Healthy Chip Brands: Choosing Nutritious Snack Options

Examining the Nutrition of Baked Potato and Tortilla Chips

For years, traditional potato and tortilla chips have been associated with empty calories and fat. Their reputation as an unhealthy snack food isnt totally undeserved. However, some chip manufacturers now offer baked varieties marketed as healthy alternatives.

But are baked chips truly better for you? While they do cut down on fat from frying, the verdict on nutrition depends on examining the ingredients and preparation methods. When choosing quality whole food ingredients, baking can create a crunchy, satisfying chip thats not junk food.

The Problem with Fried Chips

Classic potato chips and corn or flour tortilla chips are deep fried in oil during production. This gives them their signature crispy, greasy texture. But all that oil also loads them up with fat and calories:

• Regular potato chips: Approximately 8-10g fat per 28g (1 oz) serving
• Fried tortilla chips: Approximately 8-12g fat per 28g (1 oz) serving

Most of this fat comes from unhealthy oils like canola, soybean, corn, and cottonseed oils. These oils are high in inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids. The frying process can also damage oils, creating free radicals and trans fats linked to chronic disease.

The Baked Chip Alternative

Baked chip products promise all the taste and crunch without the oil and fat that comes from frying. To create this effect, raw chip ingredients are baked at high heat in the oven. Spray oils are lightly misted onto chips before baking.

By not completely submerging chips in fryer oil, baked chips offer:

• 70-80% less fat per serving
• Reduce calories, often by about 40-50%
• No damaged oils or trans fats

This makes baked chips appear as a healthy swap compared to traditional varieties. But inspecting the ingredients and nutrition panel beyond basic fat and calories reveals key differences between brands.

Ingredients Matter for True Healthy Chips

A baked label doesnt automatically signify a quality product. Health-conscious consumers must pay attention to ingredients when selecting better-for-you chips.

Whole Food Ingredients

Truly healthy baked chips rely on whole food ingredients free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Base ingredients like potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava root, and sprouted whole grains or legumes offer more nutrients than heavily refined flours. Good companies focus on keeping ingredients lists short and simple.

Healthy Oils

While baking eliminates the concerns of frying, some baked chips still rely on cheaper seed oils for flavoring. Look for options cooked only in high heat-stable oils like avocado, coconut, olive oil, or non-GMO sunflower.

Extra virgin olive oil provides a delicious savory depth that makes vegetables like kale or beet chips shine. Coconut oil paired with sweet potatoes or nuts lends a subtle tropical taste.

Sensible Seasonings

Some baked chips overdo it on salty flavorings which can negate potential health benefits. Seek out chips with natural seasalt or better yet, herb and spice blends absent of MSG or yeast extract.

Onion, garlic, turmeric, paprika, tamari, balsamic vinegar, nutritional yeast are examples of tasty, nutritious seasonings.

Nutrient-Dense Additions

Look for baked chips made with vegetables, greens, seeds, legumes, or nuts. These boost the vitamin, mineral, protein, and antioxidant content.

For example, spinach and kale chips supply iron and magnesium. Chips with nutritional yeast add vitamin B12. Squash and sweet potato provide vitamin A. Tomato chips offer lycopene.

Healthiest Store-Bought Baked Chip Brands

Keep ingredients quality in mind when navigating the ever-expanding world of baked snacks. Here are some of the most legitimately healthy packaged chip brands available:

1. Beanfields Bean Chips

These gluten-free chips cook various types of beans like navy, pinto, and black beans into crunchy bites. With 4-6g protein and 3-5g fiber per serving, theyre more filling than average chips.

2. Food Should Taste Good Multigrain Chips

A blend of flax, sesame, quinoa, millet, chia, and amaranth flours make these whole grain chips stand out. They have a nutty toasted flavor and about 3g protein per serving.

3. Jacksons Honest Potato Chips

Cooked in coconut oil, these paleo and vegan chips keep it simple but delicious with potato, sweet potato, taro root, and cassava options available.

4. Rhythm

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.