Chips Ahoy and Oreo are two of the most popular cookies of the decade.
Both the cookie brands taste delicious and are produced by the same company, i.e., Mondelez International.
Chip Ahoy has been loved by many for its soft, chewy texture, while Oreo is loved by many for its creamy filling and crunchy exterior.
However, when it comes to choosing, which one is healthier? Chips Ahoy or Oreo?
Well, that’s what I am going to find out in this post.
I’ll compare the ingredients and nutrition of both cookies side-by-side to see how they stack up.
But here’s a short answer for those in a hurry.
Short answer: When comparing Chips Ahoy and Oreo for a healthier choice, neither stands out. Both cookies share similarities in terms of ingredients, featuring refined flour, high added sugar, low protein and fiber content, along with high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors and colors.
A quick disclaimer: Neither Chips Ahoy nor Oreo are considered health foods by any measure. When comparing cookies to cookies, we’re looking at the lesser of two evils. That said, one option contains fewer potentially harmful ingredients than the other.
Read also: Boom Chicka Pop Vs Skinny Pop: Which One Is Healthier?
Chips Ahoy vs Oreo: Ingredients
Ingredients in Chips Ahoy
Chips Ahoy comes in different flavors such as mini, original, chunky, reese’s, chewy, candy blasts, red velvet, and more.
Therefore, the exact ingredients can vary depending on the flavor you choose.
In general, Chips Ahoy is made from Unbleached enriched flour, Sugar, and Vegetable oils (soybean and/or canola) as the primary ingredients.
Other common ingredients you would find across many flavors include:
- Palm oil
- Cocoa
- High fructose corn syrup
- Salt
- Dextrose
- Baking soda
- Soy lecithin
- Milk
- Natural and Artificial flavors
Some flavors, such as Candy blasts, Red velvet, and Confetti cake, also contain artificial colors like Red 40, Yellow 5, Red 3, Blue 1, and Blue 2.
Ingredients in Oreo
Like Chips Ahoy, Oreo comes in different flavors such as peanut butter, toffee crunch, lemon, dark chocolate, mint, caramel coconut, and more.
Therefore, the exact ingredients can vary depending on the flavor you choose.
In general, Oreo is made from Sugar, Unbleached enriched flour, and Vegetable oils (palm and/or canola oil) as the primary ingredients.
Other common ingredients you would find across many flavors include:
- Cocoa
- High fructose corn syrup
- Leavening (baking soda and/or calcium phosphate)
- Salt
- Soy lecithin
- Chocolate
- Artificial flavor
Some flavors such as Toffee crunch, Mint, Carmel coconut, and Birthday cake also contain artificial colors like Red 40, Red 3, Blue 1, and Yellow 5.
The verdict: Which one is better?
When it comes to ingredients, both Chips Ahoy and Oreos cannot be considered healthy.
Here’s why:
- Both Chips Ahoy and Oreo contain refined grains (enriched wheat flour), added sugar, and highly inflammatory vegetable oils like palm and soybean as their main ingredients.
- They contain High fructose corn syrup, which is linked with various health issues[1].
- They contain artificial flavors, and some flavors from both cookie brands contain artificial colors.
- They contain potential allergens like wheat, milk, and soy that sensitive individuals should avoid.
To conclude, Chips Ahoy and Oreo have very similar ingredient profiles, and neither can be considered a clear winner in terms of healthiness.
Let’s move to the nutritional part.
Chips Ahoy vs Oreo: Nutrition
Calories
Chips Ahoy: 140-170 per serving.
Oreo: 100-180 per serving
Chips Ahoy contains 140 to 170 calories per serving. Meanwhile, Oreo weighs 100-180 calories per serving, depending on the flavor.
Although the calorie count is not very high, it’s important to note where these calories come from.
The calories in both cookies come primarily from added sugars (sugar, high fructose corn syrup) and refined flours, which are just empty calories (calories without benefits).
Sugar
Chips Ahoy: 8-13g per serving.
Oreo: 10-17g per serving
Oreo tends to be higher in sugar, with it listed as the first ingredient. At the same time, Chips Ahoy has sugar second after enriched wheat flour.
However, both still pack a sugary punch!
Chips Ahoy contains 8-13g of sugar per serving. Meanwhile, Oreo falls in the 10-17g range, depending on the flavor.
Almost all the sugar in both cookies is added.
Just to put that in perspective, the American Heart Association recommends limiting men to 36g of added sugar per day. And no more than 25g for women.
Just a single serving of either cookie provides a third or more of the recommended daily limit!
And where does all that sugar come from? Mainly refined white sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
If you limit sugar, none of the cookies is good for you.
Fat
Chips Ahoy: 6-8g per serving.
Oreo: 5-9g per serving
When it comes to fat, Chips Ahoy and Oreo are pretty similar.
The fat in both cookies comes from vegetable oils like soybean, canola, and palm.
If we talk about saturated fat, Chips Ahoy contains 2 to 4.5g, while Oreo includes 1.5 to 3.5g per serving.
Protein
Chips Ahoy: 1-2g per serving.
Oreo: 1-2g per serving
When it comes to protein, both cookie brands hit the bottom of the scale, offering a meager 1-2g.
In fact, most flavors contain just 1g of protein.
If you’re focused on increasing your daily protein intake, neither of these cookies will properly satisfy you.
What about fiber?
Both are poor sources of fiber, offering less than 1g or no fiber at all.
Sodium
Chips Ahoy: 50-110mg per serving.
Oreo: 65-125mg per serving
When it comes to sodium, Both Chips Ahoy and Oreo are pretty similar.
Both are low in sodium, containing less than 10% of the daily ideal sodium limit (1500mg) set by the American Heart Association.
This is good for those following a low-sodium diet.
Final words: Which one is a healthier choice?
Chips Ahoy and Oreo are pretty similar in terms of both ingredients and nutritional value.
However, when looking for the healthier option, neither Chips Ahoy nor Oreo comes out on top.
Both cookie brands are made with refined flour, are high in added sugar, low in protein and fiber, and contain high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavor and colors.
For a healthier choice, it’s best to enjoy Chips Ahoy or Oreo occasionally or explore other cookies with better nutritional profiles.
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