Product: Rebel With A Cause Nacho Cheeze Kale Chips – $3.99+
I love kale. You might even hear me say “I heart kale” because…well…I do. I fell in love with this amazing and versatile green a few years back. And my life has never been the same. I use it it practically everything. But, far above and beyond everything else, one of my most favorite things to do with kale…is to make kale chips!! I love, love, love, LOVE kale chips. It’s a healthy relationship…because kale is loaded with amazing nutrients and good stuff (technical term), ranging from being low in calories, high in iron, high in fiber, loaded with antioxidants, high in vitamin K, an anti-inflammatory, high in calcium, and loaded with vitamin C and A…this is one super food…or, as it is referred to in the foodie world…a Superfood. Big S. Like Superman…but with less man and more food.
HA!
So, needless to say, kale chips have been on my radar for awhile, from the first time I made them to store bought versions. I rarely buy them, as they are, by far, cheaper to make yourself, but my mom always had some on hand when I traveled home for visits. And both she and I would just devour them.
I’ve tried a few brands on the market. Some have been okay. Some have been…really good. But in my Non-GMO Cuisine Cube (which has been in my blog a lot…so if you are paying attention…that was October’s cube), I was delighted to pull out a bright white package with a lucha libre wrestler on the front. In bold letters, the unassuming package declared: REBEL WITH A CAUSE ORGANIC & GLUTEN FREE NACHO CHEEZE KALE CHIPS! Okay…you have my full and undivided attention now! Thank you!
Before I go any further…most of you by now know about how great of a service Cuisine Cube is…and have either considered subscribing or have decided to subscribe to this fantastic service. Quick little run down, though, in case you are new to my blog or have a memory like Dori from Finding Nemo. Cuisine Cube is a monthly delivery service that brings fantastic gluten-free products from lesser known brands made by small artisan producers (instead of those bigger name brands you can find in virtually every grocery store these days) to your door. Not only are you supporting small businesses, you get the opportunity to try products that you may not have heard of before…or would have ever heard about if not for Cuisine Cube. Some products are from local businesses…and some you might be able to find in a store like Whole Foods…but it’s not guaranteed. Let’s face it, shopping for gluten-free products is hard enough…trying to convince yourself to purchase a product you’ve never heard of or tried…is a challenge. Cuisine Cube takes that pressure off, and with subscriptions starting around $29.99, it’s an affordable service for sure.
So, last night, I was making soup from some items out of my CSA bin. Soup is great on its own…or served with something. I didn’t want to make vegan grilled cheese sandwiches, because I was prepping dinner for tomorrow as well (stay tuned for that blog). The soup recipe wasn’t hard, but with virtually every burner on my stove being used and my Vitamix whirring away…yeah…sandwiches were not sounding like a good option. I knew I had some Cuisine Cube snacks still in my pantry so…I went browsing.
These sounded like the best pairing (in fact…they are vegan cheese flavored), so out of my pantry came the final product from my October cube…the Snacos Libre Rebel With A Cause Nacho Cheeze Kale Chips. This one pouch is a serving, but I was splitting it with my roommate because she likes a little something with her soup too! When the soup was on its finally simmer, I busted open this bag of mighty kale goodness and dished up small bowls for the two of us.
The Rebel With A Cause Nacho Cheeze Kale Chips look like clusters of kale Doritos. Honestly. Each leave was coated in this great layer of orange goodness. The chips were crispy and clumpy and just smelled awesome. Because, let’s face it, kale chips smell as awesome as they look. Especially flavored ones. This particular flavor is actually vegan. Yep. That’s part of the reason for the misspelling of the world “cheese” I am guessing. Who needs tortilla chips when you can reach for this healthy and awesome super snack?
Rebel With A Cause Nacho Cheeze Kale Chips are actually dried…not fried. So, already, you’re winning the battle of the bulge. The company that makes them, Kaia Foods, based out of Oakland, California, invites eaters to “overthrow the tyranny of processed foods and to rise up against empty calories.” It’s a clever and fun take on healthy snacking, and it definitely had my attention. This specific flavor of kale chips actually does taste like a nacho cheese chip. I mean, you don’t get that corn flavor and that crispiness of a tortilla chip, but they have just as much amazing flavor. And they have their own kind of crunch. After all, these chips are dehydrated to preserve the nutrients and enhance the flavor of the chip itself. I loved them from first bite. I literally popped one of the nacho green leaves and went…”Mmmmm!” And my roommate, an avid lover of all things Doritos, had the same reaction. Snack love. Crispy, packed with flavor, and totally healthy. My kind of snack.
The Rebel With A Cause Nacho Cheeze Kale Chips are made from raw, organic, gluten-free ingredients that are good for you. Don’t shy away from products that are good for you. Good for you doesn’t mean they taste like cardboard. And these kale chips are a prime example of doing healthy snacks right. The Rebel With A Cause Nacho Cheeze Kale Chips are made from kale, cashews, carrots, chickpea miso, lemon juice, red onion, celery, red bell pepper, apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, chia seeds, onion powder, chili powder, garlic, sea salt, coconut water, paprika, mustard, smoked paprika, cayenne, turmeric, and chili flakes. All of these ingredients are listed as organic, save the nutritional yeast and the sea salt. Color me impressed. This snack food is gluten-free, vegan, cholesterol free, and free of trans fats.
As far as nutrition goes…the Rebel With A Cause Nacho Cheeze Kale Chips provide 1 serving per package. This serving dishes up a low 90 calories and 5 grams of fat. Most of that fat will be a result of the cashews. How’s that for awesome? One serving will also provide 240 mg sodium and 2 grams of sugar. And, finally, a serving (which, as I said, is the entire bag), will give you 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, making this a healthy, and semi-filling snack for sure. Lots of health benefits in a very healthy snack.
Love is a snack food that is good for you, but you don’t know is good for you. I feel like both Cuisine Cube and Rebel With A Cause really got it right with this snack. Amazing flavor, great texture, and…no guilt. None whatsoever. Here’s a time where it’s okay to open up a package and devour the entire thing. It’s expected.
I encourage you, my loyal and new readers, to head over to Cuisine Cube‘s site and take a look at this fantastic service. Again, there are so many products I have been introduced to thanks to this amazing team of foodies who take food allergies into consideration and seek out amazing products that are lesser known, local, and amazing. If you find something you really like, often you can purchase more from their Stock Up page. Seriously…try it for a month.
As for Rebel With A Cause Kale Chips…I will definitely be stocking my pantry with more of these chips in the future. In fact, they offer other varieties, ranging from Sea Salt to Spicy Superfood to Sriracha Lime…in addition to the Nacho Cheeze variety that was provided in my cube. Amazing snacks, if you ask me. I think if you are new to the world of kale, this would be a great way to introduce yourself to the food. Healthy snacking can be delicious. The proof is in this bold little package. So impressed.
And, with that, I finally managed to polish off every product in a cube (October – Non-GMO Month). Thank you, Cuisine Cube!! I’m loving every bite!
The Celiathlete 