Hooked on Chips? Try These Healthy Substitutes
By Paul Rothbart
Potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips. People love chips. They're often served as a side with sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs. Chips are a staple as a party snack and many times are just consumed absent-mindedly while watching television. Make no mistake, chips are tasty and satisfying. But they're not the healthiest thing you can eat. Most people want to eat healthily but it's hard to give up snacks. You don't have to. These chip substitutes are delicious snacks and are good for you.
Pickles
Pickles are made from cucumbers and contain all the nutrition of that vegetable. They're loaded with antioxidants and probiotics and they have the saltiness many people crave from chips. Pickles make just as good a side as chips and come in different varieties to suit your taste. Whole, half, spears, or chips. Dill, half-sour, or sweet. There's a pickle with your name on it.
Carrots and Hummus
Carrots are one of the healthiest vegetables there is. They are packed with beta carotene and Vitamin A. Hummus is made from chickpeas which are loaded with nutrition. You can also buy flavored hummus with other healthy vegetables such as bell peppers and olives. Carrots can be cut into sticks or you can buy baby carrots. Either is perfect for dipping into hummus for that satisfying dip your chip experience. You won't even realize how much nutrition you're getting.
Nuts
Nuts are crunchy and salty like chips but there the similarity ends. Nuts are filled with protein and other nutrients that can boost your health while tasting delicious. Among the best choices are peanuts, pistachios, walnuts, and almonds. They provide solid nutrition with fewer calories.
Honey Wheat Pretzels
Generally speaking, pretzels are much more healthy than chips. They too, provide salt and texture but less fat and cholesterol. Wheat pretzels are even more healthy and the ones flavored with honey have all the nutrition that honey provides to boot. Next time you sit down to binge-watch your favorite show, leave the chips in the cabinet and fill a bowl with honey wheat pretzels.
Olives
They're good for more than garnishing a martini. Olives are loaded with iron and are great for skin, eyes, hair, and heart health. They have a delicious, briny flavor and come in several varieties. A handful of olives can nicely satisfy a snack craving.
People tend to enjoy snacking and often reach for chips. There's nothing wrong with them once in a while but for healthier snacks, try some of these substitutes. You can have health benefits and great taste too.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Azusa, Calif.