These potato chip-alternatives have been cropping up on market shelves everywhere. But are veggie chips a healthier pick? Here’s a look at the crunchy details.
YES?
Some of the more popular brands of veggie chips are much lower in sodium than traditional varieties. One ounce of Original Terra Chips contains 50 milligrams of sodium while an ounce (about 15 chips) of traditional potato chips contains over three times that amount (180 milligrams). The amount of salt, however isn’t always lower in veggie chips. Some brands contain even more than potato chips and other snack foods.
Both potato and veggie chips usually contain 10 percent of your daily dose of vitamin C, but some varieties of veggie chips (like sweet potato) also contain 50 percent of your recommended amount of vitamin A.
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- Are you paying attention to your sodium intake?
Nine out of 10 Americans eat too much salt. It’s estimated that 77 percent of our salt comes from processed and restaurant foods. If your goal is to eat less salt, here are 10 simple ways to do it.
#1: Use fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned
One-half cup of canned vegetables has about 15 percent of your daily sodium requirements. This is no surprise since sodium is used to preserve canned food. Instead, choose fresh or frozen vegetables whenever possible. If you’re stuck on the convenience of canned veggies, low sodium varieties are also available.
#2: Make your own potato chips
Chips are brimming with salt, but luckily you can make your own in a snap! My kids and chip-addicted husband loved Ellie’s Cracked Pepper Potato Chips. You can always adjust the spices to your liking.
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- They seem healthy, but are they really?
Store shelves are lined with juice blends promising various health benefits. But are they really as healthy as they’re hyped up to be? Here’s the lowdown on 3 popular store-bought juice blends.
Naked’s Green Machine
Naked makes a variety of juice blends including one of their more popular varieties called the Green Machine. They promote their product saying “Greens are one of the most underconsumed foods in the average person’s diet. Drink ‘em up!” One 15.2 fluid ounce contain has 140 calories, 50 percent of your daily dose of vitamin A, and 11 percent of the daily recommended amount of potassium.
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- How do we love thee, fennel? Let us count the ways.
Show some love to this under-appreciated veggie from the parsley family. Don’t be turned off by its licorice-like flavor. When prepared right, it’s easy to love.
Fennel Facts
The Puritans used to chew on fennel during long church services and came to be known as the “meeting seed” for this reason. Fennel is composed of a bulb which is white or pale green in color, with stalks topped with green feathery leaves called fronds. Each part of the plant is edible – though the texture varies (the bulb is crisp while the fronds are delicate and tender with a stronger flavor) Raw fennel is slightly sweet with and resembles the taste of anise (or licorice). Knowing how to compliment the delicate flavor of this veggie will unlock its goodness. Read more »
- Smoothies are better than milkshakes, right? Well, not always -- read on to learn about this and 4 more food naming tricks.
Food labels are carefully worded to entice shoppers to choose certain items. A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found dieters often fall for simple labeling tricks that make them believe certain foods are healthier than they are. Find out the top 5 traps people fell into and how to avoid them.
How to beat top food label tricks »
- Chicken Piccata With Arugula
This leafy green is part of the cabbage family. Sure you’ve had it in a salad, but there is more to learn about this spicy green, plus lots of creative ways to prepare it.
All about arugula »
- Classic Chicken-Vegetable Soup
We gave you tips on mix-and-match healthy stir fries; this time we’re tackling soups. Soups are inexpensive and there are seemingly endless varieties once you learn the basic soup-making technique. We’ll walk through the basics to get you started, and give you fun and exciting ideas to play with in the kitchen.
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- 30-Minute Turkey Chili
This classic comfort food is the perfect end to a cold day. Its versatility can make it suitable to most taste preferences and although many think it’s unhealthy, chili is really full of nutritious ingredients. But those aren’t the only reasons we love chili.
All about chili, plus our favorite healthy chili recipes »
In this week’s nutrition news: Rare heirloom veggies up for auction, gulf seafood finally being thoroughly tested and the should you start a gluten-free diet?
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In this week’s nutrition news: How to detox safely, the story behind Kellogg’s tainted waffles and new reports show up to 10% of college students have high cholesterol.
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