A Guide to Healthy Chips: Beat Crunchy Food Cravings

Offering both that delicious crunch and that satisfying saltiness, it’s understandable why potato chips are one of the most popular snacks that Aussies enjoy munching on when it’s time for a snack. But traditional potato chips are not the healthiest snack option for people attempting to lead a healthy lifestyle because they are usually fried in vegetable oil, are salty, and are low in protein and micronutrients.

That being said, a balanced and healthy diet can still be maintained even with the occasional chip fix as long as you monitor the portion size. However, if you adore chips but want to increase your intake of some nutrients or decrease your sodium intake there are some excellent options that can help you enjoy your favourite crispy snacks while still adhering to your health goals.

How to Choose a Healthy Chip Option

So, if you’re trying to lose some weight but every bag of chips seems to start calling your name and making any trip to the grocery store or vending machine is a surefire way to ruin your diet, opt for guilt-free healthy chips to satisfy your cravings.

Since there is a bewildering variety of chip choices in the snack section, the following guidelines will help you choose more healthful yet satisfying chip options.

Look Out for Tricky Terms

Avoid being duped. Chip packages are stuffed with large, bold claims that try to persuade you that they are good options to bring home. Be careful to read the ingredients list and the Nutrition Facts label because front-of-package claims and images are not always accurate. The following are some tricky terms to watch out for:

• All Natural: This phrase has no formal meaning and has nothing to do with how healthy a product is. For instance, all-natural ingredients such as refined grains added sugars, and salt are unhealthy and harmful ones.
• Multigrain: Whole grain does not equate with multigrain. Products are frequently produced from a variety of refined grains.
• Vegetable: A few “veggie chips” are prepared with very little actual produce. Beware of potato-based crisps that have been coloured with vegetable powder or extract. This can be identified by checking out the ingredient list.
• Sea Salt: Sea salt doesn’t contain iodine, but it is still salt, a protective nutrient added to regular salt. To make sure you are eating healthy chips find the ones with the least sodium and the most potassium, which helps prevent high blood pressure by comparing Nutrition Facts labels.
• Fibre: Fibre can be obtained naturally from whole grains, vegetables, or beans or artificially by manufacturers added to refined goods. Therefore, the ability of various fibres to promote health varies. Remember that consuming too much-refined starch and sugars can cancel out the health advantages of fibre.
• Minimal Fat and Baked: We were advised to eat less fat in the 1990s, but low-fat meals haven’t changed our health or waistlines. We now understand that consuming plenty of plant-based unsaturated fats like those used to create the majority of chips benefits heart health. These heart-healthy fats are less prevalent in baked and low-fat crisps and therefore proportionally more refined grains and salt.

Keep It Real

Why opt for pre and post-workout snacks, only when healthy chip options are nowadays made of genuine, whole ingredients, plant oils (healthy options include sunflower, safflower, peanut, avocado, soybean, and canola, among others), and little to no salt, sugar, or other additives. So, keep these real ingredients in mind when getting your healthy pack.

Read the Nutrition Facts and Ingredient List

Don’t depend on assertions and images on the front of packages that could be deceptive. Read the ingredients sticker on the chip to find out what’s inside. The first component should be a whole grain, vegetable, or bean.

When browsing for healthy chips Australia-wide, more than one gram of dietary fibre for every 10 grams of total carbohydrate and less than 140 mg of sodium per serving are desirable. Prevent extra sugars.

The Serving Size Matters

The figures on the Nutrition Facts label are based on one serving. One ounce is a typical serving amount for many chips or about 28 grams. This is roughly seven to fifteen pieces of chips, depending on the quantity of the chips. If you can, limit your serving to about a mouthful. The remaining amount can be shared or put away for another day.

Don’t Hesitate to Compare

When purchasing healthy chips online spend some time reading the labels on the various brands and varieties of chips. Also, read the reviews from valuable users. Don’t forget to check the serving sizes when contrasting two different packages because they might vary.

Our Top Picks:

So, if you are on the hunt for a healthy chip, look no further than this list that boasts chips made from real ingredients like organically grown potatoes and cauliflower.

Boulder Canyon

Boulder Canyon’s unique kettle family recipe for chips gives them a robust flavour. These wavy Canyon cut chips are cooked in pure avocado oil for a distinctively delicate, buttery taste and texture you won’t soon forget!

They were inspired by the carved canyons outside their hometown. Boulder cuts the chips, making them thickly sliced and rippled in small batches for more flavour and better dipping. They use a traditional family recipe to make their genuine American potatoes perfectly salted and so hard to resist!

Health Guru

Health Guru Cauliflower Puffs, a tasty new addition to the better-for-you snack genre, is made from 50% real cauliflower. These addictive baked puffs come in five mouth-watering flavours: Sea Salt, Salt and Vinegar with Apple Cider, Just BBQ, Bangkok Sriracha, and Vegan Cheddar. They are also devoid of trans fat and refined sugar. They are a decadent way to get your daily serving of vegetables and are bursting with flavour.