There are plenty of alternatives to regular potato chips that claim to be healthier, but not every brand gets our stamp of approval. See which snacks are truly better for you, and which ones you should avoid.

When you’re trying to lose weight, it seems like every bag of chips starts calling your name, making every vending machine or trip to the grocery store a recipe for a diet disaster. If you’re craving something crunchy but don’t want the fat and calories of traditional potato chips (after all, potato chip consumption has been linked to weight gain), it can be difficult to know which snacks are actually better for you and which ones you should skip.

We rounded up some of the top snack brands that claim to be healthier than regular potato chips, and with help from former Everyday Health nutritionist Maureen Namkoong, RD, ranked them from best to worst. Read on to find out which surprising brand is your best choice, and which supposedly healthy chips you’re better off without.

Serving size 1 ounce (oz), or about 17 crisps

Total fat 3.5 grams (g) (0 saturated)

“You’ll save 40 calories and 6.5 g of fat per serving by choosing Baked Lay's over regular Lay’s Classic Potato Chips,” Namkoong says. “The low calories and fat make this the healthiest choice when you can’t resist chips.”

Serving size 1 oz, or about 16 chips

SunChips are made with whole grains instead of potatoes, which makes them higher in fiber than traditional potato chips at 2 g per serving (about 8 percent of your daily value for fiber). While this isn’t a huge amount of fiber, every little bit helps, since fiber adds bulk to your diet and makes you feel full faster, helping you control your weight and digest your food. Keep in mind that SunChips still have more fat and calories and fewer vitamins and minerals than an ideal snack, but a handful of these could help you squelch your craving for chips without going totally overboard.

Serving size 1 oz, or about 13 chips

“Compared with regular Kettle Brand Sea Salt potato chips, Kettle Brand lower fat chips have 20 fewer calories and three fewer grams of fat,” Namkoong says. “If you can’t resist the temptation, this is a better choice, but be sure to watch your portions.”

Serving size 1 oz, or about 11 chips

Beanitos Black Beans Chips have 4 g of fiber (16 percent of your daily value) and 5 g of protein. “You can get 10 percent of your daily fiber intake from this chip because they’re made from black beans,” Namkoong says. “And at the same time, the sodium is pretty low for a processed snack. If you want to increase your fiber intake, you might want to switch [from regular potato chips] to small portions of this chip.”

Serving size 1 oz, or about 23 chips

You get more bang for your buck calorie-wise with PopChips because you can eat more of them for the same amount of calories, but sticking to one portion is key. It’s tempting to treat the bag as a single serving; in reality, there are five servings per (5 oz) bag (Sea Salt PopChips also come in .8-ounce and 3.5-ounce bags).

“Don’t be fooled by the name — these chips, which are made from chickpeas, aren’t as healthy as eating whole chickpeas or hummus,” Namkoong warns. They’re also pretty high in sodium (especially if you don’t stick to one serving), and wouldn’t be a great choice for anyone watching how much salt they eat.

These chips are made from fried root vegetables (other than white potatoes), and while that seems like it would be a good choice, the truth is that it doesn’t make that big of a difference nutritionally. They are still high in calories, fat, and saturated fat. There are 3 g of fiber per serving (12 percent of your daily value), which is nice, but not enough to categorize these as a healthy snack.

Serving size 1 oz, or about 16 crisps

“Don’t be misled by the label,” Namkoong cautions. “Pringles Reduced Fat Original has only 10 calories and 2 grams of fat less than the original version.” You’re not saving enough by choosing the healthier version here. Plus, these reduced-fat chips still contain 2 g of unhealthy saturated fat per serving, making them not a great choice in their own right.

By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

It is a common ingredient in herbal teas, extracts, capsules, and pills, especially those marketed for weight loss and diabetes, and generally regarded...

‘Best by’ and ‘use by’ labels are notoriously confusing. Here’s what you need to know to cut back on food waste and needless spending.

The company said a supplier unintentionally added dairy to these products.

Exercise and a nutritious diet aren’t the only ways to keep your weight in check — catching more z’s can have a big effect, too.

Kraft Heinz said thousands of its Wild Cherry flavor Capri Sun juice pouches may have been contaminated by cleaning solution.

Botanical-infused drinks claim to offer the perks of alcohol without the negative side effects. But do they deliver?

TikTok influencers are raving about eating the fruit of the popular houseplant, but how safe is it?  Here’s what to know.

These fizzy functional beverages promise gut health and more, but do they deliver?

Adults who consume the most processed food may experience a much faster decline in memory and executive function.

By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.