Best Protein Chips

“I don't know what's in Cadbury chocolate or Hershey bars, and I don't care because I trust them to put good ingredients in their candy. I don't want the details of what's in a candy bar. The ingredients of some things are best left secret.”--Andy Rooney, “A Few Thoughts on Chocolate and Cars”, December 7, 2009

Andy Rooney would be surprised nowadays, seeing how many health food companies are making “healthy” snacks. In addition to granola protein bars, you can find high-protein cookies, cake, popcorn--and even protein chips.

But, let’s face it: typical potato chips or corn chips are high in carbohydrates, and frying in oil contributes fat as well. For example, a 32-gram serving of Lays Potato Chips will have 23 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fat, and only 2 grams of protein. On the other hand, protein chips are a totally different take:  Quest Nutrition’s Protein Chips contain 21 grams of protein in a 32 gram bag of chips! If you’re trying to lose weight on a low-carbohydrate, low-fat diet, that’s the snack for you--it’ll have only 2 grams of fat and 2 grams of carbohydrates.

Being so different in composition, protein chips will also have a unique taste and texture, something that might surprise you at first. But, the manufacturers have made a wide range of flavors, that can make protein chips a worthwhile experience in their own right.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when buying protein chips. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of protein chips for you,

• Read reviews of different protein chips, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of protein chips, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

You probably are wondering how can protein chips have so much protein, if potato or corn chips are so high in carbohydrates. There are several ways in which they add protein:

• Whey and milk protein: Many varieties of protein chips have protein added in the form of a whey protein concentrate. Some studies show that whey protein can improve muscle strength and muscle growth. One variety of IPS Chips uses whey protein concentrate as its main ingredient--and a serving of IPS Chips has 6 grams of protein--as much protein as in a large egg! Brickoven Pizza Protein Chips uses cheddar cheese as its source of protein. Customers say that it tastes quite a bit like Cheetos cheese-flavored snacks.

• Egg whites: Another alternative is the protein derived from egg whites. This is ideal for people who have allergies to milk and milk products.

• Pea or soy protein: For people who are looking for a totally-plant based, vegan, high-protein source, Protes Baked Protein Chips derive their protein from peas! They manage to pack 15 grams of protein in 28 grams of chips! Other brands derive their protein from soybeans.

As for the chips themselves, their main ingredient will usually be:

• Cornmeal or cornstarch: Some chips use corn as their main ingredient, to give some bulk to their chips. An example is the Quest Nutrition Protein Chips.

• Potato meal: Nutriwise makes their chips from potato flakes, rice flour, and potato starch.  In a 34-gram serving, it will give you 10 grams of protein, and 15 grams of carbohydrates.

• Using chips instead of breadcrumbs: Quest suggests using their protein chips as a high-protein alternative to breadcrumbs in a number of recipes. You can grind up their protein chips, and use the crumbs as a batter coating for chicken breasts or schnitzels.  

• Serving size: The protein chip bags are usually single serving--so that you don’t have the problem of the chips losing their crispness. But, you’ll notice some variation between the quantity of chips in each bag--somewhere from 28-33 grams. Luckily, you can buy packs of 7 bags at once, so you don’t have to keep going out to look for more.

• Aftertaste: Many consumers complained that the flavoring and seasonings in these protein chips left a strange aftertaste. One recommended solving it by drinking a few glasses of water after eating the chips.

• Nutritional oils: Some of these chips employ healthy oils, which provide added benefits. The Protes Protein Chips use sunflower oil. Sunflower oil contains fatty acids and amino acids that provide energy and remove free radicals from your system. Add that to the essential amino acids in many protein chips, and you have a excellent source of nutrition for a snack.

• Great for parents: If you’re a parent who wants to give their child a healthy snack instead of empty calories and fat, protein chips are a great alternative. Protein will tide your children over until mealtime, without making them feel so full that they won’t want to eat. And some chips have fewer calories than an energy bar (NutriWise Ranch Protein Potato Chips has 130 calories in a serving--while the Oatmega energy bar has 190 calories!).

• Prevent you from binge eating: If your goal is to lose weight, snacking on a low-fat food will actually help you lose weight! The reasoning goes like this: Some dieters fail to lose weight, because they starve themselves for most of the day. When they finally do eat, they eat much more than what their body requires, since they feel so famished. This ruins all the positive results of their diet. Studies find that eating every 3 hours will cut down on binge eating. and help you lose weight. And this is especially true with protein chips. Some will have half of the fat of a fried potato chip, and ⅓ of the carbohydrates of a baked potato chip.

• IPS are makers of healthy snack food. They are located in Los Angeles, California. They make potato chips and popcorn in a number of flavors: sea salt and pepper, barbecue, white cheddar, and cinnamon.

• Shrewd Food is located in Hauppauge, New York. Their aim is to make healthy snacks that are also tasty. Their protein chips come in pizza, cheddar, and cookies & cream flavor.

• Health Smart is a brand of Nashua Nutrition, a health food company founded in 2001. Nashua Nutrition’s products are geared for nutritional weight loss, even for obese people. Some of their products include protein bars, shakes, puddings, snacks, and desserts. The HealthSmart brand includes a number of ready-to-eat meals and entrees, as well as snacks.

• Quest Nutrition was founded in 2010 by Shannon Penna in El Segundo, California. They started by making protein bars, but they presently make protein powders, chips, and cookies as well.

• NutriWise is a line of foods for people interested in losing weight and maintaining a healthy diet. They make protein bars, shakes, vitamins, ready-to-eat meals, and snacks. Their protein chips come in 7 different varieties.