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Vegetable crisps – more unhealthy than regular crisps, according to nutritionist

While sweet potato, beetroot and carrot crips are delicious and help with keeping cravings under control, they may not be healthy.

Vegetable crisps might be worse than regular crisps, according to nutritionist Charlotte Sitling-Reed. The average bag of vegetable crisps contains two-thirds vegetables and one-third salt and oil, according to the Independent. This way, the fat content of each pocket is way above other snacks considered unhealthy. For instance, a 40g pack of vegetable crisps had more fat than a 40g pack of Pringles and almost double the fats of a Mars Bar.

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“The concern with products that are often seen as ‘healthier alternatives’, such as vegetable crisps, is they don’t always match up to their reputations,” Stirling-Reed explained. “Crisps are crisps, and even if they are made with vegetables, they are likely to contain too much in the way of fat, saturated fat and salt. In fact, the vegetable crisps here have higher levels of saturated fat and salt than some well-known, regular crisp brands.”

In an interview with Global News, Abbey Sharp, a Toronto dietitian and food blogger, said that the problem isn’t eating the vegetable crips, but treating them like a healthy snack. “By comparing their nutrition facts, yes, some veggie chip brands are lower in calories, fat, and salt, but when they’re not consumed in moderation, you could be taking in a lot of excess calories,” she explained. ” I always suggest you never eat straight from the bag, but rather, pour yourself a mindful portion and enjoy each bite.” Furthermore, Reed advised eating these chips with hummus or salsa instead oh high-calorie creamy dips.

For those looking for healthy crisps, Desiree Nielsen, a dietitian from Vancouver, had some tips. She advised to stick to dehydrated or baked crips, look for the ones with whole-grains and check the fibre and sodium content. “Avoid the flavoured chips,” she added. “They may look super enticing, but the more flavourful the chip, the more likely the sodium will be higher. They also often have artificial flavours and sugar added to them.”

Daisy Wilder

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