Trade-Up Tuesday: Rock Star Chips
Welcome to Trade-Up Tuesday, a weekly feature here on A Better Bag of Groceries where I tell you about a Trade-Up I’ve made and give away free stuff.
Every category has a Rock Star. In cold cereal, it’s Shredded Wheat with a NuValscore of 91. In cookies, it’s Kashi TLC Oatmeal Raisin with a score of 40. And in Salty Snacks (just the title of that category makes my mouth water – I love salt), it’s Garden of Eatin No Salt Added Blue Chips. They get a NuVal score of 52. That’s pretty amazing when you consider that the median (half are above it, half are below it) score for salty snacks is only a 13. I buy these chips all the time now. There just is no other. And what I love about them, is that they don’t seem like a healthy alternative, if you know what I mean. They taste like a chip. You don’t feel like you’ve sacrificed.
I couldn’t give away chips without something to dip them in, so I picked up some salsa. In the Healthy/Organic section of my grocery store. And guess what? This Green Mountain Gringo Salsa only gets a 9! This is why I so need NuVal in a grocery store close to my house. It’s so easy to pick up the wrong thing. And to think that you’re picking up the right thing. Because, ya know, it’s in the Healthy/Organic section of the supermarket! There are some better choices to be made:
- Ortega Original Salsa, Medium: 35
- Newman’s Own Chunky Roasted Garlic Salsa, Medium, All Natural: 32
- Taco Bell Home Thick and Chunky Medium Salsa: 26
And I could have picked those up in the regular old Salty Snack aisle.
So to make up for the low-scoring salsa, I’m throwing in a NuVal t-shirt too! Woo hoo!
To Enter:
All you need to do is leave a comment below telling me your favorite Salty Snack. Easy! I’ll choose one winner at random. The contest closes at 11:59 pm tonight, so don’t delay! Good luck!
Posted by: Melissa 72 comments
Posted in: Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: Garden of Eatin'
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 7:40 am
My favorite salty snack? ALMONDS! I love them…a little too much!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 7:57 am
Cape Cod Salt and Vinegar chips are my ultimate weakness!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 7:58 am
My favorite salty snack is probably salt and pepper pistachios or triscuits. I’ve seen the Blue Chips but never purchased due to the price for such a small bag, so I am definitely willing to give them a try!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:11 am
Salty peanuts for sure, they are delicious!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:11 am
Love super salty potato chips, they are my weakness
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:18 am
Definitely love almonds with a generous sprinkling of sea salt
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:26 am
I love a good chex mix.
Or cashews. Mmmmm.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:29 am
I love salt and vinegar chips! They are my one true salty weakness.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:32 am
I adore bbq chips, they are so good!!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:33 am
Cashew butter! I love its slightly salty taste
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:37 am
I love popcorn! I like it salty or sweet though!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:40 am
I love roasted pistachio! Yumm!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:43 am
Peanut butter pretzels. mmmmmm
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 9:01 am
I love Trader Joe’s Reduced Guilt Pita Chips with Sea Salt. I can eat a whole bag at the beach, hoping not to be attacked by those crazy Cape Cod seagulls!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 9:02 am
Definitely love salt and vinegar chips, though, all chips are pretty good!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 9:13 am
BBQ Chips!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 9:15 am
Definitely love peanut butter filled pretzels,so delicious!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 9:17 am
It just so happens that chips-n-salsa are my fav salty snack! I am a huge fan of TJ’s blue corn chips and the Garden of Eatin because they are salted well. I would like to see how the ‘no salt add’ variety compares.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 9:43 am
I’m going to say salted peanuts
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 9:52 am
One of my favorite salty snacks are cashews with sea salt….delicious!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 9:53 am
I would definitely have to agree….peanut butter filled pretzels, especially from Trader Joes! You just can’t stop after one!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:10 am
You cannot go wrong with tortilla chips and HOT salsa…..corn chips with salsa is my (not only salty) but FAVORITE snack of all time!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:19 am
My favorite salty snack is roasted (and salted) almonds. Yum!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:22 am
I love to snack on shelled pistachios!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:24 am
Pretzels!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:25 am
my favorite salty snack is DEFINITELY chips and salsa… in fact, i just demolished a whole bag of TJ’s tortilla chips and a 16 oz jar of salsa in 3 sittings. who said there were 10 servings in that bag?? and why is one serving of salsa 1 or 2 tablespoons? i eat one tablespoon on ONE chip! anywho… i would loooove to try the garden of eatin chips, given my chip obsession!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:32 am
hot air popped popcorn
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:43 am
Pirates Booty Rocks !! I started getting this for my kids and I soon became addicted. I have not had an opportunity to research the NuVal score but would love to know.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:48 am
I have to admit, I love Wheat Thins with a hint of salt!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:56 am
My favorite salty snack is kettle chips… but the healthier salty snack is rosemary and garlic triscuits.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:58 am
Being from Texas, I have to say tortilla chips are my favorite salty snack! I also loooove goldfish!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 am
My favorite salty snacks is carrot sticks with hummus <333 MMmmMMm
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:00 am
Love tortilla chips (w/ lime & salt).
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:02 am
I love the blue chips too, I’ll have to look for Garden of Eatin’ brand. I’ve been buying Aldi’s brand, but they’re salted. They are cheaper…1.69/bag.
My favorite snack is hot air popcorn with a spray of olive oil and whatever seasoning I’m in the mood for!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:08 am
Pretzels!! Any type of pretzel! I also really like pop chips, salt and pepper is the best!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:15 am
One of my favorite salty snack are olives, especially the different greek varieties!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:16 am
My favorite salty snack is thin pretzel twists. Yum!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:17 am
I like pretzels dipped in salsa – is that weird??? And, my favorite salsa is Amy’s Black Bean and Corn! I think it gets a NuVal score of 35!!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:22 am
I love chips and salsa, but there’s a special place in my heart for bbq chips!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:26 am
My favorite salty snack is Spelt Pretzels by Neumann’s Own.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:29 am
Favorite salty snack?! I think that would be salted and roasted peanuts!!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:33 am
Chips and Queso all the way!!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:40 am
French fries
Although I do try to trade up by baking them instead of frying, and using sweet potatoes instead of white!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:45 am
Either Triscuits or good old fashioned salted nuts.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 11:51 am
I love almonds, better yet, almond butter
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 12:06 pm
My favorite salty snack is Popchips!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Trader Joe’s PB pretzels!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 12:17 pm
My favorite is probably honey wheat pretzels or almonds!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 12:25 pm
My favorite would probably have to be pretzels, but tortilla chips are a close second!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 1:09 pm
My favorite salty snack is salted sunflower seeds!!!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 1:21 pm
“Salty snack” for me is always synonymous with CHIPS!!! My favorite would have to be Cape Cod Salt and Vinegar chips, YUM!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 1:31 pm
BBQ chips and wheat thins!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 1:40 pm
My fav salty snack is honey wheat pretzels. My husband has gotten me hooked on tortilla chips and green salsa though, so if I won this prize, we would both be so happy!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
My salty snack of choice would have to be blue cheese on crackers, a naturally salty and buttery combination!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 2:07 pm
I love nachos and cheese for a salty snack. Not healthy, but definately comfort food!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
I love Stacey’s Naked Chips….and my kids think it’s so funny I eat naked chips!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Chips and salsa or cheese-its definitely! That’s why I need this info so much……. you guys help me stay on track! Thank you so much!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Chips and Salsa…they are so addictive:)
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Very cool!! My favorite salty snack – tortilla chips are awesome!!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Cool Ranch Doritos, it probably gets a Nuval score of -0 but they taste oh so good.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 3:41 pm
These days, my favorite salty snack is some edamame with a little bit of Kosher salt sprinkled on top. Yuuuum!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 4:14 pm
I love, love, love blue corn tortilla chips, especially with homemade salsa!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I loooove goldfish!!
Pop chips have been frequent on my shelves lately though
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Pretzels!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 6:33 pm
I love peanut butter filled pretzels. Once I start with those, I can’t stop!!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Having a ravenous sweet tooth, I would say chocolate-covered pretzels, but perhaps that’s cheating. As far as an all-salty snack, I would choose hot, salted popcorn.
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Salty peanuts are delicious!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:11 pm
I love salted popcorn!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Gotta second that salted popcorn…Simply Salted is my favorite!
on Mar 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Fav salty snack is a toss up between popcorn and pretzels but I think I’m going to have to go with the popcorn. You can smell immediately when you walk in a room and there is yummy popcorn popping!
on Mar 3rd, 2010 at 6:56 am
Love Plockey’s black Bean Chips (if you like spicy they come in red bean too). It can be a bit tricky to find them, but often side by side with Garden of eatin. I switched to them originally because they had half the fat of garden of eatin. Now we just really love the taste. Great ingredients too.
on Mar 3rd, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Cheese and Chips!