Let’s face it: Sometimes lunch sandwiches need a side of chips. The problem is that most traditional chip varieties are too oily and salty to eat every day. The good news is that there are now tons of new chip varieties made with anything except the traditional white potato. Last week, we taste-tested six popular varieties of chips made with alternative ingredients.
Competitors
- Beanitos White Bean Chips
- Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Chips
- Lundberg Rice Chips
- Trader Joe’s Baked Lentil Chips
- Vintage Italia Pasta Chips
- Crunchmaster Popped Edamame Chips
Blind Taste Test
In honor of the 10th anniversary of our Wiser Wednesday tastings, we tried the chips alongside two previous winners: Newman’s Own Salsa and Trader Joe’s Hummus Dip.
Results
The results of the blind taste test were mixed as testers enjoyed several of the chip varieties. Three of the chips, Lundberg Rice Chips, Beanitos White Bean Chips and Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Chips, tied for having the best flavor. Crunchmaster Edamame Chips took last place in the flavor comparison.
Different Ingredients Mean Different Nutrition
Each of the chips tested were made from a different base ingredient, which affected the overall nutrition content. For example, Beanitos White Bean chips had the most fiber (4 grams per serving), which is consistent with the high fiber content of white beans.
We expected the Crunchmaster Popped Edamame chips to have nutrition content similar to that of edamame. But when reading the label, we found the first ingredient is actually rice flour. This means the chips’ nutrition content, which only amounts to 1 gram of fiber at 130 calories per serving, is more reflective of the content of white rice. If the chips had been made with more edamame, they’d likely have more fiber.
Fried vs. Popped and Baked
A common perception is that popped and baked chips are healthier than fried chips because the process by which they’re created uses less oil than the traditional deep-frying method. In our taste test, we tried a mix of baked, popped, and fried chips. We were surprised to find that although the baked and popped chips contained less fat than the fried varieties, they contained a lot more sodium. For example, the fried Beanitos White Bean chips contain 55mg sodium per serving, compared to Trader Joe’s Baked Lentil chips which have 220mg sodium per serving. As manufacturers try to create a great-tasting product, they likely add extra sodium to popped and baked chips to compensate for the loss of flavor that can result when reducing fat content.
Zipongo Recommendation
We had three winners in overall taste and nutrition.
- Trader Joe’s Sweet Potato Chips have the lowest sodium content (50mg per serving) and are also high in Vitamin A. These chips also contain healthy fats that are beneficial in that they allow for the absorption of Vitamin A.
- Lundberg Rice Chips were a favorite in the taste comparison.
- Beanitos White Bean Chips are highest in fiber (4 grams per serving) and are also low in sodium (55mg per serving). These chips are made with a combination of white beans and brown rice, making them a complete source of protein (4 grams per serving).
How to Choose a Healthier Chip
When shopping for a healthier chip, keep an eye out for:
- Sodium: Choose a chip that has a 1:1 ratio of sodium to calories. For example, if you find a chip that contains 100 calories per serving, be sure it ranges around 100 or fewer mg of sodium.
- Fiber: Do compare bags of chips side by side and choose the one with the highest fiber content as fiber can help reduce the body’s absorption of fats.
- Ingredients: Check to see what the number one ingredient is that’s listed. For example, if you’re buying bean chips, you’d think the first ingredient would be beans. Manufacturers may try, however, to sneak in a “filler” ingredient like corn or white potatoes, which can affect the nutrition content.
Bobby is the community and social media manager at Zipongo. He has a degree in nutrition and dietetics and previously worked as a health educator.
