15% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER
SIGN UP NOW →
FREE USA SHIPPING
All Orders Above $50
CHOOSE A FREE GIFT
Free gifts at $50, $75, $100
100% GUARANTEE
Money Back Guarantee →

Is Pirates Booty A Healthy Snack?

Post Image

Living in 2019 has its definite advantages, and one of them is the health food movement that has taken the world by storm these last few years. New types of oils, grains and other foods are being introduced to our diets, gradually becoming more and more popular with each passing year. These healthy changes have been affecting every facet of our lives, from our functions, to our supper menus – and also to our children’s snacks. Food companies have started to catch on to the fact that people want healthy, but tasty, options, and are trying to meet the new demands.

One such company is Pirate Brands. They have developed a range of different baked snacks to imitate popular fried snacks, but without the same health risks. But are they actually ‘healthy’? And should they be your next purchase?

The Dangers Of Fried Snacks Explained

Chips and one green jalapeno.

Unhealthy snacks can increase cholesterol.

In this instant age that we live in, fried foods are unfortunately all too common. They’re easy, quick to prepare, cheap, and all the kids will eat them without complaint. But we all know that fried foods and snacks are far from the healthiest options we could be eating or serving our families. 

First off, many fried snacks contain trans fats, which is a nicer way of saying ‘poison’. Trans fat is made from adding hydrogen to vegetable oil, resulting in a solid from of oil. This type of oil not  raises the ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol levels in your body. It also lowers the ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol levels. A diet heavy in trans fats puts a person at increased risk of many diseases. Trans fats can lead to a heart attack or stroke, or developing Type 2 diabetes or cancer.

Eating fried snacks often can also increase the risk of developing heart disease, and of course, obesity. But there are so many fried snacks out there! Potato chips, Cheetos, fish sticks, onion rings, French fries – what can we eat instead when carrot sticks just aren’t going to cut it? That’s where Pirate’s Booty snacks come in – they satisfy that craving for a salty, fried snack, without actually being fried at all.

What Is Pirates Booty? Are Pirate’s Booty Snacks Healthy

Pirate's booty and carrots in the shape of a basketball court.

Healthy alternative snacks.

Pirate’s Booty Snacks are baked corn and rice snacks, much like Cheetos, but without being fried. The question is, of course: are they actually healthy? With flavours like “veggie”, you would think so. But unfortunately, these snacks are not exactly nutritious. Still, if you’re going to eat a snack, Pirate’s Booty is definitely far better than any fried snack out there!

There are 130 calories per serving in these yummy corn and rice snacks, as opposed to 160 per serving of potato chips or 150 calories per serving of Cheetos, and less than half the amount of sodium. There’s also no trans fats, artificial colours, flavours or ingredients, and they’re both gluten free and kosher. The veggie flavour is vegan, as well. So yes, there’s definitely a lot going for these snacks. While I wouldn’t call them ‘healthy’ exactly, they’re a better alternative to other snacks, and a perfect occasional treat.

Pirate’s Booty Snacks Flavor Breakdown And Review

There are two flavours of Pirate’s Booty: Veggie, and Aged White Cheddar. The veggie flavour contains powdered vegetables, including kale, spinach, broccoli, carrots, and cabbage, so it has an authentic vegetable flavour. The powdered vegetables give these puffs their green color, but don’t worry – they don’t make the mess you imagine they will. No, they’re not a good substitution for your children’s vegetable intake – but you’ll definitely have an easier time convincing them to eat this over real broccoli! In any event, it’s a good way to feel like you are contributing to your child’s veggie intake, and it makes for happy snacking all around.

The original booty, or Aged White Cheddar flavour, is made with real cheese. Similar to the veggie booty, it’s all about authentic flavour. They’re crispy and fluffy in texture, and are seriously addictive! Plus, you don’t get all that neon food colouring that you get with Cheetos, nor all the trans fats. And they’re just as tasty – if not more, because you know you aren’t eating poison. So while Pirate’s Booty snacks are not ‘healthy’ per se, they’re still a great snack alternative, and really hold their own when compared with other popular, but less nutritious, snacks.

Smart Puffs And Original Tings Review

Smart puffs real cheddar packaging.

Smart Puffs are cheesy, delicious, crunchy and light.

If you’re a fan of veggie straws, then you’ll probably enjoy Pirate Brands’ version of them – Original Tings, which are crunchy corn sticks. They’re kind of like a mix between Cheetos and veggie straws, but they’re better for you than both of those. Unlike the standard Pirate’s Booty, these Tings are vegan and dairy-free, besides being free of artificial colours and trans fats. Plus, they also contain nutritional yeast, which bumps up the health factor by a few points. They are super crunchy in texture, and come in snack size bags that are perfect for family outings. They’re really some’ting’ else!

Besides the Tings, Pirate Brands also produces Smart Puffs, which, like the original Pirate’s Booty, is flavoured with real white cheddar cheese. These are pretty similar to the original Pirate’s Booty in that they are cheesy, delicious, crunchy and light. They also don’t leave your hands full of food colouring. Pirate Brands prides themselves on having a short, easy-to-pronounce ingredients list. This means there are no unknown nasties hiding inside. Pirate Brand’s Smart Puffs are also no exception. All that’s inside these things is corn meal, rice, oil, aged cheddar cheese, whey and buttermilk. Clear, easy to understand, and you know what you’re getting. That’s pretty impressive for a snack these days!

Conclusion

In an ideal world, kale would be our favourite food, and we would all – kids included – pick broccoli over pizza. Unfortunately for most of us though, this isn’t the reality, and snacking on things we shouldn’t is a part of life. Still, by choosing Pirate Brands’ snacks, you can be making a smarter snacking choice than if you go out and buy Lay’s or Cheetos. You’ll be avoiding the trans fats and all those artificial colours and flavourings, but you won’t be compromising on the taste. And really, what more can you ask for in a snack? So check out Pirate Brands snacks on their website – but be warned, once you start eating their snacks, you may not be able to stop!