Harvest Snaps – Dietitian Review

This Harvest Snaps Dietitian Review will help you decide if Harvest Snaps are nutritionally sound and live up to their marketing claims. Read on for our dietitian review of taste, nutritional properties, ingredients, use, cost, and overall versatility before making your decision.

Are Harvest Snaps Healthy? Nutrition Score

Read more about our Food Nutrition Score here

About Harvest Snaps 

Harvest Snaps are baked snacks made from peas, rice, oil, and seasoning. Calbee (the company that makes Harvest Snaps) doesn’t provide much detail as to how they are made, but from the information, we could find, Harvest Snaps are made with a combination of blended peas and rice. The mixture is baked with oil and seasoning before being cut into pods.

Nutrition Marketing Claims

Harvest Snaps are marketed as veggie snacks, and as a healthy snack alternative. Their website states they have less fat and sodium (we assume this is in comparison to traditional potato chips) and are allergen-friendly.

Harvest Snaps - Dietitian Review

Taste & Texture

We sampled the Original flavour for the purpose of this review. Harvest Snaps have an airy, crispy texture and a salty flavour. Overall, Harvest Snaps have an enjoyable flavour and the combination of crispy texture with salty flavour made them satisfying as a potato chip alternative.

Ingredients

Harvest Snap Peas - Ingredients

Green peas: the first ingredient in Harvest Snaps, this is the main ingredient in these snacks.

Canola oil: the main fat source in Harvest Snaps. Canola oil is a source of monounsaturated fatty acids.

Rice: provides a source of carbohydrates and likely contributes to the textural properties of Harvest Snaps.

Salt: used for flavouring.

Calcium carbonate: adds a source of calcium to Harvest Snaps. Calcium carbonate is added to food products as a leavening agent, thickening/bulking agent, and/or colouring agent. Source:

Rosemary: used to add flavour to Harvest Snaps.

Priority Allergens: Harvest Snaps may contain milk and mustard.

Harvest Snaps – Dietitian Review

Nutrition Facts

Harvest snaps - nutrition facts table

Note: the nutrition facts below reflect the Original flavour of Harvest Snaps. The range of nutrition information for all flavours is listed in parentheses.

Per 1.5 cups (50g)

Calories: 230

Fat: 9g (from canola oil)

Saturated fat: 0.5g

Carbohydrate: 29g (from peas and rice)

Fibre: 7g (from peas)

Sugar: 1g (from peas)

Protein: 9g (from peas)

Sodium: 135mg (from added salt)

Micronutrients: potassium 350mg (coming from peas), calcium 75mg (coming from peas and calcium carbonate), iron 1.75mg (coming from peas)

Cost

Harvest Snaps are available in Ontario from $2.97-$3.79 per 94g bag.

Harvest snaps - dietitian review

Are Harvest Snaps healthy?

Harvest Snaps are a more nutritious option than traditional potato chips. Compared to potato chips, Harvest Snaps are baked instead of fried and contain less saturated fat and sodium. They are also significantly higher in fibre and protein than traditional potato chips. See our comparison chart below for details.

However, Harvest Snaps are still considered a processed food and are best consumed in moderation and not in replacement of actual peas or other balanced snack options.

Harvest snaps vs. peas vs. potato chips

Harvest Snaps – Dietitian Review

Are Harvest Snaps as Nutritious as Peas?

There are a variety of reasons why vegetables are beneficial to our health. Fibre, antioxidants, and micronutrients, to name a few.  But how much of this is likely to be retained after peas are processed into a Harvest Snaps? Food processing methods, like heat or drying, can increase enzymatic activity and reduce the antioxidant and micronutrient content of foods. The extent of this reduction depends on the type of fruit or vegetable and the type of processing it goes through.

harvest snaps - dietitian review

Though we don’t have information on how much antioxidant and micronutrient content is retained in Harvest Snap Peas specifically, we can likely assume that the process of drying and heating that peas go through to become Harvest Snaps will result in some loss of nutrients.

The nutrition facts table for Harvest Snaps includes only the minimum required number of nutrients for food labeling. Additional micronutrients found in peas, such as vitamin C, are not listed on the label for Harvest Snaps. This may be for several reasons: first, vitamin C is no longer present in the final product. Second, the company chose not to expand the food label to include additional nutrients. Or third, because the food was not tested for these nutrients, the actual micronutrient content is unknown.

When we compare the macronutrient content of Harvest Snaps to fresh peas (see our comparison chart above), Harvest Snaps are higher in fats, carbohydrates, and protein compared to the same weight of fresh peas. This is likely because more fresh peas are required to make 50g of Harvest Snaps than 50g of fresh peas, so the macronutrient content is more concentrated. Harvest snaps are also higher in potassium, calcium, and iron, likely for the same reason, except for calcium which is an ingredient in Harvest Snaps.

harvest snaps

Harvest Snaps – Dietitian Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Harvest Snaps healthier than chips?

Harvest Snaps are a more nutritious option than traditional potato chips. Harvest Snaps are higher in protein and fibre than traditional potato chips, and lower in sodium and saturated fat.

Do Harvest Snaps count as a vegetable?

No. Though Harvest Snaps are made from peas, they are processed and should be consumed in moderation as a snack food (ie. chip alternative) and not in place of whole peas or other vegetables.

Are Harvest Snaps Pea vegan?

Yes, Harvest Snap Pea Crisps are vegan.

Are Harvest Snaps gluten-free?

Yes, Harvest Snaps are Gluten-free.

Are Harvest Snaps actually peas?

Yes and no. Harvest Snaps contain peas as the main ingredient but they are made using blended peas and rice cut into a shape that resembles pea pods.

Do Harvest Snap Peas have any nutritional value?

Yes, Harvest Snap Peas have a balanced macronutrient profile as they contain unsaturated fats, protein, and fibre, They are also a source of iron, calcium, and potassium. The remaining nutrient value that would otherwise be found in peas, such as vitamin C, is unknown but is likely reduced during processing.

Are Harvest Snaps good for weight loss?

No one food will cause weight loss or gain. However, Harvest Snaps are processed and may not be as satiating as a whole-food snack such as fruit and nuts. We recommend consuming Harvest Snaps in moderation like any other processed food.

Curious about how other vegetable snacks compare? Check out our Veggie Straws Dietitian Review here!

Sources: 

  1. https://harvestsnaps.com/ 
  2. Balunkeswar Nayak, Rui Hai Liu & Juming Tang (2015) Effect of Processing

    on Phenolic Antioxidants of Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains—A Review, Critical Reviews in Food

    Science and Nutrition, 55:7, 887-918, DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2011.654142

  3. Health Canada :  List of Permitted Emulsifying, Gelling, Stabilizing or Thickening Agents, List of Permitted pH Adjusting Agents, Acid-Reacting Materials and Water Correcting Agents, List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses

Join the Conversation

  1. Rene Snodey says:

    I like harvest snap I buy a buy a couple times during the month they’re a replacement for potato chips and yes I do put hot sauce on w

    1. They’re a great option instead of potato chips!

      1. katie K. McGuirl says:

        Junk food disguised as a vegetable.

        Junk food disguised as a vegetable.

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