(crisps image from google)
Sharing this post by Dr Katharine Morrison seen on The Diabetes Diet Blog here
Which: Is there such a thing as a healthy crisp?
Adapted from Which Magazine July 2026
It is certainly debatable whether there is such a thing as a healthy crisp. We all know that crisps are bad for our waistlines and health. They can be very moreish and can be difficult to consume in small amounts. In recent times alternatives made from other vegetables such as lentils have hit the market. But are they any healthier at all?
Which scored 66 crisp products out of 100. The rating was based on how much fat, salt, sugar, fibre and protein was contained in the crisp, using the Nutrient Profiling Model and a University of Oxford equation. These systems are used by the government and various health groups. 63 or above was considered a pass and under this was considered a fail.
Brands often advertise using a single positive attribute that their product has or doesn’t have. They use this “halo effect” to urge you to buy their crisps. The trouble is that the single redemptive feature doesn’t usually make for an overall healthy product.
For instance, Mini Cheddars scored 20, the lowest of the series. These are baked rather than fried, but they still contain a lot of saturated fat. (Dr Morrisons comment: I’m not concerned by eating saturated fat but it is a metric used in the evaluation.)
Also scoring rather low at 36 was Proper Chips Barbecue Lentil Chips. A problem was that although lentils do have more fibre than potatoes in their natural state, the processing to make chips takes a lot of this out, and they still have high sugar and salt levels.
Fried crisps like Tyrrells score relatively highly because the manufacturers remove some of the oil.
Here were the best scoring items:-
Kettle Chips Lightly Salted 74
Holland and Barrett Carrot and Beetroot Lightly Sea Salted Crisps 72
Holland and Barrett Simply Roasted Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar Crisps 72
Tyrrells Sour Cream and Onion Lentil Crisps 72
Tyrrells Sweet Chilli and Red Pepper Lentil Crisps 72
These scores don’t appear on the packets, so keep your eyes open as to what you are buying and eating when you see crisps marketed as a healthy option.
It is certainly debatable whether there is such a thing as a healthy crisp. We all know that crisps are bad for our waistlines and health. They can be very moreish and can be difficult to consume in small amounts. In recent times alternatives made from other vegetables such as lentils have hit the market. But are they any healthier at all?
Which scored 66 crisp products out of 100. The rating was based on how much fat, salt, sugar, fibre and protein was contained in the crisp, using the Nutrient Profiling Model and a University of Oxford equation. These systems are used by the government and various health groups. 63 or above was considered a pass and under this was considered a fail.
Brands often advertise using a single positive attribute that their product has or doesn’t have. They use this “halo effect” to urge you to buy their crisps. The trouble is that the single redemptive feature doesn’t usually make for an overall healthy product.
For instance, Mini Cheddars scored 20, the lowest of the series. These are baked rather than fried, but they still contain a lot of saturated fat. (Dr Morrisons comment: I’m not concerned by eating saturated fat but it is a metric used in the evaluation.)
Also scoring rather low at 36 was Proper Chips Barbecue Lentil Chips. A problem was that although lentils do have more fibre than potatoes in their natural state, the processing to make chips takes a lot of this out, and they still have high sugar and salt levels.
Fried crisps like Tyrrells score relatively highly because the manufacturers remove some of the oil.
Here were the best scoring items:-
Kettle Chips Lightly Salted 74
Holland and Barrett Carrot and Beetroot Lightly Sea Salted Crisps 72
Holland and Barrett Simply Roasted Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar Crisps 72
Tyrrells Sour Cream and Onion Lentil Crisps 72
Tyrrells Sweet Chilli and Red Pepper Lentil Crisps 72
These scores don’t appear on the packets, so keep your eyes open as to what you are buying and eating when you see crisps marketed as a healthy option.
You can see the original Which Magazine article here
Alternative Lower Carb Crisp Ideas:-
Crunchy Kale Crisps - more details hereCrispy Parmesan Courgette/Zucchini Slices - more details here
If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.
All the best Jan
All the best Jan
37 comments:
Why is everything that tastes good - end up bad for you??
No suelo comerlas.
Un abrazo.
Very interesting. I often feel that if it's made with a veggie it's healthier. But I never think about what happens to that veggie in creating the chip. I think it's a lesson on it being an occasional treat, and in moderation.
We don't eat chips so it's not an issue for us. However, this is a very good post and I learned a lot. Thanks Jan.
We eat them every so often. But the low salt kind. I've made my own too in the air fryer.
Hi Jan, I rarely eat potato chips (here in Canada and the U.S. they are known as chips, I know in the UK they are known as crisps). This is great information! Thank you so much for sharing.
I eat pea crisps because they are low in sodium.
Kettle chips lightly salted yes!-Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
They may not be healthy, but they are a nice treat now and then.
I don't eat crisps often, usually there's a week or two per year when I stuff myself then one day I wake up and simply don't want them.
I haven’t eaten chips for years—not even ones made from lentils or anything else. good topic, hugs Elke
Interesting and the names are different. We eat chips once in a while but we have no diet issues, we are simply lucky.
Interesting report about alternative chips. I sometimes have red quinoa chips.
As you mentioned, that food is difficult to consume in small amount, you're right. However, before buying any chips we can read information written on the packaging, which tells us exactly what to avoid and what to look for.
Great post, Jan.
Greetings,
G
I agree
I do love some kettle chips low in salt.
Take care, have a great day!
I made kale last winter, dried it forever, made the yummiest crisps and froze the rest - got it out two weeks ago and.... smelled funny, I threw it away. Internet´s said it´s good for 12 months. Hm.... No?
Es mjy interesante, las buenas patatas fritas son un aperitivo estupendo.
Saludos.
So there are healtier options. =) Basically, I feel like it's a balancing game. You can have a questionable snack every now and again, so long as the prevailing nutritional influences are in the majority.
I like them, but I do try to stay away, because once you eat one...hahaha
I think it's the crunch that makes us crave it, lol. I used to love chips, but nowadays I avoid buying them, only buy maybe twice a year!
I rarely eat crisps - once or twice a year, maybe, but they are very moreish!
Hago la misma pregunta que la anciana parlanchina,todo lo que sabe rico es poco saludable?
it is still hard to believe that crisp can be healthy dear Jan yet it was nice to learn about top ranking chips and i hope they are not bad for health if not good :)
blessings
We will eat them once in awhile. Here in the States a few brands are frying chips in beef tallow.
My thoughts exactly, Chatty Crone
GOOGLE TRANSLATE
Laura. M
No suelo comerlas.
Un abrazo.
I don’t usually eat them.
Best wishes.
Acuarelas Linares
Es mjy interesante, las buenas patatas fritas son un aperitivo estupendo.
Saludos.
That’s very interesting; good potato chips make for a fantastic snack.
Best regards.
Helena
Hago la misma pregunta que la anciana parlanchina,todo lo que sabe rico es poco saludable?
I’m asking the same question as the chatty old woman: is everything that tastes good unhealthy?
REPLY AND THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS.
To those who asked the question
"Why is everything that tastes good - end up bad for you?"
Have a read of this article here:-
"Why Bad Food Tastes So Good – and What To Eat Instead"
https://www.orlandohealth.com/content-hub/why-bad-food-tastes-so-good-and-what-to-eat-instead
Of course whatever we eat is always a personal choice.
All the best Jan
In moderation ...
God bless.
Good for 12 months in an airtight container, but NOT frozen.
We call them chips. I hardly ever eat them because they scratch the roof of my mouth. It must be tender or something.
Potato crisps (or chips as we call them in Canada) are my weakness. I give in once in awhile, but don't make a habit of having them around.
Sometimes when my stomach feels funky, a few crisps will take care of that. Moderation though!
Interesting alternatives.
As you might expect, none of these brands are familiar to me. Sigh -- I do love them but don't have them often! Too dangerous!
I don't eat them very often. The baked crispy parmesan courgettes look tasty.
that is one thing I should probably eat less of, I haven't heard of any of these brands over here.
I used to enjoy store bought vegetable crisps, but they always seem so oily these days. X
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