If you are fan of veggie-based chips, chances are you’ve come across Harvest Snaps before.
Harvest Snaps are one of the most popular crunchy and flavorful snacks made by Calbee North America.
These snacks are made from whole green peas, lentils, or beans and are often marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips or other snacks.
And while Harvest Snaps are available in many delicious varieties and flavors, are they healthy for you?
Short answer: Harvest Snaps are a healthy snack option due to being baked, having low calorie and sodium content, and being a good source of protein and fiber.
Let’s dive deeper into Harvest Snaps, including their ingredients, protein, fiber content, and more.
I’ll also explore if they are better than other popular chips in the market.
Also read: Are Terra Chips Healthy? Truth About These Vegetable Chips
What are the ingredients in Harvest Snaps?
Harvest Snaps are currently available in three varieties – Selects, Snack Crisps, and Crunchy Loops.
So, the ingredients vary widely depending on the variety you choose.
Let’s take a quick look at flavors and ingredients found in each variety.
The Harvest Snaps Selects variety comes in three flavors and typically includes:
- Navy beans
- Vegetable oils(Canola, Safflower, Sunflower)
- Rice
- Seasoning
- Calcium carbonate
- Rosemary Extract
The Harvest Snaps Snacks Crisps variety comes in eight flavors and typically includes:
- Green peas/Red lentils/Black beans
- Canola oil
- Rice
- Seasoning
- Salt
- Calcium carbonate
- Rosemary Extract
The Harvest Snaps Crunchy Loops variety comes in three flavors and typically includes:
- Red lentils
- Rice
- Canola oil
- Seasoning
- Calcium carbonate
- Food color(Paprika/Annatto)
- Rosemary Extract
Overall, Harvest Snaps are made from healthy ingredients such as navy or black beans, green peas, and red lentils, along with seasoning, rice, vegetable oils, calcium carbonate, and rosemary extract.
How much protein is in Harvest Snaps?
Harvest Snaps are a good source of protein containing 4 to 5g per serving(28g) depending on the variety or flavor.
While this may not seem like a lot of protein for some individuals, it is still better than traditional snacks like potato chips, which typically contain only 1 to 2g of protein per serving.
The protein in Harvest Snaps primarily comes from the ingredients like navy or black beans, green peas, and red lentils. There is no other added source of protein.
This protein content of Harvest Snaps can help you feel full and satisfied for long.
Here is the table showing the protein content of all Harvest Snaps flavors.
| Harvest Snaps flavor | Protein(g) |
|---|---|
| Kick’n BBQ | 4 |
| Source cream & onion | 4 |
| Tangy sweet chili | 4 |
| Tomato basil | 5 |
| Lightly salted | 5 |
| Caesar | 5 |
| Mango chile lime | 4 |
| Wasabi ranch | 5 |
| Black pepper | 5 |
| Parmesan roasted garlic | 5 |
| Organic artisan sea salt | 5 |
| Honey dijan | 4 |
| Loaded taco | 5 |
| White cheddar jalapeno | 5 |
How much fiber is in Harvest Snaps?
Harvest Snaps are moderate to a good source of fiber containing 2 to 4g per serving(28g) depending on the variety or flavor.
The Snack Crisps variety has the highest fiber content(3 to 4g per serving), while the Crunchy Loops variety has the lowest(2g per serving).
The Selects variety falls in the middle, with 3g of fiber per serving.
The fiber in Harvest Snaps primarily comes from the fiber-rich sources like navy or black beans, green peas, and red lentils.
Fiber is an important part of a diet that helps to promote digestion and helps you feel satisfied for long intervals.
Yes, the Harvest Snaps Crunchy Loops variety contains less fiber among all varieties, but it is still a better option than potato chips, which merely provide 1g of fiber.
Here is the table showing the fiber content of all Harvest Snaps flavors.
| Harvest Snaps flavor | Fiber(g) |
|---|---|
| Kick’n BBQ | 2 |
| Source cream & onion | 2 |
| Tangy sweet chili | 2 |
| Tomato basil | 3 |
| Lightly salted | 4 |
| Caesar | 4 |
| Mango chile lime | 3 |
| Wasabi ranch | 4 |
| Black pepper | 4 |
| Parmesan roasted garlic | 4 |
| Organic artisan sea salt | 4 |
| Honey dijan | 3 |
| Loaded taco | 3 |
| White cheddar jalapeno | 3 |
How much sodium is in Harvest Snaps?
Harvest Snaps are low to moderate in sodium containing 75 to 190mg per serving, depending on the variety or flavor.
The Snack Crisps variety has the lowest sodium content(75 to 115mg per serving), while the Crunchy Loops variety has the highest( 180 to 190mg per serving).
The Selects variety falls in the middle, with 100-170mg of sodium per serving.
Sodium is an essential part of the diet, but too much of it can result in heart-related issues.
Fortunately, harvest snaps are not that high in sodium, even if you compare them to popular chips like Lays, Doritos, Pringles, or Cheetos.
If you are following a low diet, the Harvest Snaps Snack Crisps variety is ideal for you. However, you can also eat other varieties in moderation.
Here is the table showing the sodium content of all Harvest Snaps flavors.
| Harvest Snaps flavor | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|
| Kick’n BBQ | 190 |
| Source cream & onion | 180 |
| Tangy sweet chili | 190 |
| Tomato basil | 95 |
| Lightly salted | 75 |
| Caesar | 80 |
| Mango chile lime | 115 |
| Wasabi ranch | 85 |
| Black pepper | 90 |
| Parmesan roasted garlic | 85 |
| Organic artisan sea salt | 75 |
| Honey dijan | 100 |
| Loaded taco | 170 |
| White cheddar jalapeno | 160 |
Are Harvest Snaps processed food?
Harvest Snaps are processed food as they contain processed ingredients like vegetable oils and maltodextrin.
As per Harvard University, processed foods are one of the main contributors to obesity and the rising of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes[6].
However, this does not necessarily mean that you need to avoid Harvest Snaps altogether.
Harvest Snaps does contain some processed ingredients, but they are baked and not fried. In addition, they contain a good amount of protein and fiber with low sodium, which is uncommon in processed foods.
The good nutrition profile of Harvest Snaps makes them minimally processed food.
Furthermore, they do not contain ingredients like MSG, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives with which most of the chips are loaded.
Are Harvest Snaps good for weight loss?
Harvest Snaps are good for weight loss as they are low in sugar and are a good source of protein and fiber.
In addition, they are lower in calories containing 130-140 calories which is lower than what most other chips offer.
However, it is still important to consume Harvest Snaps in moderation, as too much can increase your overall calorie intake.
Remember that weight loss depends not only on one food but your overall diet and lifestyle.
Are Harvest Snaps good for Diabetics? Harvest Snaps are good for diabetics as they are lower in sugar and are a good source of fiber which helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
However, it is important to eat Harvest Snaps in moderation as they contain maltodextrin, which is high in Glycemic index(GI).
Are Harvest Snaps healthier than chips?
Harvest Snaps are made from dried peas, lentils, or beans, giving them a slightly different taste and texture than potato or corn chips.
However, are they healthier than chips?
Harvest Snaps are indeed healthier than chips as they contain more protein and fiber and fewer calories and sodium. Additionally, Harvest Snaps do not contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Don’t believe me?
Here is the table showing the nutrition comparison of Harvest Snaps to some popular chips.
| Chips brand | Calories | Carbs(g) | Fat(g) | Protein(g) | Fiber(g) | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvest Snaps (organic) | 130 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 75 |
| Doritos (nacho cheese) | 150 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 210 |
| Lays (classic) | 160 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 170 |
| Pringles (original) | 150 | 16 | 9 | 1 | <1 | 150 |
| Cheetos (crunchy) | 190 | 16 | 13 | 2 | <1 | 310 |
| Fritos (original) | 320 | 32 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 320 |
| Ruffles (original) | 160 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 150 |
Are Harvest Snaps vegan?
Harvest Snaps comes in both vegan as well as non-vegan options.
The Selects variety of Harvest Snaps is non-vegan as they contain milk or honey as one of the ingredients.
Additionally, the Crunchy Loops variety has one non-vegan flavor, which is Sour Cream & Onion.
In the Snack Crisps variety, flavors such as Caesar, Wasabi ranch, and Parmesan roasted garlic are non-vegan as they contain milk.
However, note that the vegan Harvest Snaps flavors are packed using the same equipment as the non-vegan flavors.
So even if Some Harvest Snaps flavors do not contain animal-based ingredients directly, they might have some.
Are Harvest Snaps gluten-free?
Harvest Snaps are gluten-free as they are made from whole green peas, lentils, or beans.
Final words
Harvest Snaps are healthy for you as they are baked instead of fried and are a good source of protein and fiber. Additionally, they are low in sodium and do not contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
While they contain some processed ingredients, they are still a better choice than many other chips or snacks.
The crunch, various flavors, taste, and nutritional benefits make Harvest Snaps a healthy addition to your diet.
Found this information helpful? Share it
Here are a few other posts that might also be helpful for you.
- Is Lesser Evil Popcorn Healthy? Here Is The Answer
- Are Simply Cheetos Healthy? Here Is The Answer
- Are Quest Chips Healthy? Here Is The Answer
- Are Fritos Bad For You? 5 Reasons To Avoid Them
- Are Sunchips Healthy? The Truth About This Popular Snack
- Are Popchips Healthy? 5 Reasons They’re Better Than Other Chips
