Potato Chip Alternatives

While the salty flavor and crunchy texture of potato chips make them a very popular snack, they aren't very healthy. Potato chips are loaded with calories and fat and are relatively free of nutrients, making them a poor snack choice. If it's a salty crunch you crave, there are many alternative snacks that will keep your taste buds and your waistline happy.

Popcorn

• As long as you watch your portions and don't pour a stick of melted butter over it, popcorn can make a very healthy snack that is a great alternative to greasy potato chips. In fact, popcorn is a whole grain and is full of healthy fiber, so it keeps you full. Try adding a little bit of low-calorie buttery spray into the mix and top it off with a tablespoon or two of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese for added flavor.

Snack Mixes

• Popular brands like Chex Mix make an excellent alternative to potato chips. These baked snack mixes combine crunchy, salty and even sweet items like cereal bits, tiny pretzels, crackers, mini-bread sticks, raisins, chocolate chips and baked bagel chips, depending on what flavor you choose. These mixes are usually lower in both calories and fat than potato chips.

Baked Kale Chips

• They might sound, and even look, a little weird, but baked kale chips are both delicious and extremely nutritious. Simply wash the kale, dry it, rip it into bite-sized pieces and place it on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet. Drizzle the kale with olive oil and sea salt and bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes, or until the edges of the kale have turned brown. The result is crunchy, salty chips that have a distinct toasty flavor that is very similar to potato chips, with about one-quarter of the calories.

Dried or Baked Edamame

• Dried or baked soybeans, or edamame, are a crunchy snack with a mild flavor. These tasty morsels come in a variety of flavors such as salted, barbecue, and hot & spicy, and are usually available in your local grocery store's crunchy snack aisle. Edamame is relatively low in calories and fat, making it a tasty, nutritious snack choice.

Light Potato Chips

• National potato chip company Lays has a line of light potato and tortilla chips that pack all the flavor of regular chips with about half the calories and none of the fat. The chips are fried in a scientifically formulated oil called Olestra, which passes through the digestive system without being digested. These light chips are delicious, but keep your portions in check and resist the urge to overindulge to prevent calorie overload.

Mini Rice Cakes

• Several varieties of low-fat, low-calorie mini rice cakes are available at grocery stores in flavors like buttered popcorn, caramel, ranch and even nacho cheese. Pay attention to portion sizes to avoid consuming too many calories. Mini rice cakes can pack a lot of flavor into their tiny size.