Responsible Snacking – CrunchMaster and P-nuff

Jul 19, 2022 by Chef David

By Chef David

Snacking is seen as a guilty indulgence. We associate snacks with unhealthy foods, often sugary choices, and have come to believe that eating between meals is bad. In actuality, there is a benefit to eating frequent smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to three large meals. This practice, sometimes referred to as grazing, refuels your body by providing nutrients when you need them. Because eating small snacks keeps you satiated, it prevents overeating at meals.

Snacking is good when it is a response to your body’s need for nutrition. But many people snack to be social, they eat to bond.  Others use food as a reward, and it is common to snack out of habit or boredom.

Prevent mindless uncontrolled eating by being conscious of when, how much, and what you eat. Studies found that emotional eating is associated with foods that have little nutritional value, and often are high in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium. These snacks provide an immediate energy boost followed by a drop. Practice portion control by limiting snacks to 200 calories.

Look for snacks that have texture and taste, that match your cravings. You can snack without compromising on taste or quality with CrunchMaster and P-nuff Crunch both certified by the OU.

What is a Healthier Snack?

Healthier is a relative term, it begins by understanding the nutritional value, and reading the ingredients label. Look at the serving size and compare products. What is the first ingredient? This is telling, a product that boasts it is whole wheat should be 100% whole grain flour. Next look at the fiber content, look for crackers with 2  – 3 grams of fiber. Then look at the salt and sugar content.

Discover Crunchmaster

Crunchmaster designed a snack cracker that packs a crunch. Crunchmaster Multi-Seed, one of the company’s best-selling products blends Japanese rice cracker expertise with American tastes for flavor. Made from simple ingredients, including California brown rice, sesame seeds, quinoa sourced from the Andean region in South America, flax seeds grown in Canada, with olive oil, and Tamari soy sauce. Each serving of 14 crackers contains 2 grams of fiber, 3 of protein, and 150 mg of sodium. Multi-Grain is even simpler, though slightly less healthy with cane sugar in addition to the brown rice flour and whole-grain yellow cornmeal, rounding out 2 grams of protein and fiber.

Their product packs a bold flavor and a large crunch, as their name suggests. Inspired by the traditional Japanese Usuyaki style, bite-sized rice crackers. The process for making them includes drying to a specific level of moisture, before baking with a light coating of oil for a finishing touch.

Proud to be gluten-free, Crunchmaster produces a wide offering of crackers, all made of simple, wholesome ingredients, low in sugar with a large taste. We also sampled a recent introduction, Bistro Crisps is made of popped cassava, naturally colored with turmeric.  Crunchmaster’s wide range of selections includes a delicately flavored Tuscan Peasant flavored with real lemon and rosemary and Protein Brownie Thins. The Brownie Thins are made of rice flour, along with black beans and soy protein, giving you 8 grams of protein per serving, a refreshingly healthy tasty treat.

Try P-nuff Crunch

P-nuff Crunch is made from roasted peanuts, navy beans, and rice, baked into a puff designed to satisfy your snack cravings. The texture and crunch make it a fun snack packed with protein and fiber, each 1-ounce serving (approximately 28 pieces) contains 3 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and 3 grams of added sugar, from organic cane sugar. Each serving is 130 calories and is a source of calcium, iron, and potassium.

P-nuff comes in three flavors, original, cinnamon, and cocoa, we preferred the cinnamon, as it was an interesting flavor combination, with a uniquely satisfying mouthfeel. P-nuff has substance. The texture kept me going back for more, it can dissolve in your mouth (not in your hand) or provide a defining crunch.

The distinctive flavor is elusive, not overpowering, but rather a subtle complementary combination. Without reading the package, we would not have suspected the presence of beans and rice. The overall snacking experience was pleasant, nut-like flavor with a huge crunch, not sugary, low in sodium (with 85 mg), and pareve.

Founded in 2015 by Dr. Juan Salinas, P-nuff connected Salinas’ passion for health and fitness (as a competitive bodybuilder), with his expert knowledge of food science. In 2020, P-nuff appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank (Season 12 Episode 2) where Mark Cuban made him an offer that he could not refuse.

Salinas established Jersey roots. He immigrated from Honduras at 16 and later graduated from Rutgers University with an MBA. P-nuff’s headquarters are in West Orange, New Jersey.

Healthier Options

Using the guidelines for healthier snacks, P-nuff Crunch and Crunchmaster make the grade. P-nuff can be purchased online, and Crunchmaster’s website provides a listing of local stores. Both provide the protein, and fiber that your body needs, creating wholesome treats that are gluten-free and diet-friendly. Now it’s easier to snack responsibly.

Embrace your mid-morning cravings by reaching for P-nuff or Crunchmaster, they have it all, healthy and delicious – who could ask for anything more?