do they really offer a source of good nutrition? Or do they sound healthier than they actually are?
Nutrition Facts Label
Where to Find Hippeas
In the Midwest, you can find Hippeas at CVS, Whole Foods, Lucky’s Farmer’s Market, 7-11, Fresh Thyme, on the Hippeas website and Amazon.
Hippeas, Are They Worth the Bite? Our 5 Star Rating
Taste: 5/5 stars
We tried 3 different flavors: Vegan White Cheddar, Bohemian Barbecue, and Sriracha Sunrise. My favorite was white cheddar, and my son’s enjoyed the barbecue. Many times “puffed” snacks don’t have a lot of substance, but the Hippeas felt a bit more substantial. The texture, flavors and crunch factor were worth 5 stars. If the boys could choose, they would probably pick Pirate’s Booty over the Hippeas…but when you’ve only got one option…? 🙂
Nutrient Density: 4/5
Nutritionally speaking this snack foods trumps its competitors in the categories of saturated fat, protein, fiber and sodium. Not mentioned in the chart is iron. One serving of Hippeas provide 6% of iron needs based on a 2,000 calorie diet. The other puffs were contributed 0 mg of iron.
Comparison for Similar Types of White Cheddar Puffs
Value: 4/5
The average cost of a one ounce serving will vary based on your location and store, but according to our online price comparison, the Hippeas are a bit more expensive. If it’s a regular snack on your rotation, the additional fiber, iron, and protein may be worth the price. Or…roast canned chickpeas for the real snack #win.
Overall Rating: 4.3/5 Stars
How We Took a Bite of our Hippeas:
Alongside the other road trip foods! Raisins, cheese, peppers, and a Larabar. Don’t worry…they’ll be asking for McDonald’s at any minute, and yes, we will go.
