Navigating the Snack Aisle: Which is the Healthiest Chip Brand?

October 19, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2025 article by Good Housekeeping, many conventional chips are made with inflammatory oils, but a growing number of healthier options exist in the snack aisle. For health-conscious consumers, the question remains: which is the healthiest chip brand when balancing taste and nutrition? This guide provides an in-depth comparison to help you choose wisely.

Quick Summary

This article explores how to find healthier chip options by examining key factors like ingredients, cooking methods, and nutritional content. It compares several leading brands that use high-quality oils and alternative ingredients, offering insight into making more informed snacking decisions.

Key Points

Ingredient Scrutiny: Prioritize chips made with whole grains, legumes, or real vegetables over processed starch mixtures like veggie straws.
Oil Matters: Choose chips cooked in healthier fats such as avocado oil or olive oil, and avoid those made with inflammatory or hydrogenated oils.
Cooking Method: Look for baked, air-fried, or popped chip options, which typically have less fat and calories than deep-fried varieties.
Brands to Consider: Top brands for healthier chips include Siete, Jackson's, Boulder Canyon, Terra, and Hippeas, offering quality ingredients and cooking methods.
Read the Label: Always check the nutrition facts for sodium, protein, and fiber content, as these are crucial indicators of a healthier snack choice.

What to Look for in a Healthier Chip

Choosing a healthier chip involves looking beyond clever marketing and focusing on a few key nutritional indicators. The ingredients, cooking process, and nutritional profile are the most important factors. Simply looking for "veggie" or "baked" on the bag isn't enough; digging a bit deeper reveals the true health value.

Ingredients

Whole Grains and Legumes: Chips made from whole corn, beans, or chickpeas often provide more fiber and protein than standard potato chips, aiding satiety and digestion.
Whole Vegetables: Brands that use whole root vegetables like sweet potato, taro, or kale can offer additional nutrients and fiber. Be wary of products like "veggie straws" which contain minimal vegetable content.

Cooking Process and Oils

Oil Quality: The type of oil used is critical. Healthier options are cooked in avocado or olive oil, which contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and are more stable at high temperatures than many other vegetable oils. Avoid chips cooked in less healthy oils such as canola, corn, or soybean oil.
Baking or Air-Frying: Baked, air-fried, or popped chips use significantly less oil than traditional fried versions, resulting in a lower fat and calorie count. Brands like PopCorners use this method for a lighter, crispier snack.

Nutritional Profile

Sodium: Opt for brands with low sodium content. Some, like Utz, offer a "no salt added" option, which is a great choice for those monitoring their intake.
Protein and Fiber: Brands that incorporate chickpeas or beans, such as Hippeas or Beanitos, can provide a notable boost of protein and fiber, making them more filling.

Top Contenders for the Healthiest Chip Brand

Several brands consistently stand out for their commitment to better ingredients and preparation methods. While no chip is a health food, these brands offer the best nutritional profile for satisfying a snack craving.

Siete Family Foods

Siete is a top-tier choice for grain-free tortilla chips. They use ingredients like cassava flour and cook their chips in high-quality avocado oil. This makes them an excellent option for those with gluten sensitivities or following a paleo diet. Siete also offers organic corn tortilla chips fried in avocado oil, a healthier alternative to conventional corn chips.

Jackson's Avocado Oil Sweet Potato Chips

Jackson's is highly praised for their use of premium avocado oil and non-GMO heirloom sweet potatoes. By cooking their chips at a low, slow temperature, they preserve the integrity of the healthy fats in the oil. The result is a simple, delicious, and nutrient-dense sweet potato chip.

Boulder Canyon

For those who prefer a classic potato chip, Boulder Canyon provides a healthier version by cooking with olive and avocado oils instead of less healthy alternatives. Their simple, high-quality ingredients deliver on flavor and crunch while being a better choice than most standard potato chips.

Terra Exotic Vegetable Chips

Terra offers a unique and flavorful mix of real root vegetables, including taro, yuca, and parsnip. These chips provide a range of different nutrients and antioxidants not found in regular potato chips. Their unique texture and vibrant colors add a gourmet touch to snacking.

Hippeas Chickpea Puffs

For a different kind of crunch, Hippeas stands out with its chickpea-based puffs. These snacks are a good source of plant-based protein and fiber, are vegan, and are free of gluten and GMOs. The result is a satisfying, nutritious snack that feels indulgent.

Healthy Chip Brands: A Comparative Table


Brand	Primary Ingredient	Oil Type	Cooking Method	Key Nutritional Benefit
Siete	Cassava flour or organic corn	Avocado Oil	Fried	Grain-free, heart-healthy oil
Jackson's	Sweet Potatoes	Avocado Oil	Low-slow cooked	High in nutrients, quality oil
Boulder Canyon	Potatoes	Avocado or Olive Oil	Fried	High-quality, heart-healthy oils
Hippeas	Chickpeas	Sunflower Oil	Popped	Plant-based protein and fiber
Terra	Various Root Vegetables	Various (Non-hydrogenated palm oil)	Fried	Diverse nutrients from vegetables
PopCorners	Corn	Sunflower Oil	Air-popped	Low-fat alternative

Common Chip Myths: What to Avoid

Don't be fooled by marketing that paints a less-healthy product in a positive light. Here are a few things to watch out for:

Veggie Straws Aren't Vegetables: Despite the name, Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws, for example, are primarily made from potato flour, starch, and oils. Any vegetable content is minimal and so processed that it offers little nutritional value.
Kettle Chips Are Not Necessarily Healthier: Many kettle-cooked chips are not significantly healthier than standard fried chips. While some brands are better, it's a cooking style, not a guaranteed nutritional upgrade. Kettle brand's air-fried version, however, uses a healthier process.
Baked Doesn't Always Mean Better: Baked chips often have less fat but can sometimes have higher sodium or carb counts compared to standard chips. The key is to compare the full nutritional label. For instance, Baked Lay's reduce fat but may still be high in sodium.

Conclusion: Making a Healthier Chip Choice

Ultimately, the quest for which is the healthiest chip brand requires a little label reading and awareness. Top contenders like Siete and Jackson's offer excellent options cooked in healthier fats, while brands like Hippeas provide protein and fiber benefits from alternative ingredients. For classic chip lovers, Boulder Canyon offers a better-for-you potato chip using quality oils. The best approach is to choose products with simple, whole-food ingredients, opt for healthier oils like avocado or olive, and be mindful of baking or popping methods that reduce fat. This enables you to satisfy your craving with a more nutritious choice.

For more information on making balanced food choices, explore the guidelines provided by the USDA's MyPlate initiative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Baked chips generally contain less fat and calories than their deep-fried counterparts because they use less oil. However, some baked varieties can still be high in sodium, so it's important to compare labels and not assume all baked chips are automatically healthy.

For packaged chips, avocado oil and olive oil are considered the healthiest options due to their heart-healthy fat profiles and stability. They are superior to oils like canola or vegetable oil used in many traditional chips.

Despite the name, most veggie straws contain minimal real vegetable content. They are often made primarily from potato starch and flour, with processed vegetable powders, making them comparable to standard chips in nutritional value rather than a healthy vegetable snack.

Yes, making homemade chips is an excellent way to control ingredients and cooking methods. You can bake or dehydrate thinly sliced vegetables like sweet potatoes, kale, or zucchini with minimal oil and salt for a truly healthy snack.

High-protein chip alternatives like Quest and Hippeas can be a good choice if you are looking to boost protein and fiber intake, which helps with satiety. However, it's still best to check the ingredients for other additives and be mindful of serving sizes.

Healthy alternatives to chips include roasted chickpeas (like Biena), fruit chips (like Bare baked apple chips), or popcorners, which are air-popped instead of fried. Nuts can also satisfy a salty, crunchy craving.

This depends heavily on the brand and how they are made. High-quality tortilla chips like Siete, made with whole ingredients and healthy oils, are a better choice than standard potato chips fried in unhealthy oils. Likewise, high-quality potato chips like Boulder Canyon can be a good option. The brand and preparation matter more than the chip base.