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Listen to this articleIf you’re looking for a healthier snacking alternative to potato chips, look no further! Thanks to Biena Foods, you can snack while receiving health benefits. Poorvi Patodia was motivated to start Biena Foods and her delicious chickpea snacks while she was pregnant and craving something to munch on.
The name Biena comes from the Spanish and French word “bien” meaning good—Biena Foods has created something that not only tastes good but is also good for you.
“Chickpeas were a snack that I ate growing up; it’s what my mother would give to me and my sister. It was something that I was very familiar with,” says Patodia. “And the nutrition profile of chickpeas and beans, in general, are wonderful.”
According to Patodia, chickpeas are eaten all over the world, especially in the Mediterranean area. This made her wonder why they weren’t as popular of a snack in the United States. Then the question became, Could we create something that tasted really good without frying it?
The answer to that is a resounding yes! Not only do the Biena chickpeas taste good, but they come in ten different flavors including Honey Roasted, Cinnamon Crunch, and their bestseller—Sea Salt. Biena’s newest flavors have been dipped in Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and even Salted Caramel.
“You’re getting the crunch and flavor that you would crave from a chip, but you’re getting more,” says Patodia. “With this [chocolate covered] snack, you’re getting the chocolate with zero guilt—half the calories and half the fat.”
One of the biggest rewards for Patodia is that she’s had the opportunity to create a kind of food that people would enjoy snacking on.
“Through entrepreneurship, you learn so much about yourself,” she says. “There’s so much self-improvement that happens in a short amount of time and you learn throughout the process.”
Biena chickpea snacks can be found in stores such as Target and Whole Foods. Learn more about Biena Foods here.
