As a busy (and always hungry) college student, I am always looking for portable snacks that satisfy in the moment but also have good-for-you ingredients. On a recent pass through the gluten-free product aisle at my local Safeway, I spotted a new-to-me product: The Good Bean’s Favas and Peas.
Always game to try plant-based foods that sneak protein into my diet, I bought one each of their sea salt and habanero citrus pouches to try.
Both varieties are gluten-free, vegan, peanut-free, and contain 7 ounces of protein in every one-ounce serving- that’s equivalent to the protein in one extra large egg! The name of the product couldn’t be more fit, as the main ingredients are roasted fava beans and peas that have been crisped up after soaking. With a spritz of coconut oil and all natural seasonings, these definitely have a health halo with every handful.
The first mix I tried was the sea salt variety. The first thing I noticed about the beans and peas was that The Good Bean totally nailed the texture of this snack. With a satisfying crunch and crispy texture, the beans hold their own against other salty snacks that are far less healthy. It’s easy to forget that these are protein packed and are a serving of veggies! The flavor of the buttery beans and sweet peas is genuine, and a dash of sea salt makes it all but impossible to stop eating them after one handful. And, with only six ingredients that go into this snack, I can indulge absolutely guilt-free.
The habanero citrus mix had the same delicious crunch and baseline taste as the original variety, but features a citrusy sweetness that was quickly followed by the punch of habanero pepper. I adore spicy foods, but the sweet-hot ratio was a little too heavy on the sweet side to totally win me over. I was expecting a salty snack, and the mixed signals of hot and sweet didn’t score as many points as the sea salt variety. Nevertheless, this flavor still scored major points and successfully helped me pack more plant-based protein and fiber into snack breaks between classes.
I am so excited that I stumbled across The Good Bean’s Favas and Peas at my local grocery store because they have quickly become a staple in my repertoire of portable snack options. I adore that they use a short list of real ingredients, and focus on the nutritional powerhouses of beans and peas in a fun way. I know these are sure to please kids of all ages, and prove that smart snacking can be fun too!
The Good Bean’s Favas and Peas can be found at Safeway, Walmart, Wegmans, and Amazon (click each respective package to visit the page).
Disclaimer: This review is current to the original publication date. Updates will be noted. Ingredients and manufacturing processes can change without notice. Each product should be reviewed for individual nutritional needs. Feel free to to contact me with any questions or comments. I purchased the above products independently and I was not compensated from my review. This review contains Amazon affiliate links. Should you purchase a product after clicking on the link, your price will remain the same but a small portion of the proceeds will go towards sustaining this blog so I can continue to bring you gluten and dairy-free restaurant and product reviews.