Terra Chips are a popular brand of vegetable chips made from a variety of root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, parsnip, taro, yuca, and beets.
These chips have a unique taste and are often considered healthier alternatives to regular potato chips.
But, are Terra chips truly healthy?
Short answer: Terra chips are healthy for you as they are made from vegetables, do not use artificial additives, and have a little amount of fiber too. However, they are fried and have high fat levels therefore should be consumed in moderation
In this post, I have compiled a list of 5 reasons why Terra chips are good for you. I have also compared Terra chips to other popular chips to see if they are truly a healthier alternative.
So let’s start.
Also read: Are Quest Chips Healthy? Here Is The Answer
Nutritional value of Terra chips
Terra chips are currently available in 7 different flavors including Original, Sweet potato BBQ, Sweets & Beets, Blues, Stripes & Blues, Mediterranean, and Sweet potato.
Here is the table showing the nutritional value of all the flavors:
| Flavors | Calories | Carbs(g) | Sugar(g) | Fat(g) | Protein(g) | Fiber(g) | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 150 | 16 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 115 |
| Sweet potato BBQ | 140 | 21 | <1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sweets & Beets | 150 | 15 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 15 |
| Blues | 130 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 115 |
| Stripes & Blues | 140 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 110 |
| Mediterranean | 150 | 16 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 150 |
| Sweet potato | 160 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 90 |
What are Terra chips made of?
Terra chips are made mainly from a combination of three main ingredients: vegetables, oils, and salt.
The specific type of vegetables and oils used vary depending on the flavor.
However, some key ingredients commonly found in most Terra chip flavors include:
- Root vegetables such as taro, sweet potato, batata, yuca, and parsnip.
- Vegetable oils such as canola, safflower, sunflower, and rice bran.
- Sea salt
- Spices
- Sugar
- Yeast extract
- Acidity regulators (citric acid and malic acid)
5 Reasons Terra chips are healthy for you
1. Made from vegetables
The main reason that makes Terra chips good for you and also sets them apart from other chips is that it is made from vegetables.
These vegetables include taro, sweet potato, batata, yuca, beets, and parsnip.
2. Low in sodium
Terra chips are a low-sodium snack option, with the lowest amount of sodium found in the Blues flavor at 15mg and the highest amount found in the Mediterranean flavor at 150mg.
According to the American Heart Association, the daily ideal sodium limit is 15,00mg.
If you choose the certain Terra chips flavors such as original, blues, sweet potato, and taro they contain less than 10% of the daily ideal sodium limit.
In fact, Terra chips come with no added salt flavor(Sweets & beets) that contain only 15mg of sodium.
Moreover, Terra chips use sea salt among its flavors which is a type of salt that is less processed and is better than table salt.
3. Good source of fiber
Terra chips contain anywhere 2 to 4g of fiber per serving, depending on the flavor.
That’s about 8 to 16% of the daily recommended fiber for adults.
Now, it might not seem like a lot, but when you compare it to many other chips out there, it’s actually a pretty good fiber boost. Especially those Terra chips flavors with 3 or 4g of fiber.
Fiber is essential part of the diet as it helps improve digestion and keeps you feeling full for longer.
4. Free from artificial additives
Artificial additives such as preservatives, colors, and flavors have become regular ingredients in the food industry.
And while these additives are deemed safe by the food authorities, some studies have raised questions about the long-term health effects of these additives.
Fortunately, Terra chips are free from all these artificial additives making them indeed a healthy option.
To provide flavors, Terra chips use spices and other natural ingredients.
5. Gluten and dairy-free
Terra chips are gluten-free as they are made from vegetables that naturally do not contain gluten.
In addition, except the Mediterranean flavor, all other flavors do not use any milk-based ingredients and are therefore dairy-free.
Are Terra chips healthier than potato chips?
Terra chips are a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips. They are made from a variety of root vegetables, do not use unnecessary artificial additives, and are high in fiber and lower in sodium levels.
Here is the quick nutritional comparison of Terra chips(original) to other popular potato chips such as Lays and Pringles.
| Nutrients | Terra chips(original) | Lays(classic) | Pringles(Salt & vinegar) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 150 | 160 | 150 |
| Sugar(g) | 2 | <1 | 1 |
| Fat(g) | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Protein(g) | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Fiber(g) | 3 | 1 | <1 |
| Sodium(mg) | 115 | 170 | 180 |
Are Terra chips baked or fried?
Terra chips are fried, not baked, which is why they have high levels of fat.
A single serving of Terra chips can contain up to 10g of fat, depending on the flavor.
Despite being fried, they can be considered healthier than other potato chips because they do not use oils like palm, corn, or soybean.
Instead Terra chips uses better-for-you oils such as canola, safflower, sunflower, and rice bran.
Are Terra chips good for weight loss?
Chips are generally not considered an optimal food for weight loss, regardless of what they are made from.
Terra chips are not perfect food for weight loss as they are processed, have moderate calorie content, are high in fat, and contain tiny amount of sugar.
If consumed in excess, they may hinder your weight loss efforts.
However, because they are made from vegetables and contain a little amount of fiber, they are not the worst option and can be included in a weight loss diet, but only in moderation.
Note that weight loss depends not only on one food but overall diet and lifestyle.
Final words
In conclusion, Terra chips are healthy for you as they are made from vegetables, does not use artificial additives and has little amount of fiber.
However, because they are processed, moderate in calories and has high fat content and some sugar, they are not ideal for weight loss and should be consumed in moderation.
Furthermore, they are gluten and dairy free, making them suitable for those with dietary restrictions.
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Here are a few other posts that might be also helpful for you.
- Are Sunchips Healthy? The Truth About This Popular Snack
- Are Pringles Healthy? The Truth About This Popular Chips
- Are Fritos Bad For You? 5 Reasons To Avoid Them
- Are Baked Hot Cheetos Healthy? Let’s Find Out
- The Truth About Popcorners: Are They Really Healthy?
FAQs about Terra chips
Terra chips(except Mediterranean flavor) are good option for vegan as they are completely made from plant based ingredients.
No, Terra chips does not contains MSG.
Despite Terra chips are made from vegetables, it is best that diabetics people avoid it or at least consumed in moderation. The chips has moderate amount of calories, carbs and sugar which might spike blood sugar levels.
