Tortilla Chips vs. Potato Chips: Which Is the Lesser of Two Evils? (2024)

FAQs

Tortilla Chips vs. Potato Chips: Which Is the Lesser of Two Evils? ›

Winner: Tortilla Chips

“There really is not a tremendous difference nutritionally between standard potato chips and tortilla chips,” she explains. “Generally speaking, a one ounce serving contains about 130-150 calories, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 1-2 grams of fiber, and 6-10 grams of fat.

Raw vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers are a much healthier alternative to chips, specifically if you want to replace tortilla chips! Sliced raw vegetables still have that nice crunch that regular chips do, but contain virtually zero grams of fat.

You don't have get rid of tortilla chips completely on a low cholesterol diet. Choose healthy multigrain chips or natural chips with few ingredients. Look for chips that only contain corn, oil, and salt. Many tortilla chips have no cholesterol, so read the label.

In the end, then, "Sun Chips may be a marginally better choice than some potato chips due to whole grains and potentially less fat, but they are not necessarily 'healthy' overall due to their processing and ingredients," says Messer.

Nutritional Comparison

When you place the nutritional information of pretzels and potato chips side-by-side, you'll notice why pretzels are the healthier choice. Pretzels have less calories than potato chips and less saturated fat. As we all know, excessive calories and saturated fat can ruin a diet.

Plus, you also get healthy fat, protein, and fiber to help keep you full." Curb Your Craving With This Reach for kale chips, air-popped popcorn, and crunchy produce like apples, celery, and carrots. Dip veggie sticks into hummus if you feel the urge for chips and dip coming on!

When it comes to nutrition, corn tortillas have the advantage of being made from whole grains, with fewer calories, sodium, and carbs but more fiber than flour tortillas. They're also gluten-free. As for cooking and eating, some people complain that corn tortillas break easily.

Crackers can be a healthier replacement for tortilla chips, provided that they are of the unsalted variety and not the regular kind. Unsalted crackers are better for you than tortilla chips in the all-important areas of sodium, carbs and calories.

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In terms of calories, fish and chips have 595 in an average portion, an average pizza has 871, chicken korma 910 and a donner kebab 924. And that is just in terms of fat content and calories per meal, NHS guidelines are that a healthy diet should include at least 2 portions of fish a week.

Potato chips from brands known for excessive salt, saturated fats, and artificial additives tend to be less healthy. Examples include Lay's, Pringles, and Ruffles. Opting for baked or kettle-cooked chips and checking nutritional labels can help make a healthier choice.

Potato chips lack any significant nutritional value, therefore are empty calories, period. They're also high in fat, and low in fiber and protein.

With 210 milligrams of sodium per serving, the chips are notably high in salt. Excessive sodium consumption has been associated with reduction in kidney function per Healthline. At 18 grams per serving, carbs make up a significant portion of the chip's nutritional profile.

Nutritionally, both are similar when it comes to fat and calorie content. However, factors like portion size and how they're prepared can affect overall healthiness.

“Sun Chips are made with whole grains” — including whole wheat, oats, and brown rice flour — “with more fiber than traditional potato chips, plus they are lower in fat and sodium, making it a healthier swap,” says DeGore.