Why Do Potato Chips Have A Bad Reputation?

[powerofpositivethinking]

so this might see like a strange post, but after giving it some thought, besides portion control, why do potato chips have such a bad reputation?  yes, I know they are nowhere near the nutritional density of spinach or kale, but if they are whole, sliced potatoes with non-hydrogenated oil, cooked to crispy perfection, what's so bad about them?  

 

Although I've been using olive/avocado/coconut oil i.e. healthy fats, i've been trying to get more fat in general into my diet, and although I've never been a huge potato chip fan...chocolate is more my thing  ...chips give me more fat and calories in my diet, and they don't hurt my stomach like nuts have in the past.

 

sweet potato chips are even better with that added potassium!  anyone want to help me not feel so bad about my new diet addition 

 

 

[kareng]

I love potato chips but....they are full of fat, sodium and no real nutritional value.

But, if you need the calories, then enjoy some. My mom's dietician said to give her chips for an empty calorie snack but she can't have the salt.

[bartfull]

I've always wondered about that too. Maybe it's because they are sliced so thinly that frying takes all the nutrition out of them?

 

I used to astound my friends with the wish that they could vitamin fortify them just like they do with breakfast cereals. I ALWAYS ate potato chips for breakfast back in the old days. Come to think of it, now that I have white potatoes back, I can eat potato chips again! I think I'll just reserve them for a snack this time though.

[Adalaide]

I have no idea what is wrong with potato chips. Of course, after my parents divorced and I left the family farm I finished growing up in the town that produces Wise potato chips which are still far and away my absolute favorite. Sadly they are only available regionally as a general rule. (I once found an entire pallet of them at a Wal-Mart in Utah. I am embarrassed at how many bags I bought and ate.) Whatever, its potatoes... I don't get the urge to have chips often but when I do I never deny myself.

[bartfull]

Mmmm...Wize Potato Chips. I remember them well. They were the saltiest chips on the market and SOOOOO good!

[Adalaide]

They were the only brand I could ever stand to eat plain, unflavored chips without dip. Now I need to call my mom and make her mail me a bag. Or 2. Or... more.

[powerofpositivethinking]

I grew up pretty close to Utz, so those are my preferred brand, especially the rippled ones 

[Adalaide]

I grew up pretty close to Utz, so those are my preferred brand, especially the rippled ones 

 

Also awesome chips. All the best ones come from PA.

[Nikki2777]

The only upside of Celiac Disease for me:  When I wasn't gluten-free I only allowed myself potato chips once or twice/year.  Now that I have Celiac Disease, sometimes potato chips are the only thing I can find to eat when I'm out and about.  So, I let myself indulge, guilt free!

[GottaSki]

Potato Chips are awesome!

 

Until I get Potato and Sunflower Oil back...I make sweet potato chips and fries regularly...

 

Salty chips are my absolute favorite late night snack -- ya, I know tis not good for me...but heck neither is the ice cream my hubs craves late at night!

[tarnalberry]

Eh... low nutrient density, high fat (and it's hard to fry in the healthiest fats and keep them healthy), high calorie.  They're not awful, they're not great.  I see no reason not to have them occasionally, but not eat a (regular size) bag a day either.  Moderation in everything, right?

[GottaSki]

I think I must have missed something...I would never suggest eating a whole bag of processed chips every day.

[Juliebove]

I think it's the high salt and fat content that makes them bad.  You can get some made with olive oil.  I found them to be rather tough and thick and didn't like them so well.  Of course you can buy baked chips but I don't think those are gluten-free.  And if you like thick ones, you can make your own in the oven.  Those were popular here in the 70's to early 80's.  A restaurant in Seattle served them and called them Buffalo chips. 

 

You start with a big baking potato.  Wash it well and peel it if you want.  Then slice it lengthwise.  When I did this, I used a knife.  Was a little clunky and the thickness was not even but it still worked.  You do not want paper thin for this.  Not sure if a mandoline would work or not.  Have only tried to use one once and it didn't go well. 

 

You can bake these as is if you want a fat free treat.  If so, then lightly salt them and add any other seasonings that you want.  But bake them on a cookie sheet with the non-stick foil on it, unless you have a non-stick pan.  If you want something heartier, then brush them with olive oil or the oil of your choice.  Sorry I can't remember the bake time or oven setting for these.  I'm not a big potato chip lover so only made them once.  But you do have to flip them over partway through baking and watch them closely so that they don't burn.  If doing them with oil, then salt them when they come out of the oven but you can add other seasonings when you bake them.

[GlutenStinks15]

One of my happiest moments after beingi diagnosed with Celiac was finding out that I could still have my Cape Cod 40% less fat kettle cooked potato chips. Love those things. I buy the small bags so I don't overindulge, but like someone above me said -- chips are often the only thing you can find when you're out that is gluten free.

 

I used to love pretzels too, and am okay with the Glutino pretzels. They satisfy my urge for them well enough.

Sorry, getting off topic.

 

Yes, love my potato chips.

[jerseyangel]

I love potato chips! Lay's Lightly Salted are my chip of choice

[tarnalberry]

I think I must have missed something...I would never suggest eating a whole bag of processed chips every day.

 

I didn't mean to suggest you had.  I meant to describe two ends of a spectrum.

[bartfull]

I USED to eat a whole bag every day. That's what I mean when I say I used to eat junk. Cheeseburgers and fires from a local restaurant for lunch, just about every day. To vary that, sometimes I'd get "broasted" chicken (read: pressure fried) and jo-jo's. That was after my breakfast of potato chips. Then for supper I'd throw a frozen pizza in the oven followed by ice cream for dessert. Then I'd finish off the bag of chips I started at breakfastime.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot about the english muffins LOADED with margerine. I used to eat a lot of those too. Sometimes two of those would be supper.

 

I used to think, "Hey, if all this stuff was really that bad for me I'd be dead by now. Besides, if it was THAT bad, they wouldn't be allowed to sell it."

 

What a fool I was!

[GottaSki]

I didn't mean to suggest you had.  I meant to describe two ends of a spectrum.

 

Oh good...sometimes these threads are hard to follow when I don't read the whole thing

[mamaw]

here  is  a  healthy  recipe for  chips 

 

Open Original Shared Link

[powerofpositivethinking]

thanks for the recipe!  chips don't hurt my stomach, and they don't cause a back-up    the only problem I've been noticing is they irritate my mouth.  It's almost a burning sensation on the roof of my mouth and tongue.  at first I thought it was the salt, but a single serving of the chips I like only has 95 mg of salt so that isn't it, but they do use cottonseed oil.  when I eat Popchips, especially the original flavor, I get that same burning but in those safflower and a canola oil combo is used.  I'm thinking these are not the oils for me    Especially since I've been reading that canola and cottonseed oils are GMOs    I don't think food should irritate my mouth unless it is spicy, but sadly, these chips are not.

 

I think I'll be making my own with olive oil instead 

 

 

here  is  a  healthy  recipe for  chips 

 

Open Original Shared Link

[CommonTater]

The only upside of Celiac Disease for me:  When I wasn't gluten-free I only allowed myself potato chips once or twice/year.  Now that I have Celiac Disease, sometimes potato chips are the only thing I can find to eat when I'm out and about.  So, I let myself indulge, guilt free!

Same here.