If you’ve taken a trip down the snack aisle at the supermarket you’ve probably noticed a lot more that the standard potato chips, pretzels, and tortilla chips.
These snacks are all marketed as healthy alternatives, but which ones are actually better for you and—most importantly—still taste good enough to satisfy your craving?
Carthage Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing has a look at alternatives to four popular snack foods to keep you satisfied without downing a bunch of empty carbs, sodium, and fat. All of the suggestions below are made from whole ingredients and are lower in fat and sugar while higher in protein than their counterpart.
- Healthy Alternatives to Corn Chips
Instead of corn chips, turn to other plant-based chips to satisfy that urge. Real Food From the Ground Up makes a cauliflower-stalk chip that has the consistency you love, as do kelp chips from 12 Tides and RW Garcia’s Sweet Beet Crackers, though the texture of these is closer to a tortilla chip.
- Healthy Alternatives to Cheese-Puff Snacks
Cheetos and cheese balls are popular and notoriously messy snacks, so do one better with these alternatives. PeaTos are just what they sound like and contain fiber and protein for a fulfilling snack. Hippeas are made with chickpea flour, and Pipcorn Cheese Balls contain all-natural and organic ingredients.
- Healthy Alternatives for Potato Chips
Baked chips are always a great, easy choice to replace fried or kettle-cooked potato chips, but you can also get chips that aren’t from a potato at all. Quevos are made with egg whites, and Pulp Pantry Pulp Chips are grain-free and come from pressed celery and kale pulp.
- Healthy Alternatives for Tortilla Chips
If you’re looking for something to dunk in salsa or fresh guacamole (both much healthier dips than the usual offerings), opt for chips that don’t use white flour. Simply 7 Lentil Chips are made with lentil flour while Beanfields Black Bean With Sea Salt Bean Chips come from brown rice and beans.
To learn more about Carthage Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit http://carthage-center.facilities.centershealthcare.org.
