Written by Guest reviewer on Wednesday, 04 July 2018.
We’re always being told to eat more vegetables, so veggie chips like lentil crisps or sweet potato chips seem like the answer to all of our problems - right? But are these snacks really healthier than the average potato chip? Or is it all just another marketing ploy? After all, potatoes and corn are vegetables! Here I’ve looked at three popular veggie chips you would find for sale at your local supermarket in the health food aisle, and compared them with regular potato chips.
First, let’s look at their pack claims. The Ajitas Vege Brand Lentil Deli Crips claim to be gluten free, lightly salted and have 85 per cent less saturated fat. The Ajitas Brand Natural Vege Chips also boast that they have a lower saturated fat content (90 per cent) and “less than 100 calories per 20g serve” – giving the impression they are a healthy, low calorie snack. But they are not, as we’ll see.
The Sweet potato chips don’t have many health claims, though I’m sure “100% gluten free, certified organic” would draw people into believing it’s a healthier choice. However, gluten free or organic often does not mean a healthier choice.
Now let’s have a look at their nutritional value via an equal weight of 100 grams of each. As a comparison, I’ve used Smiths Chips Originals which is what one would buy in their place and is the common wide-seller. Here’s what I can work out:
Per 100g |
Ajitas VEGE |
VEGE Lentil |
Thomas Chipman |
Smiths Chips Originals |
Energy kJ?cals |
1950 /465 |
2025/484 |
2330 /557 |
2290 /547 |
Carbohydrate (g) |
67.3 |
69.4 |
56.0 |
50.6 |
Fat (g) |
18.8 |
20 |
35.4 |
34.8 |
Saturated fat (g) |
1.7 |
1.9 |
16.1 |
3.5 |
Sodium (mg) |
560 |
950 |
230 |
556 |
Here’s what you’ll spot on their Ingredient Lists:
Sweet potato, vegetable oil, sea salt.
Cassava 60%, tapioca flour, high-oleic sunflower oil, sugar, shallot leaf, salt, sesame seeds.
Potato starch, lentil flour, sunflower oil, sea salt, curcumin.
Potato, Vegetable oil, salt.
Despite being in the health food aisle, these veggie chips are actually quite similar to your standard potato chip. They definitely do not count as a serve of vegetables.
Even if they’re made from non-potato veggies, they contain too much fat and salt to be considered a nutritious snack option. There is nothing special about them. Think of them as a treat or a discretionary food, in technical speak. Catherine has written about discretionary foods before. You can find the posts here and here on the Foodwatch website.
For a truly healthy alternative, make your own at home: thinly slice some beetroot, sweet potato and carrot. Drizzle the thin rounds with olive oil, sprinkle over some fresh chopped herbs (try rosemary, thyme or oregano) and bake in the oven until crisp.
Otherwise, try one of these healthy snack ideas that’ll provide you with a bit more nutrition.
But, if you DO feel like some chips, portion out a small handful in a bowl, say 30 grams, and enjoy them, rather than eating them mindlessly from the packet.
Thanks to dietitian Sophie Feng for this Product Snapshot and accompanying photographs. You can follow Sophie at @sophiesfoodfeast.
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