Thursday, February 28, 2013

The Green Giant has #AGiantSurprise... The Debut of Veggie Snack Chips! {Review}


While I always say that I'm going to try to cut down on snacking, let's face it, that's like me attempting to make it through the morning without coffee or to stop obsessing over my email. It's just not going to happen.

Alas, even though it makes my taste buds happy to grab a candy bar or sneak a few chocolate chip cookies while my kids aren't looking, my waistline and my conscience continue to disapprove. Why can't someone invent a luscious brownie that has zero calories? Or chips that are made with real vegetables, include whole grains, and still taste amazing?

I haven't discovered the former yet (if you do, email me immediately), but to my complete and utter astronishment, the latter exists!

As a giant surprise that we can all appreciate, the Jolly Green Giant has now debuted a great tasting chip that you can also feel good about eating: delicious Veggie Snack Chips!

Veggie Snack Chips

I'll be the first one to admit that I've tried chips made from vegetables in the past... and I haven't been wowed. So when I heard that Green Giant had added these snacks to their already-vast collection of canned and frozen vegetables, I didn't have extremely high expectations for their taste.

And then they arrived.

Green Giant Veggie Snack Chips

Okay, looks interesting.

The Green Giant Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips – Zesty Cheddar Flavor are made with real vegetables, include 17 grams of whole grain per serving (48g are recommended daily), and are naturally flavored.

At the same time, the Green Giant Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Sea Salt Flavor are made with real sweet potatoes and include 14 grams of whole grain. Plus, they contains 40% less fat than regular potato chips (only 6g of fat per 28g serving compared to regular potato chips' 10g of fat per 28g serving).

Vegetable Snack Chips

But let's face it, if they taste like cardboard, I'm not eating them no matter how healthy they might be.

First, the Sweet Potato Chips.

Green Giant Sweet Potato Chips

Now, hold on a minute, these are GOOD. 

Filled with plenty of crunch, just enough salty sweetness, and a light, crisp flavor, I suddenly found myself going back for another. And another. And another. After all, they're made with sunflower oil, so they contain less saturated fat... so it's all right to have an extra handful or two, right?

I begrudgingly handed over a single chip or two to my mini taste tester's outstretched hand...

Green Giant Sweet Potato Chips review

...and, even though she agreed that they were extremely yummy, I have to admit that I greedily put the bag away so that I could eat them myself later on.

Think that's mean? Then you'll think even worse of me when I tell you that, upon sampling the Veggie Tortilla Chips...

Green Giant Veggie Tortilla Chips

...I wouldn't even hand over a single chip. I wasn't willing to share even one.

To say that I was instantly obsessed with these cheesy, crunchy, delicious chips is somewhat of an understatement. They taste similar to a popular nacho cheddar tortilla chip that we all know, yet more... real. Maybe it is the whole grain corn, the dried red and green bell peppers or the sunflower oil, but these Green Giant Veggie Chips don't have any sort of "junk food aftertaste" (or bellyache) as the others do.

See how there is just one full chip in the photo above? That's not because the bag came with a whole lot of broken pieces, that is because that was the only full chip left when I went to take a picture.

While I'm not proud of my greed, I am quite happy to have been introduced to Green Giant's newest product. Considering how much I love the taste (and how much I know my whole family would concur as well, if I ever decide to share) and all of the better-for-you, non-greasy, natural ingredients, these will surely be making more appearances in our house in the future.

Who knew that Green Giant had such skill in the chip category? In celebration of this surprise, they are on the hunt for more talented folks — you'll want to check out the surprise talents they've unearthed in this video and even more of the Jolly Green Giant's favorite surprise talents at the Green Giant YouTube channel.

surprise talent

Have a surprise talent of your own? Be sure to share it with the Giant as well and you might end up in their online film (there's also a printable coupon available for 75¢ off of your Green Giant Veggie Chips, so head over there even if you don't have a talent to show off)!

Next time you're at the store, pick up a bag of these new chips — be sure to get two if you think that your family will want a taste, because once you try these, you might not want to share!

Green Giant surprise

Thank you to The Green Giant™ for being a sponsor. Show the Giant your surprise talent at www.facebook.com/greengiant

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Those look yummy.

knickgirl_3 at yahoo dot com

slehan said...

The Verdict
Clever marketing has made consumers believe “veggie” chips are healthy. Let’s not forget that potatoes are a veggie too. If you’re in the mood for a salty snack, chips of any sort can be enjoyed in moderate 1-ounce servings. - See more at: http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2011/10/10/veggie-chips-are-they-healthy/#sthash.x2aRdgBt.dpuf

Anonymous said...

i want to try these but an a little afriad to be honest!

Unknown said...

I may have to try these and see if I like them. It would be nice to have the option of a healthy snack.

jennifer said...

great alternative to regular chips, id like to try them

Liz Mays said...

I just woke up from a nap and had a handful of each kind! They're soooooo delicious and they have the best crunch!

Unknown said...

I really want to try these! They look quite similar to other tortilla chips (think Doritos) but somehow them being from Green Giant makes me want to believe they are more healthy. Or less junk-y. I will have to track these down and try some for myself! Thanks for sharing!

Susan Johnson said...

I will definitely have to try these, because I'm always looking for more natural snacks, particularly ones that don't have MSG in them. I love sweet potatoes, and who doesn't love Doritos, so I would love to substitute them with something with less calories, and healthier ingredients.

Anonymous said...

These I HAVE to try. How are they on sodium?

Unknown said...

I think I would like to try these veggie chips for good snacking.

Anonymous said...

we just tried these yesterday! SO good!

Terra Heck said...

Green Giant is not a company I would have thought would have a line of chips but those flavors sound very delicious.

Anonymous said...

I agree with a previous poster that pointed out that potato chips...traditional potato chips...are made with a vegetable, as well. The marketing is a bit iffy on this one. Although the product may be unique to Green Giant, it certainly is not a completely new concept.

Still, I will try the sweet potato flavor. There is another brand I really enjoy but I'm hoping the Green Giant variety has a better price point with comparable flavor.

Lily Anne said...

I have had other brands of Veggie Chips, but haven't seen Green Giant brand. I love veggie chips and am going to look for Green Giaant, because I serve frozen Green Giant veggies, and I trust the brand. My favorite flavor is usually Sweet Potato. I can't wait to try these!! I know they will be great.

Paula V said...

I've not seen this. Though if one is craving some chips, I'd say these could be slightly healthier than other choices. However, they are still processed and chips. Don't get me wrong...I have a little issue with chips myself...LOVE THEM. But I really try to just not buy them and I'm okay. If I do have a hankering for them, I definitely would consider these.

Unknown said...

Look as I might, I have not been able to find the GG chips in my stores - do you think it is a regional distribution?