Are Sun Chips Really That Healthy?

Sun chips are healthier than potato chips for most people. Yes, they’re loaded with fat and calories, but they also contain less sodium and fewer carbs. One serving of Sun Chips contains 4 grams of fiber compared to 7 grams of fiber for a single serving of potato chips. Another reason to eat Sun Chips rather than potato chips is that they’re usually made with whole grains instead of white potatoes.

We tested all major chip brands — including Doritos, Lay’s, Cheetos, Fritos, Ruffles, Tostitos, Kettle Chips, Pringles, Rold Gold, SunChips, Velveeta and others — to see how healthy they truly are. Spoiler alert: some of these chips are better for you than regular potato chip varieties.

Other surprising findings included:

• Tostitos is one of the worst options for snacking. Not only does it contain almost twice the amount of calories and saturated fats as potato chips, but it also has three times the amount of trans fats.

• Kettle Chips are worse for you since they contain even more calories and saturated fats than Ruffles.

• Pringles are surprisingly low in both calories and saturated fats. However, they still contain about 50% more carbohydrates than potato chips.

• SunChips are much lower in calories and saturated fats than potato chips, but they do contain more carbs.

What Exactly Is In Sun Chips?

Sun Chips are made with genetically modified corn. They are higher in fiber, lower in calories, and contain no trans fats. But there is a risk of cancer linked to eating them.

The snack food giant says it uses a proprietary process to make its products. However, some consumers say they don’t know what ingredients are used because the packaging doesn’t list them.

Are They Still Better Than Other Chips?

Fiber helps you feel fuller faster. When you snack on fiber-rich foods like whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, you fill up quickly because those foods take longer to digest. This makes you feel full sooner, helping you eat fewer calories overall.

Sun chips are healthier than regular chips because they have significantly less fat and sodium. Although there are still plenty of unhealthy ingredients in these chips, they’re not nearly as bad as regular potato chips.

A serving of whole grain chips only contains about half the amount the same serving of regular potato chips does. These chips are lower in saturated fat and sodium and are still quite tasty!

Whole grain chips are healthier than regular potato chips. Potato chips are loaded with fat and sodium, both unhealthy ingredients. A serving of whole grain chips contains about half the amount of saturated fat and one-quarter of the sodium compared to a serving of regular potato chips.

Moderation is key. Don’t go overboard with your snacks! You don’t want to overindulge in high-calorie snacks. Instead, try snacking on healthy choices such as fruit, veggies, nuts, and seeds.

7 Chip Brands That Are Good For You

Here are the 7 brands that are not so bad for your health;

1. Baked Lay’s

The best choice for low-calorie snacks is those that contain no added oils or fats. Baked Lay’s Potato Chips are one such option. These chips are baked rather than fried, making them healthier than most potato chips. They contain fewer calories and less sodium than traditional potato chips.

These chips are lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than many other potato chip options. They also contain less salt and sugar than some other potato chip brands.

2. Kettle Brand Sea Salt 40 Percent Less Fat Chips

These chips are lower in fat than regular sea salt chips. They contain less sodium per serving than standard potato chips. And they’re available in stores nationwide. Kettle Brand Sea Salt 40% Less Fat Chips are second runner-up in our taste test.

3. Beanitos Black Bean Chips

The Beanitos brand is known for making delicious snack products. Their newest product is called Beanitos Black Bean Chips. These chips contain black beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, spices, salt, and oil. They are low in calories and fat and high in fiber.

4. Simply 7 Hummus Sea Salt Chips

The Simply 7 brand of sea salt chips are made from chickpea flour, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and turmeric. They’re gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and contain no added sugar. But don’t let those ingredients fool you into thinking they’re healthy.

Each bag contains about 200 calories and 10 grams of fat. And that’s without adding any additional sodium. “We’ve found that people tend to eat way too much salt,” says founder and CEO Michael Lissner. “They think it makes food taste better.”

But even though they’re healthy, Simply 7 still isn’t healthy enough for everyone. If you want to reduce your sodium intake, Lissner recommends cutting out processed foods like crackers, bread, and sauces. Instead, focus on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts. You’ll find plenty of recipes online that use chickpeas and hummus.

5. Sea Salt Popchips

The snack industry is booming, and there are plenty of options out there. From Doritos to Cheetos, we’ve got some tasty snacks that are sure to satisfy you. We’ve rounded up our favorite sea salt chips — the ones that are perfect for dipping into dips, spreading onto crackers, or just munching on.

6. Terra Real Vegetable Chips, Original

The nutrition facts label for Terra Real Vegetable Chips, original flavor, lists the following healthy chip ingredients: “corn flour, corn starch, salt, sugar, soybean oil, water.” This product contains about 200 calories per serving, 9 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 10 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of protein, and 5 grams of dietary fiber.

In addition, the FDA requires that companies disclose information about added sugars and sodium. For example, the Nutrition Facts panel must include the number of servings per container, the number of grams of total carbohydrate, the number of grams in each type of carbohydrate, and the number of grams of sugar.

7. Pringles Reduced Fat Original

The popular snack brand Pringles recently introduced a new flavor called Reduced Fat Original. But it doesn’t reduce the amount of saturated fat in the product. It contains twice the amount of saturated fat compared to the regular version.

4 Surprising Sun Chips Facts You May Not Have Known

The history of Sun Chips goes way beyond the classic potato chip. There are over 20 different varieties available today. And while you might think that the name “Sun Chips” came about because the chips were baked in sunlight, it had nothing to do with that.

Instead, it was named after the fact that the popular chips used to be baked in the sun.

1. Sun Chips Bags Were Once Thought To Be Too Loud

The snack food giant Sun Chips switched to a biodegradable bag in 2016. Sales dropped immediately following the switch. The new bag was quieter than the old one, according to a study conducted by researchers at Cornell University. The original bag was louder because it had a plastic lining.

In addition to being quieter, the new bag doesn’t make much noise either. When the researchers tested the new bag against the old one, they found that the new one generated less noise. This could mean that consumers are willing to pay a little extra for a product that makes less noise.

2. They Are Truly Made From The Sun

Frito Lay announced it had achieved a milestone in renewable energy production. The snack food company says it now produces its chips using solar power rather than coal. The company says it plans to continue reducing its use of fossil fuels over time.

The company says it uses about 2 million tons of coal each year to make its products. But in recent years, the company has been working toward making its healthy snacks without burning anything.

3. There Is A Coveted Sun Chips Flavour That You Cannot Purchase

The limited edition flavor of chips is called “Crispy Bacon.” And now there’s a petition to make it available in regular packaging. A group of fans launched a Change.org petition asking Sun Basket to bring the artificial flavor to market. They say it’s one of the best flavors ever made.

Sun Basket is a subscription box delivery service based out of New York City. Its mission statement says it wants to provide customers with “a better way to shop,” and it offers boxes filled with snacks like popcorn, cookies, candy, cereal, coffee, wine, and beer.

The Crispy Bacon flavor is part of the snack section of the menu. It costs $5.99 per month, plus shipping. But the petitioners argue that the price tag is too high because it includes shipping. So far, nearly 2,500 people have signed the petition.

4. Customers Prefer Salty Flavors Over Sweet Flavors

Sun Chips want to expand its market share. The snack food manufacturer recently launched three new flavors: Original BBQ, Sweet & Spicy, and Honey Mustard. These flavors are meant to appeal to consumers who like savory snacks.

The research firm Mintel found that consumers prefer salty flavors over those that are sweet. It found that people prefer salty flavors over both sweet and spicy flavors. This preference is especially true among millennials.