Peatos are made with pulse-based ingredients and do not contain artificial colors or preservatives.

LOS ANGELES —  Hoping to put a new, healthier spin on the term “junk food,” World Peas Brand by Snack it Forward has released Peatos. A puffed snack made with a combination of pulses — beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils — that contains 4 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber per serving.

Nick Desai, chief executive officer, Snack it Forward
“Simply put, it is junk food with substance,” said Nick Desai, chief executive officer of Snack it Forward. “Peatos is going against the billion dollar, traditional ‘junk snack’ brands head-to-head on taste, mass-market appeal, and price points while offering better nutritional characteristics.” 


Most puffed snacks are made with a corn or potato base that can lack the nutritional benefits many consumers demand. By using pulse-based ingredients and excluding G.M.O.s, artificial colors and preservatives from the product, Peatos hopes to attract the growing segment of snackers looking for healthier options.

And while nutrition was a top priority, taste was, too. To lure customers away from other brands in the category, it developed four flavors that appeal to wide variety of consumers: Classic Cheese, Fiery Hot, Chili Cheese and Masala.

“We developed flavors that have broad and familiar appeal — Classic Cheese and Fiery Hot satisfy both the familiar and fun flavor profiles we have all grown to love,” Mr. Desai said. “For the more adventurous, we came up with a play on the American classic of chili cheese and even a South Asian-inspired Masala flavor that millennials have been particularly excited about.”

Peatos is available at some U.S. retailers, including Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Albertsons and Amazon, and has a suggested retail price of $2.99 for 3-oz stand-up pouches and $1.29 for 1-oz single-serve bags. Snack it Forward recently announced the snack will be available in the produce section of Kroger stores in May.

“We are so proud to partner with Kroger, who loved Peatos due to their great taste, broad appeal and better-for-you positioning,” Mr. Desai said. “Our mission is to help a vast majority of Americans eat better, and not just the few that shop in the high-end natural channel.”