Bonnie: Beanitos are chips that are actually nutritious. Yes, I did say “nutritious” and “chips” in the same sentence. Beanitos are made from beans plus whole-grain rice, fried in vegetable oil then seasoned with sea salt. That fat and salt puts them on a par calorie-, fat- and sodium-wise with other chips, meaning a 10-chip, 1-ounce portion contains about 140 calories, 7 grams fat and 150 milligrams sodium.

The difference is the ingredients: Beanitos are made from black beans or from pinto beans and flax seeds; the latter is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

The Black Bean Chipotle BBQ is my taste favorite of the line (that also includes a Cheddar Cheese variety from pinto beans, as well as Black Bean and Pinto Bean & Flax varieties). All Beanitos chips also are high in fiber (5 grams per 1-ounce serving of 10 chips), minerals (4 percent of the daily value of calcium and 6 percent iron), and protein (4 grams), while being gluten- and wheat-free. And they are low glycemic, meaning they have less effect on blood-sugar levels than other chips.

Bryan: Beanitos? Beanitos? I don’t know, but it sounds like the worst Spanglish word of all time; a true gringo’s interpretation of the word “beans.” I can just picture the fanny-packed tourists sitting at a restaurant in Cancun, Mexico, asking their waiter for some tacos with rice and, um… Beanitos?

Thankfully, Beanitos is not the result of cross-lingual butchering, but is, in fact a new snack food aiming to make you a healthier snacker. Bean Brand Foods launched the Beanitos Bean Chip line back in January 2010. It was the end result of a long investigative process that began with the meager hope of creating a great-tasting snack that wouldn’t spike your blood sugar. Somewhere along the way, they found they had created a great-tasting snack.

Beanitos are healthy heavy-hitters, free of corn, wheat, soy, potato, trans-fats and cholesterol. They are gluten free and low glycemic. What else do you want? Need more health in your snack? Well, how about some fiber (20 percent daily value in just 10 chips!) and some protein (4 grams)? Beanitos are loaded with benefits you’re not going to get from a Cheetos puff.

So, what actually is a Beanito? Well, it’s a crunchy chip that starts with whole beans. The beans are washed and cooked in small batches, then combined with whole-grain rice and, in the case of the Pinto Bean variety, with brown flax seed to create a special dough that is shaped and cut into rounds. The chips are then baked and flash-fried in vegetable oil before being finished with a dusting of salt and seasoning. Chipotle BBQ is the star today, but the chips come in three other varieties including, Black Bean, Pinto Bean & Flax and Cheddar Cheese pinto bean.

Beans are one of our truly under-appreciated foods, with simply amazing health benefits! They’re high in fiber, protein and complex carbohydrates, but remain sadly underused in most American diets. Add some beans to your daily routine to help curb obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease! Snack healthy.

Eric: All chips are not created equal, but all — in moderation — have certain “health” benefits; Beanitos, in my opinion, are one of the healthier chip alternatives. You might have scoffed at my previous statement, but most chips are fried in a combination of oils (sunflower, peanut, vegetable, olive, etc), which help provide a source of minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin D, of which most people have a deficiency. The “killer” for most people, with regard to chips, is the high level of sodium. Although there are lower-sodium alternatives, the fact is that chips, eaten in *moderation*, are a healthy, beneficial snack.

Beanitos, by using a base of black beans or pinto beans, have taken the health benefits to another level. Along with the vitamin D, Beanitos provide iron, protein, fiber and, in the pinto bean varieties, omega-3 fats.

You might think the taste of a black bean chip might not complement the turkey sandwich you usually snuggle beside your pack of Lay’s, but the reality is the flavor profile of the Beanitos Chipotle BBQ Chip provides a sweet, yet subtle spiced alternative that is as addictive as it is healthy.