So…
Now what?!
You are in the market and you are trying to decide what type of chip is the best for you, and your Super Bowl party, etc. The only problem is, you are SURROUNDED by packaged goodies- some marketed as healthy, low in fat, or calories, natural, or organic … and many of them wooing you with their promise of “health.” What do you do?
You can determine whether or not a chip, or product, is “healthy” (i.e. “healthier“) just by looking at the packaging.
Tip #1: First, look at the ingredients. Generally speaking, whiter foods (like white potatoes, white rice, white flour, etc.) are bleached, processed, and/or, less nutritious than naturally darker foods. This applies to nature too. *For instance, Kale is more nutritious than romaine, which is more nutritious than ice berg. (Scroll down for a list of ingredients that I prefer, and ingredients that I like to avoid).
Tip #2: Next, count the number of ingredients. Now that you have analyzed the ingredients, to make sure that you can both recognize, and pronounce them, count them. The fewer ingredients there are, the easier it will be for your body to break down (just like a simple multiplication problem is much more easy for you to solve, than a longer one). Less is more.
Tip #3: Finally, (and this is a BIG one) how are they made? If they do not brag about being baked, or “popped”– (whatever that means), they are most likely fried. And folks, fried is not our friend (no matter what oil is used).
So.
There you have it.
Chip tips.
Enjoy!
What are your favorite healthy, or healthier alternatives to chips? What ingredients do you avoid? Does anyone have their own recipe?
P.S. If you have not already done so… check out these articles:
“What Your Blue Corn Tortilla Chips… Are Not Telling You…”
“Another Chip Debate. The White Potato“
I recently purchased “Garden of Eatin”‘s new BAKED organic blue chips. They have 3 grams of fat per serving (1g sat) and contain fiber and protein! They’re not fried, and the ingredients are few and easily pronounced. I highly recommend them with my home made guac! They even contain 300mg of omega-3s per serving!
Tanya,
Thank you so much for sharing that bit of information! I had just saw on their website that they created a baked chip. I am thrilled because I love the brand. I am glad you have tried and approve of them.
The image there is very helpful. I saved it and will come back to it as a resource. The hardest thing on there to avoid, I would say are the soybean oil, palm oil, and vegetable oil. Have you written about the problem with these anywhere? Is palm FRUIT oil the same as palm oil? Does vegetable oil mean corn or canola oil? Sorry that I have so many questions!
P.S. I am having a giveaway for Glass Dharma glass straws on my blog. I thought you might be interested.
You can enter here: http://justaudreyblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/glass-dharma-straws-giveaway.html
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