You have probably noticed by now , if you have been reading the blog for any length of time that I am trying to get more healthy options for food around the house , especially since we have had a few incidents of David having really high blood pressure and being taken to urgent care (and even to the ER back in 2012)
We don’t really know what the issue is, they just keep telling him to eat better and to exercise! I like to say the bad food likely isn’t what he gets at home but from eating lunch out at fast food places 🙁 and the fact that he isn’t active (neither am I ) but that is just something we are going to have to make a point to work on because I don’t want anymore scares.
In the past I have tried several alternatives to chips , though lets face it there isn’t anything that really is going to replace that potato goodness! One such alternative that has crossed my path is one that I really enjoy so when I asked them if they would like to provide some of their product in exchange for a review and they said yes I pretty well had the review wrote in my head before it had arrived! What is this awesome product? Riceworks Gormet Rice Snacks!
Riceworks Gourmet Rice snacks are a very tasty alternative to chips- which I love- also we already know I am a salty snack feign- and they are made out of brown rice which allows you to be more fulfilled in your snacking and even gives you a bit of energy. I know that when I eat these snacks, i tend to not eat as many and it does seem like they are more filling! They are also Gluten free, don’t have high fructose corn syrup, no cholesterol, and no preservatives! So they are most def. better for you and more satisfying in the long run than chips! Also, they are VERY flavorful!
As I said before we had tried several of the flavors before so what I did was pick 3 of the ones I know that we had liked and tried before , and then I picked 3 of the ones that I hadn’t seen at the stores around where I live! I honestly didn’t even realize that there were any other flavors so I was really excited! :)So yes, this is the part where I break down the flavors-in case you didn’t know where I was going with this!
Sweet Chili- this is one of the ones that we had tried in the past but it is also hands down our favorite! They are the perfect mix of sweet and a tad bit of spicy and I guess the real way to describe them is Savory! They are perfect when you want something that is just a tad bit of salty,spicy and sweet- which is hard for me to say because I am not generally a sweet fan but thankfully the sweetness mixes in nicely!
Sundried Tomato Mediterranean Herbs & Cheese- This is a flavor that I hadn’t tried but OMG it is YUMMY Awesomesauce! You have tomato, basil and cheese- it is almost like a pizza in the form of a chip! You likely know that the only way I eat cheese is either when something is cheese flavored OR when it is on a pizza so.. this was a pretty big hit for me! They are tangy and herby and just – ok now my mouth is watering!
Salsa Fresca: These are another that I had tried in the past and that I really enjoyed! It is almost like chips and salsa but all in the chip form! They aren’t too awful spicy and they have a very fresh taste to them and I think that if you wanted to actually dip them in your favorite salsa that they would be even more interesting -but they are perfect and less of a mess and complication than traditional chips and salsa- and better for you too!
Rosemary,Garlic and Balsamic Vinegar: I hadn’t ever tried these before but I have a huge love of vinegar and tangy based things- you tie that in with some herbs and you have my heart! These are simply mouth watering and they remind me a little bit of maybe a sour cream kind of taste but not really… It is hard to describe. Also-I never eat sour cream except in sour cream and onion chips so…It’s a very vinegary taste but then again balsamic vinegar does have a different taste to it than regular. I just guess you’ll have to try it if you can because it is really good!
Olive Oil, Parmesan and Basil: I had tried these before and I Had figured these would be one of the ones that David would really like but he didn’t! The weirdest thing is where I am not a huge fan of cheese you would def. think with Parmesan being such a strong cheese that I wouldn’t like these so much either – but you would be wrong! I usually have a little bit on breadsticks and it isn’t that noticeable to me- don’t worry I wouldn’t run and buy a bottle and pour it on spaghetti or anything! These chips though- they mix so well with the basil and the olive oil so well even a non-cheese person like myself likes them!
Spanish Spicy Cheese Blend: This is the last of the ones that I received, and also the last of the ones that I hadn’t had before. Now I am all for spicy but these were a little bit more spicy than I can handle! It could be because of the Jalapeno! At one point in life I think I could have ate fire, but for some reason I have gotten more tame in my heat varieties! I am going to hand these off to my dad and let him try them- they will probably be just the thing for him!
In case you can’t tell I have really enjoyed all of these awesome varites of Rice Works Gourmet snacks and I will continue to enjoy them in the future. If you are looking for a more healthy option of salty snacks that are more filling and very flavorful I would highly recommend you try them! I hope that I am able to find some of the flavors that we hadn’t been able to find in the store somewhere close by or I might just have to order them online!
