Rich and creamy guacamole with crispy chips is a delightful snack. The creamy richness of the guac with the crisp texture from the chips gets you hooked. But are chips and guacamole a healthy snack?
Although guacamole is healthy, consuming a lot of chips, bread, and other foods that are sometimes paired with guacamole can make it unhealthy. If consumed in small amounts, chips and guacamole can be a healthy snack as guacamole is typically lower in calories compared to other dips like ranch and hummus.
Continue reading for more information.
How Is Guacamole Made?
Though there are variations in how it is made by different people, the authentic recipe just uses avocados, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, garlic, and salt.
Slice three ripe avocados in half, remove the pit and scoop them into a mixing bowl. Then, using a fork, carefully mash them to the desired chunkiness or smoothness. Combine the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeño pepper, garlic, lime juice, and salt in a mixing bowl. That’s all. The most delicious and simple guacamole.
Is Guacamole Good For You?
Guacamole is primarily made from avocados. The avocados provide the dip a boost of vitamins and minerals that your body requires to function properly, from cell growth and metabolism to healthy skin and hair, among other things.
There are many health benefits of avocados, for example, they include potassium, which supports heart health and can help lower blood pressure. It can potentially reduce cholesterol levels, lowering the “bad” LDL levels up to 22 percent and increasing the “good” HDL levels by as much as 11 percent. Half a cup of avocados includes 23 percent of the daily Vitamin B9 requirement.
Homemade guacamole will keep in the refrigerator for two to three days if covered with plastic, or it can be frozen for up to six months if firmly wrapped in freezer-grade plastic.
Guacamole And Chips Nutritional Facts
What you should know about eating guacamole and chips is that it’s usually packed full of calories. Some common types of tortilla chips pack around 150 calories in just 7 or so chips
A serving of guacamole and chips can have more than 300 to 360 calories. A 2 oz of tortilla chips can have more than 260 calories while a quarter cup serving of guacamole can give you 80 to 90 calories. It contains 31 percent fat in the whole serving.
Other than that, it contains 14% Saturated Fat 2.7g, 0% Cholesterol 0mg, 18% Sodium 433mg, 11% Potassium 375mg, and 14% Total Carbohydrates.
Are Guacamole And Chips Healthy?
Guacamole may be a healthier dip compared to ranch but not in excessive amounts. When you think back to the last time you and your pals ate chips and guac, you might have gone through a large bag of chips. It happens, you cannot stop once you have started.
It’s all about balance, as it is with most things in life. Eat unhealthy foods in moderation and you’ll be fine. If you want to be healthy, don’t eat an entire bag of tortilla chips in one sitting.
If you are conscious of your calorie intake, then by consuming an alternative variety of chips, you can reduce your calorie intake. Dip vegetarian chips or baked chips into the guacamole. It won’t taste the same, but it’ll be just as fulfilling.
Some Healthier Chip Options
Chips and guac can be a healthy snack if you don’t eat too much of them in one sitting. There are also many ways to make it healthier.
Lentil Chips
Yes, lentils are used to produce chips. Lentil chips can be found in health food stores or online.
Black Bean Chips
Popular supermarket stores such as Trader Joe’s carrying wonderful black bean tortilla chips, which many people prefer to standard tortilla chips. Give them a shot.
Sweet Potato Chips
There are a variety of sweet potato chips available that will help you reduce the number of carbs you consume.
Plantain Chips
Plantain chips are low in salt and prepared with healthful oils. However, look for their calorie information. Some are lower in calories than others, but this is not always the case.
Are Lentil Chips Good For You?
Lentil chips are a healthier alternative to regular chips. They have lesser calories and more protein. Lentils are a type of legume. They look like tiny beans, grow in pods, and are available in red, brown, black, and green variants. They also have a high protein and fiber content.
Lentil chips are suitable for vegans. They are free of gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, and soy.
How To Make Lentil Chips At Home
To make lentil chips, let us first make lentil tortillas.
Take 7/8 cups water and soak the 1 cup of lentils in it for a few hours. When it is time to blend the batter, add those aforementioned 2 tablespoons of oil along with the salt. Blend the mixture until it forms a thick smooth paste. take a tablespoon of oil and add it to a frying pan.
Using a measuring cup, add the batter to the hot pan and spread it evenly. Cook on both sides and there you have your lentil tortillas
To turn your high protein lentil tortillas into delicious and crispy chips, cut them into wedges shaped like tortilla chips. Place them on a baking sheet, making sure there is space between them. Heat the oven to 250 F and bake them for 40 to 50 minutes, until they are golden and crispy.
Enjoy your healthy chips with your favorite guacamole.
Conclusion
Guacamole and chips are a very enjoyable snack, and it is alright to indulge in them sometimes. However, it is a high-calorie combination, so it is important to eat a limited portion.
You can try the low-calorie alternatives to regular chips if you want to make the snack healthier.
