Riceworks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps

To start off the week, I have decided to review a snack that can probably be purchased at your local drugstore. Most of the snacks reviewed last week are sold in supermarkets and health food stores, but sometimes you may not be able to squeeze a trip to either during your lunch break, or you might be in a place with limited food shopping options (Newark Penn Station comes to mind). In those scenarios, nuts are the healthiest snack you could possibly have; however, if you are in the mood for something more chip-like, you should try Riceworks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps.

Riceworks Brown Rice Gourmet Crisps come in five flavors: Parmesan, Salsa Fresca, Sea Salt, Sweet Chili, and Tangy BBQ. I have tried Salsa Fresca and Sweet Chili, and while I enjoyed both flavors, Sweet Chili was definitely my favorite. Neither the sweetness or the spiciness are overpowering, resulting in a well-balanced, flavorful snack. However, upon checking the ingredients and googling the ones I didn’t recognize (disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate), I learned that the combination of yeast extract with disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate can create monosodium glutamate (MSG), an ingredient a lot of people like to avoid. Parmesan, Sea Salt, and Tangy BBQ do not have these ingredients, and only Sea Salt does not contain maltodextrin; so if you want to give these crisps a try, I suggest trying out Parmesan, Sea Salt, and Tangy BBQ.

In addition to the taste, I really enjoyed the texture and crunch of these crisps. As any serious chip eater will tell you, the best chips are sturdy and pack a good crunch. These crisps have a thickness comparable to a Wheat Thin and a nice crunch, yet manage to remain light.

Riceworks Crisps are made from whole grain brown rice. They are a gluten-free, cholesterol-free, trans-fat-free snack. Aside from Parmesan, Ricework Crisps are vegan. Each serving contains 140 calories, 110 – 200 milligrams of sodium (depends on the flavor), 1 gram of fiber (4% of the daily recommended amount), less than 1 gram or 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. To find out where to buy them, check out the store locator.