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Once you pop you can’t stop. And since it’s usually game over once that bag opens, we’ve rounded up a list of crunchy, customizable chip-like substitutes. They’re healthier, and most importantly, still tasty. Most can be made gluten-free, and with a whole lot less salt than store-bought ’tater versions. All it takes is some slicing, rubbing in oil, baking, and our favorite part: munching.
Kale is a distant cousin of broccoli and is known to have a larger amount of antioxidants compared to other fruits and veggies. Since kale can sometimes be a little bitter, try gently massaging the leaves with a olive oil before baking. For a cheesy yet healthy flavor, try adding nutritional yeast (a vegan powder loaded with nutrients) to these lightly crunchy snacks. You can also dust with Parmesan for the real deal. For a flat chip, use dinosaur kale. The alternative, curly kale, is much more textured but also makes a tasty chip that hangs onto dips and toppings better.
For lots of beta-carrot-ene (see what we did there?!), which converts into vitamin A in the body, munch on these orange veggie chips. Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a splash of OJ before popping them in the oven.
Turnips, which look like white beets with pretty purple stems, are a great source of vitamin B6, which helps to produce serotonin, the hormone that helps us sleep and control appetite 1 . If you’d rather not peel them, make sure to give them a good scrub before the chips hit the baking sheet.
Beets have a ton of antioxidant betalain, known for it’s anti-inflammatory and detoxification powers. Slicing the roots and baking them produces a deep purple chip that’s sweet from natural sugars (or a golden yellow if made with golden beets). For a sweet and savory combination, top them with a dollop of goat cheese.
We don’t need to tell you apples are healthy. (What’s that old saying again? Something about a doctor?) Make them extra autumnal by sprinkling the slices with pumpkin pie spice, or your own mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. We also like Bare Fruit’s bake-dried chips. They’re organic with no added sugar, preservatives, or additives, and a single serving has fewer than 30 calories.
The taro root looks a bit like a potato, but inside reveals white flesh with pretty little purple squiggles. Taro is a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin E, which protects essential lipids (naturally occurring molecules that are important for energy storage) in the body 2 . For a full serving of veggies in every ounce, try Terra Chips, which feature taro plus sweet potato, yucca, batata, parsnip, and ruby taro.
These guys manage to sneak in a bit more protein and calcium than their chip counterparts. We especially love Trader Joe's lightly salted crunchy Green Beans, which are sweet and savory at the very same time. Tip: Dip ’em in sriracha sauce for some spice!
These chips provide a crunch that satisfies a sweet tooth, especially when dressed up with cinnamon or dipped in honey-drizzled Greek yogurt. And though bananas are mainly recognized for their potassium levels, they’re also a great source of vitamins C and B6. We like Funky Monkey's bananamon flavor, which are freeze-dried and sprinkled with cinnamon (and only 45 calories for a small package).
These are the biggest of all the chips in the land. They’re sweet, taste like pumpkin, and you get two fun shapes out of one squash. The seedless part up top yields sizeable rounds, while the bottom part (once de-seeded and sliced) makes rings. Sweeten ’em up with a touch of maple syrup or brown sugar.
For a vitamin-A-packed snack, try slicing up bright orange sweet potatoes instead of the white ones. Brush them with olive oil, and top with minced garlic, minced rosemary, and a little sea salt for chips that rival the store bought kind. For a quick fix, try Food Should Taste Good sweet potato chips, which have two extra grams of fiber per serving compared to regular potato chips.
This green veggie is a solid source of niacin and thiamine, two B vitamins that help us produce healthy hair and skin. Try dipping them in egg whites, then coating them in Parmesan, black pepper, and breadcrumbs or cornmeal for extra flavor and crunch.
Bear with these little guys. We know it’ll take a little more patience to slice ’em up, but they’re a good source of riboflavin (which helps convert food to fuel) and copper (important for our immunity). Dust these little rounds with curry, turmeric, garlic, paprika, and pepper for a super-flavorful treat.
These aren’t made from sliced fruits or veggies, but they’re an incredibly simple, semi-homemade snack, and a blank canvas for all sorts of flavor combos. Grab your favorite whole-wheat wrap (we like Flatout) and slice them into wedges with a pizza cutter before tossing them in the oven. Bonus: These can hold up during some serious dipping!
Stacy’s pita chips and crisps come in a ton of flavors, like “perfectly thymed” and cinnamon sugar. It can take up to 14 hours to whip up a batch of the delicious, definitely dippable chips so we’re glad we don’t have to do it!
Simply 7 hummus chips are made with chickpea flour (you know, the cute little beans that make hummus) and no hard-to-pronounce ingredients.
For a sweet and smoky variety, try Glenny’s barbeque soy crisps. They’re made with organic soy and organic rice flour (gluten-free!), and a single serving provides seven grams of protein.
Originally published November 2012. Updated February 2015.
There’s too much Internet—with wonders like Beyoncé showing us her go-to workout—and too little time. That's why we curate a list of the best of the best (a.k.a. "the Greatist") things we've come across on the Web this week. In other words, it's the stuff we'd email/gchat/tweet/text you immediately if we were besties. While we'll never stop striving to bring our readers amazing content on a daily basis, we know not all the best stuff comes from us.
If you’ve ever wondered why dancing around with a beer in your hand doesn’t lead to more spills, science finally has an answer. It turns out the foam on top acts as a cap that latches onto beer at the edges of the glass and stops it from spilling over—so yes, foam basically works like Spanx for your beer. Fun fact: This scientific principle applies to all foamy beverages, which is why lattés are less likely to spill than coffee.
We’re in the age of binge watching shows—and the third season of House of Cards just premiered on Netflix, so excuse us while we spend all weekend watching. But have you stopped to think about what prolonged sitting does to your body? The impacts are pretty startling: Science has found your lung capacity drops, you develop insomniac tendencies, and you eat more (especially when you have a bowl of popcorn by your side).
We hear again and again how the media and pop culture create an environment where everyone is striving to be thinner, fitter, and just generally more beautiful. But what happens when someone’s idea of beauty is “larger ladies”—and what if that someone happens to be your boyfriend? We loved this personal story from a BuzzFeed writer who’s struggled with weight her whole life and explains how she found it difficult to be in a relationship with someone who loves her bigger body type.
Some of us just seem to get injured a lot. We haven’t just broken our arms, we’ve also sprained our ankles, pulled our hamstrings, and torn our ACL. The reason behind these mounting injuries isn't just our general clumsiness (or our risk-taking personality), but instead that we might be genetically predisposed to injury. Our friends over at The Atlantic dive into the scientific research, reaveling that a lot of it has to do with collagen genes that have been found to lead to everything from torn ACLs to muscle cramps.
This is the best news for those of us who can’t go without a morning cup (or three) of coffee. Sure, those caffeine jitters can make us a little concerned (What’s exactly happening to our bodies?). But the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which makes dietary recommendations to a number of government agencies, says that drinking up to five cups of coffee a day does not present a major health risk for average Americans. Why are you still reading this when you could be in line at Starbucks?
There’s been a lot of news about plus-sized models in the past year, from the runway to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. When these stories are published online, the comment trolls come out in full force. Kelsey Miller over at Refinery29 calls them “concern trolls” for their judgment disguised as a compliment (“Sure, she’s beautiful, but is she healthy?”) and explains how she’s experienced these trolls when she writes about herself online.
Full of color and flavor, this meal is totally masterable thanks to common ingredients and quick cooking. The coconut milk makes it satisfying and creamy, and since it's not overloaded with spices, it won't overwhelm your palate. Plus it's a great way to use up leftover chicken and quinoa.
This series of GWODs was designed exclusively for Greatist by Bodeefit. For more information about the exercises in this workout, or to see video demos of each movement, follow the links below the graphic. Be sure to note the results of your workout so you can track your progress as you go.
Before you tackle this workout, try this quick and effective full-body warm-up. It's just five simple moves but hits every major muscle group and gets your heart pumping.
Complete 3 rounds of the following circuit as fast as safely possible.
20 Step-Ups (10 per leg)
20 Explosive Push-Ups
1-Minute Plank Hold
Want to kick up the intensity? Hold light-weight dumbbells or kettlebells in both hands during the step ups. And don't forget to check back tomorrow for a totally new (but equally awesome) GWOD!
