Answer
Puff snacks typically offer very poor nutritional value from their constituents themselves. Nevertheless, since they are either baked or roasted, they are somewhat healthier than traditional fried snacks such as potato chips and french fries. A typical bag of puffed corn contains around 150 – 200 calories. However, in recent years, companies have stepped up efforts to market puff snacks as a healthy snack alternative to discerning parents (children being the primary target demographic for such foods) either by adding nutritional components such as sesame powder or by partially replacing the main corn component with rice and legumes such as chickpea and pigeon pea. Puff snacks made from lentils and other legumes are completely gluten-free. Still newer and healthier options include puff snacks made from lotus or lily seeds, quinoa, jowar, bajra, and cruciferous vegetables.
