Which are the Best Chips in India?

If you can’t stop munching on Lay’s, Mad angles, Kurkure and things like that then here are 5 healthier alternatives that are not just as satisfyingly crunchy but are also economical and easily available. After buying, checking and rejecting many so-called healthy options, I am sharing with you the genuine crunchy snacks in the Indian market that you can snack on without guilt.

Why Can’t You Eat Just One Chip?

The answer lies in one word: Bioengineered. These chips are precisely made to engage the mind instantly, making us want to binge eat. On top of that, chip companies add artificial flavours and enhancers.

Laboratory tests on various popular chips revealed the presence of acrylamide, a known cancer-causing substance produced when something is fried in bad oil. Research also shows that the crunchier the sound a chip makes, the more we like it and want to eat more. That’s why chip companies add additives to bring out that perfect crunch sound. Basically, these chips are bioengineered to make us addicted.

No wonder binge eating disorder is a real problem in today’s era of ultra-processed food. But don’t worry, there are smarter crunchy options available.

Healthy Chips

Let’s begin with chips that are healthier alternatives to the usual suspects like Lay’s.

• Healthy Master’s Ragi Chips: Made with 85% Ragi flour, 10% sabudana, sunflower oil, salt, and spices, these are a decent choice. Unlike Lay’s which are deep fried, these are baked. Both use refined oils but Lay’s have 35 grams of fat whereas these have just 8.6 grams. Sodium content is almost half, and they contain no artificial flavours (unlike BRB chips, which have started adding artificial flavours). Healthy Master also offers jowar, oats, quinoa, and palak variants but their ragi chips stand out.
• To Be Honest’s Beetroot Crisps: These are vacuum fried, so the oil used is less. Made using just beetroot, rice bran oil, and Himalayan pink salt, they are worth trying. Other variants from TBH contain artificial flavours and additives.
• Looms and Weaves Banana Chips: Though fried, they are cooked in wood-pressed coconut oil, which provides healthy fats unlike Haldiram’s banana chips fried in palm oil which contain trans fats. They could be better if rock salt replaced regular salt, but they are crunchy and delicious.
• Flavours of Calicut’s Jackfruit and Tapioca Chips: Made with just four ingredients, these are healthy options.
• Super Munchies Jackfruit Chips: Found in nearby supermarkets, these use refined oil but are vacuum cooked, so fat content is low. Their mango chips are also good, but other variants are best avoided.

Overall, these chips are not 100% perfect but are far better healthwise than Lay’s and other junk chips.

Almost Chips

ITC’s Bingo Mad Angles are triangle-shaped chips people love, but your doctor will likely be mad about their ingredients. They are deep fried in refined palm oil, contain added sugar, artificial flavours, trans fats, and high sodium.

Instead, try these traditional alternatives:

• Khakra: Roasted, not deep fried, with 1/4th the oil. Khakra with achaar is the traditional achaari masti. Jabsons millet khakra and wheat khakra are two better, easily available offline options.
• Lijjat Papad: Made using dal flours with sesame oil and spiced accurately, papads can be roasted and enjoyed as quick munchies. I have also shared a healthy masala papad recipe that takes this crispy snack to another level.
• Pure and Sure’s Palak Chakli: A Maharashtrian rice and chana-based snack deep fried in cold pressed sunflower oil. Compare this with Haldiram’s murukku which claims to be rice-based but contains 87% maida and is fried in palm oil.

These three traditional snacks are almost chips that are hard to ignore.

Also Read: 3 Foods That You Must Avoid in Breakfast (& Best Foods)

Puffs

Remember Natkhat? Nourish Organics Chickpea Baked Popeas Protein Puffs are a healthy version of such puffs. They can become your perfect chai time snack, definitely not Kurkure.

• Nourish Organics Chickpea Puffs: Baked in organic sunflower oil, made with organic chickpea, brown rice, and maize. Kurkure, by comparison, is deep fried in palm oil and contains many inorganic ingredients including acidity regulators, maltodextrin, and added colours.
• Slurrp Organics Khatta Meetha Puffs: Made using millets and sweetened with desi khaand without any food additives, these are appetizing and healthy.
• Green Habit’s Millet Puffs: Jowar, ragi, and bajra Kurmura are 100% puffed millet snacks. Topped with chopped onion, cucumber, rock salt, black pepper, and chaat masala, they are a treat for your taste buds.
• Haim Brown Rice Cake: Made using puffed brown rice, quinoa, chia seeds, rock salt, and black pepper. When topped with natural peanut butter, they become a super crispy, high-protein snack.

Nutritious Snacks

Being nutrient dense, just a handful of nuts can satisfy munchy cravings. Here are some of the best options available:

• Jabsons Khari Sing: Best salted peanuts in the market, roasted without oil and seasoned with Himalayan pink salt. Haldiram’s peanuts, by contrast, are roasted in palm oil.
• Lagom Gourmet Dry Roasted Unsalted Cashews: Made with just one ingredient, these are a clean option.
• Forest Found’s Goan Cashews and Cheddar Cheese Cashews: Two delicious choices.
• Happilo’s Pink Salted Roasted Pistachios: Prefer these over Tata Sampann’s regular salted pistachios.
• Fox Nuts (Makhana): A must-add to your snack list for cutting fat and aging slowly. Easily available offline, dry roast them for crunchiness and season with your favourite spices. I personally like pudina flavour. Nutriorganics Rock Salt and Black Pepper Makhana, roasted in olive oil, is a health treat. Avoid brands like Mr Makhana and Farmley’s which add artificial flavour enhancers and maltodextrin.
• True Elements 5 in 1 Mix Seeds: Blend of roasted pumpkin, sunflower, flax, watermelon, and chia seeds with rosemary extract. Rich in antioxidants, seeds reduce inflammation and are filling. One serving should be no more than 25 grams.
• Bhuna Chana: Super rich in protein and a grab-and-go snack from any grocery store. It tastes good plain or can be made spicy by sautéing spices in mustard oil and mixing with bhuna chana. You can also enjoy bhuna chana chaat by adding finely chopped vegetables.
• Chana Jor Garam: An authentic Indian snack. Avoid Haldiram and try Matravata’s which has top-class ingredients.

It’s time we get over Haldiram or else Haldiram will make sure that we get over soon!

Bonus Options

Here are some additional crunchy snack ideas:

• Popcorn: The go-to movie time snack, but avoid Act 2 popcorn which has more fillers than kernels. Make your own at home in 5 minutes using only desi ghee, turmeric, and rock salt.
• Cucumber with Dip: Cut cucumber into long thin slices and enjoy with a dip. Boombay’s dips are a healthy option.
• Mixture: Mix millet puffs with roasted peanuts, cashews, seeds, and bhuna chana. Mix well and store in a container for a quick snack anytime.

How to Choose the Right Crunchy Snacks?

When it comes to crunchy snacks, prefer roasted, popped, and vacuum cooked rather than deep fried. Check the label carefully—if it doesn’t explicitly mention these methods, it’s likely deep fried.

Also, check the oil used. Avoid snacks deep fried in edible or palm oil. Deep fried snacks are acceptable only if fried in cold pressed or wood pressed oils.

Beware of ingredients like “nature identical flavours,” which is just another name for artificial flavours. Many products look healthy at first glance but reveal their true nature in the ingredient list.

Any snack containing one or more of these harmful ingredients is best skipped.

Of course, none of these options can replace fresh homecooked foods, but in this product category, these are among the best.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why are chips so addictive?
   Chips are bioengineered with artificial flavours and additives to make them irresistibly crunchy and tasty, engaging the brain and encouraging binge eating.
2. Are baked chips always healthier than fried chips?
   Generally, baked chips contain less fat and fewer harmful compounds than deep fried chips, but the type of oil used and presence of additives also matter.
3. What oils should I avoid in snacks?
   Avoid snacks fried in palm oil or refined edible oils. Prefer those fried in cold pressed or wood pressed oils for better health.
4. Are vacuum fried snacks healthier?
   Vacuum frying uses less oil and lower temperatures, which helps retain nutrients and reduce fat content, making snacks healthier compared to traditional deep frying.
5. Is makhana a healthy snack?
   Yes, fox nuts or makhana are low in fat and rich in nutrients. Dry roasting and seasoning them makes a crunchy, healthy snack.
6. Can traditional Indian snacks be healthier alternatives?
   Yes, snacks like khakra, papad, and chakli made with wholesome ingredients and cooked in healthy oils are good alternatives to processed chips.

Summary Table: Healthy Snack Options vs Popular Junk Snacks

Snack Type	Healthier Option	Common Junk Alternative	Key Health Difference
Chips	Healthy Master Ragi Chips (baked, less fat)	Lay’s (deep fried, high fat & sodium)	Baked vs Deep Fried; less fat, no artificial flavours
Banana Chips	Looms & Weaves (fried in coconut oil)	Haldiram’s (fried in palm oil)	Healthy fats vs trans fats
Almost Chips	Jabsons Khakra (roasted)	Bingo Mad Angles (deep fried, trans fats)	Roasted with less oil vs deep fried with trans fats
Puffs	Nourish Organics Chickpea Baked Popeas	Kurkure (deep fried, artificial additives)	Baked with organic ingredients vs deep fried with additives
Nutritious Snacks	Jabsons Khari Sing (roasted without oil)	Haldiram Peanuts (roasted in palm oil)	No oil roasting vs palm oil roasting

Choosing healthier crunchy snacks is all about being informed and selective. Always read labels carefully, avoid artificial flavours and harmful oils, and opt for roasted, baked, or vacuum fried snacks with minimal additives.

Happy snacking and stay healthy!