Five of the snacks, which call themselves veggie chips, are actually made from potato flour. And you might be surprised to learn they are not nutritionally superior to potato chips.
"They do have a dash of vegetable powder, which seems mostly to add color. But they have about as much fat and calories as potato chips and a lot more sodium," said Erin Gudeux with Consumer Reports.
They also cost an average 30 percent more. These include Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Straws, Snyder's EatSmart Naturals Garden Veggie Crisps and Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Veggie Chips.
Consumer Reports says a healthier alternative are chips made from sliced vegetables, like top-rated Terra Exotic Vegetable Chips. They're much lower in sodium and are made from real slices of root vegetables like sweet potato and parsnip.
"Keep in mind, this is not crudité. They're still fried. They're loaded with fat and calories," said Gudeux.
Chips made from beans offer a nutritional boost. Boulder Canyon Natural Foods Hummus Chips stood out in the taste tests.
"And because they're made from chickpea flour, you get some protein and fiber, too," said Gudeux.
Pair these with salsa to get a serving of vegetables without adding a lot of fat and calories. And on those days when only true potato chips will do, you might try Lay's Classic because they came out top-rated in a recent Consumer Reports taste test.
