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Healthy Chips: Our Nutritionists’ Top 5 Picks in 2024
Struggling to find chips that aren’t covered in vegetable oil? Plenty of chips are marketed as ‘healthy,’ but when you zoom in on the labels, they’re anything but! Luckily, there are also plenty of better-for-you options to snack on.
What to look for in a healthy chip
Here’s what to look for next time you’re craving that crunch:
High quality ingredients. The shorter the ingredient list, the better! You should be able to recognise — and spell — everything on the label. The best chippies have just a handful of ingredients:
- A veggie or legume base. This is usually potato, but there are also delish chips made with sweet potato, kale and other types of vegetables. If you’re a legume lover, there are also options made with lentils and chickpeas. Nutty chips are also starting to get trendy, which is great if you’re looking for a high protein snack.
- A high quality oil. Most commercial chips are coated in vegetable or canola oils, which are highly processed. Check for chips made with healthy oils, like extra virgin olive oil, rice bran oil or avocado oil.
- Good salts, herbs or spices. The best chips have a whole lotta flavour, and there’s no need to compromise on that! Look for brands that use premium sea salt and real herbs and spices, like rosemary or cayenne. These taste amazing, and are so much better for our bodies than artificial flavours or flavour enhancers (like MSG).
Little to no sugar. There’s no need for sugar in a savoury snack, but you’d be surprised at how often it sneaks its way into chips! Keep an eye out for sugar, sucrose, dextrose, glucose, glucose syrup, golden syrup on labels at the supermarket, and try to steer clear of those options.
Low in sodium and saturated fat. Snack on chips with a saturated fat content of less than 5g per 100g, and less than 500mg of sodium per 100g. The good news? If you’re already shopping for healthy chips looking at the ingredients above, you’ll be sorted! The unhealthy fats and high levels of sodium really come about when brands add artificial colours, flavours and preservatives to their prods.
Baked, not fried. Healthy chips are typically baked, not fried, in one of those healthy oils we talked about.
GoodnessMe tip: Check out our free ebook on reading food labels!
Our top chippy picks
Whether you’re team savoury or sweet, or just like to have your pantry stocked up with crispy chips, we’ve got you covered.
1. Dona Cholita corn chips
What the hype’s about: Meet your new favourite corn chip! Most corn chips you’ll see in the supermarket are made with dried maize, which strips away the nutrition and can make you feel bloated or uncomfy. Not these ones!
Dona Cholita’s chips are completely organic and made from ‘nixtamalised’ maize flour, which has been soaked to break down difficult-to-digest enzymes in the corn. They’re also hand cut and cooked in GMO-free, rice bran oil — this oil has a super high smoke point, which helps the corn to hold onto its nutrients. Finally, they’re dusted with Himalayan sea salt and other spices.
The result? A deliciously crunchy chip that takes your tastebuds on a trip to Mexico!
How to enjoy: Just add guac! We also love whipping up healthy nachos, and Dona Cholita has a bunch of fun recipes on their site.
2. Boulder Canyon chips
What the hype’s about: Thick, wavy and crinkle cut… The Boulder Canyon chips are bestsellers for a reason! They have just three ingredients: potato, sea salt and pure avocado oil, and they’re kettle cooked to perfection in small batches. The avocado oil gives them a subtle, nutty flavour — it’s addictive!
3. Orgran Buckwheat Crispibread
What the hype’s about: Feeling nostalgic? These crispbread crackers remind us of our childhood. They have a short ingredient list that gets our nutritionists’ tick of approval: buckwheat flour, rice flour and salt. They're also free from a bunch of allergens including gluten, wheat, dairy, egg and soy, and suitable for anyone following a FODMAP plan.
Buckwheat is easy to digest, and Orgran uses a special milling process that gives the buckwheat that crunchy texture we all know and love.
How to enjoy: Top with your fave sweet or savoury spreads, or chop up into croutons to jazz up salads or soups!
4. Proper Crisps herby chips
What the hype’s about: This is hands down the most delicious way to up your veggie intake! Proper Crisps Garden Medley chips are made with a rainbow of veggies, including carrot, beetroot, parsnip and kumara, a sweet potato from New Zealand. They’re bursting with flavour and dusted with a little sea salt for a finger-lickin’ good finish!
How to enjoy: Straight from the bag! We also love crushing them up to add extra crunch to salads.
5. Fine Fettle flatbreads
What the hype’s about: A cross between a chip, cracker and a crispbread, these flatbreads are packed with real fruit, veg, seeds, herbs and spices. They’re dried, not fried, to retain all the wholefood flavour and goodness. If you’re looking for a versatile chip that’s perfect for munching on the go but also looks great on a cheeseboard, this is it!
How to enjoy: Try dipping in guac, dips, yoghurt or topping with your fave cheese. The herbs and crunch
Stock up on healthy chips online
No need to spend hours in the supermarket — we’ve done all the research for you! From healthy potato chips to crackers and crispbreads, shop our nutritionist-approved range on the GoodnessMe. You can also filter by your dietary needs, whether you’re GF, DF, or something else. Happy snacking!