How can I eat potato chips if I want to lose weight?

Toby Smithson on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Nutrition & Dietetics

Portion control is the key to eating foods you love. Potato chips are a food that is considered rich in calories but not nutrient dense. You will want to consider potato chips a sometime food instead of an everyday food because of the caloric content. It’s a matter of balancing out your calories with the calories you can burn off. A serving of potato chips (15 chips) is about 160 calories and 10 grams of fat. Experiment with baked chips or baking your own sweet potato chips as a lower fat and lower calorie alternative.

Keri Gans

Nutrition & Dietetics

Just eat one serving—usually one ounce. Also, count them as your carb at lunch or dinner (or as your snack). So enjoy them at lunch with a salad or half a sandwich (one slice of bread), and skip other carbohydrate foods if you eat them at dinner. If you eat them as a snack, pair them with protein, like a slice of cheese. You might also try baked chips, again eating just one serving.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Nutrition and Weight Loss

You've probably heard 'you are what you eat' at least a hundred times, but next time you do, don't dismiss it. Nutrition and weight loss are inextricably linked and without the proper diet plan, it won't matter how much exercise you do. Some foods, like hemp seeds, cinnamon and curry leaves are nutrient-dense and can help bust belly fat, while other seemingly healthier choices like 100-calorie bags of chips and boxed granola bars can sabotage weight loss. The key is to arm yourself with information and the questions below can help.

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