I know when the 4th of July holiday is coming as the streets are busier and the beaches are louder. Living near the water has some advantages – when it is hot, cool off with a dip in the bay. For as long as I can remember, the beach has always been just a short drive away and we spent most of our summer there. Mom would pack the cooler with drinks, sandwiches, snacks, and FreezPops and we’d make a day of it.

There are still those days when I feel a good day at the beach is worth it. When we had a print publication, I would print it out, grab a highlighter and pen, and go to the beach for “commuter” editing. Some days, I just needed to soak up some Vitamin D. And every time, there was always some sort of snack I would take with me.

Golden Cheddar Multigrain Popchips

Well, I have found the best snack to take with me — popchips(TM)! Of course, many of you are probably thinking I just made a typo. No, I didn’t mean popcorn. Nor did I mean corn chips. Popchips are the no bake, no fry potato chip! So, not only do they taste great, but they are healthy, too!

Popchips get their name from the process used to make them – popping. They take their best potatos, slice ‘em up, add some heat and pressure, and POP!, you’ve got yourself a scrumptious new addiction. Popchips are delicious in their naked form or you can choose from seven different specially blended flavors – my personal favorites are Golden Cheddar and Sea Salt & Vinegar!

These delicious spuds are all natural and have no trans fat, saturated fat, cholesterol or preservatives. Each 1 oz (about 22 chips) serving of the original flavor contains only 4 g Fat, 280 mg Sodium, and 120 calories.

WARNING: These chips are ADDICTIVE!!! But hey, if you’re into that sort of thing, take a look in your grocer’s aisle. Can’t find them there, check out the popchips website at www.popchips.com to print out a no-nonsense letter to send to your grocer immediately – all you have to do is sign it. If you’re not feelin’ frisky enough for that, you can do a zip code search to find the nearest store that carries these mouthwatering creations.

So as I head to the beach to watch the magnificent Blue Angels perform this holiday weekend, I’ll grab my bike lock, backpack, and my Golden Cheddar Multigrain Popchips and have a popping great time!