6 Healthy Chips that Won't Derail Your Diet

We chipped away at the competition and found six healthy winners that will make your mouth water. Read on to find out why these are our top picks, and what you should avoid the next time you reach for a bag of chips.

CLASSIC
Dirty Sea Salted Potato Chips
(1 ounce)
Calories: 150, total fat: 8 g, trans fat: 0 g, sodium: 85 mg

Like: We love that the ingredient list on this bag is short and natural: nothing but potatoes, peanut oil, and some salt.

Yikes! Beware of disguised trans fats in other brands. Your tip-off: partially hydrogenated oil.

DIY: 10 Healthy Chips and Dips Recipes

REDUCED FAT
Cape Cod 40% Reduced Fat Original
(1 ounce)
Calories: 140, total fat: 6 g, trans fat: 0 g, sodium: 85 mg

Like: Each of these crunchy kettle chips tastes remarkably like its full-fat counterpart.

Yikes! Watch out for the cooking oil Olestra in other brands. This chemical can lead to digestive woes such as gas and cramps.

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LOW SALT

Utz Natural Lightly Salted Kettle Chips
(1 ounce)
Calories: 140, total fat: 8 g, trans fat: 0 g, sodium: 75 mg

Like: Expeller-pressed sunflower oil is used to make these chips, which means they're a better choice for your heart.

Yikes! Don't settle for flat flavor: Some low-salt chips sacrifice the taste along with the salt.

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BAKED

Kettle Brand Baked Potato Chips Sea Salt
(1 ounce)
Calories: 120, total fat: 3 g, trans fat: 0 g, sodium: 135 mg

Like: You get the same crunch appeal as regular, but with 65% less fat--and two-thirds of Kettle's fat is monounsaturated.

Yikes! Other brands add ingredients such as cornstarch and sugar to perk up the bland taste.

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POPPED

Popchips Original
(1 ounce)
Calories: 120, total fat: 4 g, trans fat: 0 g, sodium: 190 mg

Like:
These munchies crisp up during a process that uses heat and pressure. They're not fried or baked.

Yikes!
Don't be fooled by the "light as air" sell: Some popped chips contain a lot of unwanted fat.

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VEGGIE
Snikiddy Eat Your Vegetables Chips Sea Salt
(1 ounce)
Calories: 130, total fat: 7 g, trans fat: 0 g, sodium: 140 mg

Like: In addition to regular spuds, these chips have sweet potatoes for added nutrition and taste.

Yikes!
Just because it says "veggie" on the bag doesn't make chips healthy. Many are brimming with sodium and fat.

TELL US: What favorite brand of chips would you recommend?

--By Molly Raisch, Prevention

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