So you love eating chips. Potato chips, corn chips, whatever, salty, crunchy chips are your thing. You realize, however, that chips are loaded with fat, much of which is saturated, and offer little to no nutritional value. What’s a person to do? Fortunately there are some delicious, but a bit more nutritious, chip options on the market now. Check out these top five healthier chip options for the salty, crunchy snack lover.
Sun Chips. Sun Chips may be the original healthier chip option. Sun Chips are whole grain chips offering an incredibly good flavor and crunch, but these chips aren’t just empty calories. Sun Chips contain 18 grams of whole grain per serving, are trans-fat free, have 30% less fat than most other “regular” chips on the market, and less sodium than most salty, crunch snacks out there. Sun Chips come in delicious flavors and are often a top choice of chip eaters, even when nutrition isn’t a factor. Sun Chips can be found at www.sunchips.com.
Flat Earth Chips. Using a flying pig as their logo, Flat Earth chips (or crisps as they call themselves) really are about as surprising as a flying pig. Flat Earth chips are made with vegetables, including pumpkin, tomatoes, potatoes, and onions, and in fact offer a half serving of vegetables in each 1 ounce serving of chips. Flat Earth chips are rice based, but don’t be fooled into thinking Flat Earth chips will taste like rice cakes. Flat Earth chips offer surprising crunch and flavor, no trans fat, and even 1.5 grams of heart-healthy, belly slimming monounsaturated fat. Flat Earth chips also offer a percentage of about a dozen nutrients and a couple of grams of fiber. Flat Earth chips can be found at http://www.fritolay.com/our-snacks/flat-earth.html.
Snyders of Hanover MultiGrain Chips. Snyders of Hanover may be best know for making great pretzels, which are already a great nutritional alternative to fatty chips, but a newer line of products from the company offers real chips with a better nutritional bang for your buck. Snyders of Hanover MultiGrain chips include corn tortilla chips, “sunflower chips,” and even cheese puffs. Snyders of Hanover MultiGrain chips are tasty and crunchy, but offer 20 grams of whole grain per serving, no trans fat, and even some special nutritional add-ins such as flaxseed. Snyders of Hanover MultiGrain Chips can be found at www.snydersofhanover.com.
Eat Smart Potato Chips. Eat Smart All Natural Snacks has a whole line of crunchy, healthier snack items. For an actual potato chip that is a healthier, Eat Smart has an option. Eat Smart Potato Chips are made from real potatoes and are indeed actual potato chips, however, they have 30% less fat than average chips and no trans fat. Eat Smart Potato Chips have 3 grams of fiber per serving as well. Eat Smart Potato Chips, and other Eat Smart crunchy snacks can be found at www.eatsmartsnacks.com.
Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips. A final way to enjoy tasty, crunchy chips without sacrificing good nutrition is to make your own homemade baked tortilla chips. Using fresh tortillas, making homemade baked tortilla chips allows you to control the amount of oil, salt, and other spices you use. Homemade tortilla chips can be made with whole grain tortillas for added nutrition. For a Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips recipe, try this link.
Chips don’t have to be a terribly unhealthy addition to your diet. If you love chips, but don’t love the lack of nutritional value, try these top five healthier chip options.
