The Modern Pod Co. recently debuted Hummus Pod, a savory line of hummus-filled hand-held snacks. Hummus Pods are described as a dollop of chickpea hummus encased in a crispy, chewy, baked multigrain crust, which is sealed with extra-virgin olive oil and seasoned. There are currently three flavors — Smoky Chipotle, Sriracha Lime and Zesty Lemon — in the vegan, non-GMO line. The pre-baked, flash-frozen pods are easily warmed by 30 seconds in the microwave or 8 to 12 minutes in the oven.
Each box contains nine pods, with three pods considered a serving. One serving contains 160 calories, 6g of both fat and protein and 3g of fiber. Such plant protein-based snacks are increasing in popularity as a growing number of consumers show interest in vegetarian and flexitarian lifestyles. This pursuit of plant proteins may be attributed to increased awareness of the healthful and nutritional benefits of plant-based diets, as well as growing demand for cleaner, more transparent and more traceable food ingredients. Plants are also recognized as a more sustainable source of protein.