Grainwaves are one of the most popular wholegrain-based chips made in Australia.
These chips are manufactured by “Sunbites” and owe their name to the undulating waves of grains they’re made from.
Unlike traditional chips, these are made from whole grains like corn, wheat, and oats.
These chips come in different flavors with marketing claims like 65% more whole grains and 30% less fat and are made with real ingredients.
However, are Grainwaves really as healthy as advertised?
Short answer: Grainwaves are healthy because they are made from a variety of whole grains, including corn, wheat and oats. They are also low in fat and sodium and free of artificial additives. However, they are low in protein and fiber.
Read on to find out more about Grainwaves, including their ingredients, protein, fiber, sodium content, and much more.
Read also: The Truth About Lays: Is It Good For Your Health?
What are Grainwaves made up of?
Grainwaves chips come in various flavors. Therefore, the exact ingredients can vary depending on the flavor.
In general, Grainwaves are made from whole grains such as corn, wheat, and oats as the base ingredients.
These whole grains make up about 67-74% of the total content of Grainwaves chips.
So the “packed with 65% of whole grains” claim is correct.
Other common ingredients that you would find across different flavors include:
- Sunflower and/or Canola oil
- Sugar
- Rice
- Salt
- Maltodextrin
- Yeast Extract
- Mineral Salt (Potassium Chloride)
- Onion Powder
- Natural Flavors
- Natural colors
- Food Acid (Citric acid)
While the majority of the ingredients in Grainwaves are simple and good, there is one that might raise question i.e Maltodextrin.
Malotdextrin is food additive made from starchy foods such as corn, potato or rice. When consumed in large amount, It has been linked with disrupting the balance of bacteria in the gut.
Apart from this, Grainwaves are free from major red flags like HFCS, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, which is good.
How much sugar is in Grainwaves?
Even though sugar is listed as the third ingredient on the packaging, Grainwaves actually contain quite a little sugar.
A single serving contains anywhere between 1 to 2g of sugar, depending on the flavor.
All of the sugar is added sugar and usually helps in enhancing the chip’s flavor.
So, If sugar is a concern for you, Grainwaves won’t disappoint.
However, it’s worth noting that, Grainwaves contain more sugar than most crisps or potato chips.
Here’s the table showing the sugar content of all Grainwaves flavors.
| Grainwaves chips flavor | Sugar(g) |
|---|---|
| Sour cream & chives | 1.4 |
| Cheddar | 1.9 |
| Sea salt | 1.3 |
| Sweet chilli | 1.9 |
| Caramelised onion & balsamic | 1.4 |
How much protein is in Grainwaves?
With being made from whole grains like corn, wheat, and oats, you’d think these chips would deliver a good amount of protein.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
Grainwaves are low in protein containing anywhere between 1 to 2g per serving, depending on the flavor.
That’s almost similar or just a few more than most potato chips!
So if you’re looking to snack on a high-protein food, Grainwaves won’t satisfy that craving.
Here’s the table showing the protein content of all Grainwaves flavors.
| Grainwaves chips flavor | Protein(g) |
|---|---|
| Sour cream & chives | 1.6 |
| Cheddar | 2.1 |
| Sea salt | 2 |
| Sweet chilli | 1.5 |
| Caramelised onion & balsamic | 1.5 |
How much fiber is in Grainwaves?
Like protein, Grainwaves are also low in fiber containing anywhere between 1 to 2g per serving, depending on the flavor.
That’s not even 10% of the daily recommended fiber for adults.
However, if compared to potato chips, Grainwaves contain more fiber.
Fiber is essential as it helps you feel satisfied, promotes healthy digestion, and regulates blood sugar levels.
Here’s the table showing the fiber content of all Grainwaves flavors.
| Grainwaves chips flavor | Fiber(g) |
|---|---|
| Sour cream & chives | 1.4 |
| Cheddar | 1.8 |
| Sea salt | 2 |
| Sweet chilli | 1.5 |
| Caramelised onion & balsamic | 1.4 |
How much sodium is in Grainwaves?
Grainwaves are low in sodium containing 83 to 122mg per serving, depending on the flavor.
That’s not even 10% of the daily ideal sodium limit(1500mg) set by the American Heart Association.
Sodium is an essential part of the diet, but too much of it can result in heart-related issues.
The low sodium in Grainwaves might be a downside for those with no sodium problems.
However, if you limiting sodium in your diet due to high blood pressure or heart health issues, Grainwaves are really a good option.
Here’s the table showing the sodium content of all Grainwaves flavors.
| Grainwaves chips flavor | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|
| Sour cream & chives | 83 |
| Cheddar | 98 |
| Sea salt | 122 |
| Sweet chilli | 84 |
| Caramelised onion & balsamic | 111 |
Are Grainwaves baked or fried?
Grainwaves are not marketed as baked. However, the product details for Grainwaves on Amazon indicate these chips are baked and not fried.
Unlike heavily fried potato chips, Grainwaves take a much healthier route and are made using a baking technique.
This is the reasons they are lower in fat, with around 5 to 6g per serving.
What’s even better is that most of this fat is monosaturated, which is good for the heart.
Are Grainwaves gluten-free?
Grainwaves are not gluten-free as they are made from wheat as one of the whole grains.
They also might not be suitable for those with soy allergy.
Are Grainwaves vegan?
Grainwaves comes in both vegan and non-vegan flavors.
The vegan flavors include Sea salt and Sweet chilli.
The rest of the flavors contain milk-based ingredients such as whey powder or cheese powder.
It’s worth noting that Grainwaves contain sugar, which may concern strict vegans.
This is because sugar is processed with bone char during the refining process in the industry, making it a non vegan food product.
Are Grainwaves better than potato chips?
When choosing between the two, Grainwaves does edge out potato chips for various reasons, such as:
- Grainwaves are made from a mix of whole grains.
- Grainwaves are baked, whereas most potato chips are fried.
- Grainwaves are lower in fat and sodium compared to potato chips.
However, in terms of protein and fiber, Grainwaves end up quite similar to potato chips.
Here’s the nutritional comparison of Grainwaves to a popular potato chips brand.
| Chips brand | Fat(g) | Protein(g) | Fiber(g) | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grainwaves | 5-6 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 83-122 |
| Smith crinkle cut | 8-9 | 1-2 | NA | 111-215 |
| Lays | 9-10 | 2 | <1 | 150 |
| Pringles | 9 | 2 | 1 | 140-180 |
Final words
After looking at the ingredients and nutritional value, It can be said that Grainwaves are healthy.
There are many reasons for this, such as:
- They are made primarily with whole grains.
- They are baked and therefore lower in fat.
- They are low in sugar.
- They are low in sodium.
- They are free from artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
However, Grainwaves are not good in terms of protein and fiber. So while they are healthy, they are not nutritious.
Plus, they contain maltodextrin. So it’s important to consumed them in moderation.
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