Block off the old chips

ARA Tropical Chips

Forget about Lay's. Here's an alternative: crunchy, 100 percent natural, preservative-free snacks made from plantains. Picked when green, the plantains are sliced thin and cooked in vegetable oil. Look for a green bag adorned with palm trees and a setting sun. Made by ARA Food, Tropical Chips are sold for $1.29 at the South Bay Stop & Shop (off the Southeast Expressway, in Boston); you'll find them near the produce section.

-- Nancy Kalajian