One clear winner when I tried selection of lower calorie crispy snacks - but not everyone will agree
In a bid to be healthier and not consume quite as many calories (a typical small bag of crisps has at least 200) I tried some of the crunchy new additions that are an alternative to potato crisps and corn snacks like Doritos.
I discovered savoury snacks made from lentils, chickpeas, seaweed, mushrooms and even a super grain packed full of nutrients and a probiotic that delivers a world-first gut-health benefit in crisp format. Tempting or what? After lots of packet rustling and crunching, here's how I got on.
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Insane Grain struck a deal with England captain Harry Kane in a bid to persuade kids to ditch crisps for a bag of these healthier snacks. There's Harry's mug on the front of the packet and a personal message on back, where he raves "These score highly with me," "wow", insanely delicious".
Calm down Harry. The baked salt and vinegar knobbly sticks are ok but not a patch on Chipsticks, in both flavour (more vinegar wouldn't go amiss) and crunchiness. Made from sorghum, an ancient gluten-free grain, they have 34 percent less fat and include bacillus coagulans - a probiotic which deliver billions of live cultures to your gut. So good for your gut, not so good for your taste buds.
Calories: 468 for 100g/112 for 24g serving
Price: 99p
Score: 4/10
High in protein, low in saturated fat, no added sugar, preservative free, high in fibre, and only 47 calories per pack, these have a lot going for them on paper. However, upon opening the packet, the contents resemble something I'd swept up from the garden.
They'll taste better than they look, I assure myself. Wrong... they're vile. Instead of that satisfying crunch you'd expect the air-dried snacks have a chewy texture. The bitter flavour lingers for a long time afterwards. It feels more of a punishment than a pleasure. Keep the courgettes and red peppers for ratatouille and snack on something more palatable instead. Costing £1.49 for the privilege, it wasn't money well spent.
Calories: 294 per 100g/47 for a 16g serving
Price: £1.49 from Holland & Barrett
Score: 1/10
If you've ever had a pretzel in the US, you'll know just how salty and sweet they are. These are a crispy version of the chewy baked pastries, that are traditionally shaped into a knot.
The bite-sized snacks aren't overly salty but I found them a bit on the dry side. They might have been better with a dip. To be honest I got bored with them and wasn't bothered about polishing off the bag, which is unheard of.
Calories: 333 per 100g/117 for a 35g serving
Price: £1 from Tesco
Score: 5/10So far it feels like I'm onto a loser so hallelujah for these little beauties. It's impressive how revolting sodden clumps of seaweed on beaches can be turned into something so tasty.
Black nori seaweed (the kind used to make sushi) has been coated with tapioca which gives it a satisfying crunch. While they don't look particularly appetising, the curls are very crispy, light and flavoursome in a salty sea-like way. The sriracha adds a cheeky spiciness. On flavour these win my vote, it's just a shame they're a little the pricey side.
Calories: 544 per 100g/98 for 18g serving
Price: £1.09 from Holland & Barrett
Score: 8/10
After the earlier experience with H&B's courgette and pepper chips, I didn't hold much hope. The contents, button and chestnut varieties, are air-dried and look just like a pile of wizened up mushrooms.
But true to the mantra, don't judge a book by its cover, they taste far better than they appear. Obviously you've got to like mushrooms to enjoy them. These have an intense umami flavour and at only 30 calories a bag and no flavourings, preservatives or additives, it doesn't get much healthier. Keep an eye out for Holland & Barrett deals though otherwise they're expensive.
Calories: 298 per 100g/30 calories per 10g serving.
Price: Would have been £1.49 but 50 percent off due to buy one, get one half price deal at Holland & Barrett.
Score: 6/10
Aldi's lentil chips are golden and triangular like Doritos, but they have a puffed up bobbly surface. There's a substantial crunch which was loud enough to cause a rock fall in the Peak District. While I'm not a big fan of the texture, I really enjoyed the tangy barbecue flavour and they're good value for money.
The benefit of lentil chips over conventional crisps is they tend to be higher in protein and contain more fibre. If you want a superior version though, you won't find better than Proper's barbecue lentil chips.
Calories: 479 per 100g/96 calories per 20g serving.
Price: £1.19 for 85g
Score: 6/10
Oh my! Proper Chips describe them as 'tongue-tingling' on the pack and they're not wrong. Gluten-free and vegan with natural flavouring, some may be put off but don't be. Absolutely bursting with spiciness and a citrus undercurrent from the yuzu, I think they're delicious.
The chips have a spice level of two - the manufacturers should do a full range from mild to blow your head off for a chilli chip eating challenge. Who'd be up for that? They divided the room, however. While I loved the spicy taste and found them irresistible, other snackers weren't quite so keen, which means they're mine, all mine.
Calories: 429 per 100g/98 per 20g serving
Price: £2 from Tesco or Sainsbury's
Score: 10/10
I'm more used to dipping into a creamy houmous dip than crunching on it. I honestly thought I was eating Disco's, one of my all-time favourites. The round discs look and taste very similar but they're made out of chickpea and lentil flours.
They're also reduced fat but there's nothing lacking in taste or texture. Light, crispy and deliciously salty and vinegary, they were very moreish. I couldn't stop nibbling on them and had to remove them from my desk as I was in danger of scoffing a whole sharing bag to myself. The recommended serving is higher in calories than some of the other snacks but 30g turned out to be quite a generous amount.
Calories: 477 per 100g/143 per 30g serving
Price: £2 from M&S
Score: 9/10
You'd never guess these were made out of cauliflower. I thought they'd would be shaped like sliced florets but the curls look more like Quavers. The different flavours include salted and cheese and onion but I opted for the more unusual katsu curry, which is pleasantly warming.
Since my husband was diagnosed with diabetes we've been eating a lot of cauliflower in our house, using it to make mash and rice instead of potatoes as it's lower in carbohydrates, so snacks like this are ideal for him. Super crispy, light and punchy, they're a good alternative to potato crisps - the only downside is the price.
Calories: 494 per 100g/ 98.8 per 20g serving
Price: £1.29 from Holland & Barrett
Score: 7/10
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The Number-1 Sign You're Not Getting Enough Magnesium
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And many processed foods are stripped of minerals when they're refined. Plus, some people just need more magnesium than others, adds Amy Davis, R.D.N., Live Conscious nutrition consultant. These include older adults, people with certain health conditions (like gastrointestinal conditions, type 2 diabetes, and substance use disorders), and people on certain medications—who may all have a harder time absorbing magnesium, per the NIH. Meet the experts: Samantha Peterson, R.D., founder and CEO of Simply Wellness; Erin Barrett, Ph.D., director of product innovation and scientific affairs at Shaklee; Amy Davis, R.D.N., Live Conscious nutrition consultant; Matt Landry, Ph.D., R.D.N., assistant professor at UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. Since magnesium deficiency is rarely symptomatic, it can be hard to tell if you're getting enough of the mineral. But, there are some subtle (and not so subtle) signs that you need more in your diet, according to experts. 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Blood sugar imbalances—like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)—can make you hungry, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Weak bones Magnesium helps your body build healthy bones. '[It] supports bone structure and helps regulate calcium and vitamin D—two nutrients essential for strong bones,' Barrett says. Over time, not getting enough magnesium 'may contribute to reduced bone density,' she explains. This can eventually lead to osteoporosis, a condition where your bones become weak, fragile, and easy to break, Davis and Barrett say. The bottom line The good news? If low magnesium is indeed the culprit, eating more magnesium-rich foods should quell your symptoms, says Matt Landry, Ph.D., R.D.N., assistant professor at UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. Or adding magnesium supplements could help. 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Associated Press
7 days ago
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CDx Diagnostics Receives FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for Its WATS3D Test System for Esophageal Cancer
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