Are Costco's Terra Chips Actually Healthy? Nutrition Facts

Costco's Terra Chips: A Healthy Chip Option?

Chips and snack foods at warehouse stores like Costco are usually heavy in fat, salt, and calories. But Terra Chips sold at Costco provide a different take on the traditional junk food chips. These crispy snacks are vegetarian, non-GMO, gluten free and made from unique vegetable-based ingredients.

But are Terra Chips really a healthy choice? This article will examine the nutrition profile, ingredients, flavors, cost, and other details to determine if Costco's Terra Chips live up to their wholesome image.

Terra Chips Nutrition Facts

First let's look at the nutrition facts for Costco's Terra Chips:

Classic Potato Terra Chips

1 oz (About 14 chips)

• 120 calories
• 8g total fat
• 0g trans fat
• 0mg cholesterol
• 150mg sodium
• 16g carbs
• 2g fiber
• 2g protein

Sweet Potato Terra Chips

1 oz (About 16 chips)

• 100 calories
• 4.5g total fat
• 0g trans fat
• 0mg cholesterol
• 90mg sodium
• 16g carbs
• 2g fiber
• 1g protein

Compared to regular potato chips, Terra Chips are lower in trans and saturated fat, sodium, and calories. They also provide more fiber. The sweet potato variety is even lower in fat and sodium.

Terra Chips Ingredients

Costco's Terra Chips have a short ingredient list consisting of:

• Potatoes or sweet potatoes
• Expeller pressed sunflower and/or safflower oil
• Sea salt

There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. The chips are cooked in expeller pressed oil which has a higher smoke point and preserves more nutrients than other oils.

Other Terra varieties sold at Costco include unique veggie chips made from ingredients like beets, parsnips, and taro root. So the chips provide nutrients from vegetables beyond just potatoes.

Terra Chips Flavors

Costco carries these flavors of Terra Chips:

• Classic Original - Lightly salted potato chips
• Sweet Potato - Crispy sweet potato slices
• Beet - Chips made from thinly sliced beets
• Parsnip - Parsnip root vegetable chips
• Taro - Chips made from taro root

The seasonings are relatively simple. The potato varieties just contain sea salt, while the veggie chips have light seasoning like sea salt, onion, and garlic powder to let the root vegetable flavors shine.

Cost of Terra Chips at Costco

A 24 ounce bag of Terra Chips at Costco costs around $5. This comes out to about 20 cents per ounce or $3.20 per pound.

Compared to regular potato chips selling for around $3 per 8 ounce bag, Terra Chips offer more chips and volume for your dollar. The veggie varieties are priced similarly.

When you factor in their healthier nutrition stats, Terra Chips are a good value compared to regular chips.

Terra Chips Certifications

Terra Chips are certified:

• Kosher - Prepared following Jewish dietary laws
• Gluten-Free - Tested to contain less than 20ppm gluten
• Non-GMO Project Verified - Made without genetically modified ingredients
• Vegan - No animal-derived ingredients

The certifications and transparent simple ingredients make Terra Chips a good choice for those with allergies or dietary preferences. They avoid many common allergens found in regular chips.

Terra Chips Cooking Method

Terra Chips are cooked in expeller pressed oils. This oil extraction method uses physical pressure instead of chemicals. It preserves more nutrients in the oil compared to chemical extraction.

The chips are cooked at lower temperatures. This reduces the formation of unhealthy compounds like trans fats that can form from high heat frying. It also preserves the natural flavors better.

Expeller pressing with lower cooking temperatures makes Terra Chips an overall healthier alternative to fried potato chips.

Nutritional Benefits of Terra Chips

Some health benefits Terra Chips provide include:

• More Fiber - 2g per serving supports digestion and heart health
• Lower Sodium - Up to 90% less sodium than regular chips
• Less Fat - Around half the total and saturated fat of regular potato chips
• No Trans Fat - Made without partially hydrogenated oils
• No Cholesterol - Important for heart health
• Vegetable Nutrients - Provide vitamins and minerals from sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips and other veggies
• Protein - 1-2g per serving for satiety

While they are still considered a treat food, Terra Chips are more nutritious than typical potato chips. Their lower sodium and fat help reduce risk of high blood pressure, weight gain, and other problems chips can contribute to.

Downsides of Terra Chips

Some drawbacks to consider with Terra Chips include:

• Still fairly high in calories for a 1 oz serving size
• Lack protein and other nutrients found in whole vegetables and fruits
• Oils, though healthier, are still high in calories
• Higher glycemic index from white potatoes
• Easy to overeat
• Added salt, although reduced, may need limiting for some health conditions
• More expensive than regular potato chips per pound

While they are an upgrade nutrition-wise from regular chips, moderation is still key when enjoying Terra Chips. Those looking to lose weight or control diabetes may need to watch portions.

The Verdict on Costco's Terra Chips

Overall, Terra Chips do live up to their claims of being a healthier chip option — especially compared to regular fried potato chips.

Their simpler, high quality ingredients, vegetable nutrition, and cooking methods make them an acceptable snack in moderation. Costco's prices on bulk bags are also reasonable.

Just keep portion sizes under control. While better for you, they are still a processed, high calorie food. For maximum nutrition, enjoy Terra Chips alongside fresh fruits, veggies, and other whole foods.

Trying Other Brands of Healthy Chips

In addition to Terra, other recommended brands of healthy chips include Food Should Taste Good, Beanitos, and Saffron Road. Shop around to find your favorites.

Watching Sodium in Chips

Compare nutrition labels and aim for chips with less than 200mg sodium per serving. Limit total daily sodium from all sources to 2,300mg.

Pairing Chips with Nutritious Foods

Enjoy chips occasionally as part of an overall balanced diet. Eat them alongside fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats.

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.