Carrots, beetroot, parsnip - it seems they can make crisps out of anything these days. But are these seemingly 'healthy' options any more nutritious than your bog standard packet of crisps?
There are literally hundreds of different varieties of crisps available, so for this post we're going to be comparing Golden Parsnip, Sweet Potato and Beetroot Kettle Chips and snack time favourite, Walkers Ready Salted Crisps.
Calories
Both contain almost identical amounts of calories, 526 kcals per 100g in potato crisps and 523 kcals in vegetable crisps. (This is around 200cals in a single serving of vegetable crisps and 170cals in the same amount of potato crisps.) However high calorie doesn't necessarily mean unhealthy...
Fat
As we've talked about before, fats aren't always bad for us, in fact some are pretty good. Both types of crisp have high levels of fat, which is why they should be eaten in moderation. In this particular variety of vegetable crisps there's actually a slightly higher amount of fat than in potato crisps, but what's good about both varieties is that they are fairly low in saturated fat which helps your heart stay healthy.
Salt
UK guidelines suggest that adults should eat no more than 6g of salt per day so vegetable crisps get a tick in the box here with only 0.8g of salt per 100g of crisps in comparison to 1.4g in potato crisps.
The Verdict
Crisps are great (I mean what else are you supposed to dip into houmous and guacamole?) and should be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet.
Whilst you can get a small amount of key nutrients from vegetable crisps, they are very similar to normal crisps so don’t go mad thinking they are super healthy as the amount of key nutrients that survive the process of turning them into crisps is still low. They also shouldn't be used as a substitute to fresh or frozen vegetables! So just think of them like you do potato crisps and munch them in moderation. Do you know of any really healthy crisps? Let us know in the comments!
