There are few nutritional differences, but chips will have a higher fat content than roast potatoes, because they have a larger surface area and therefore will absorb more fat during cooking. The type of cooking oil used to cook the potatoes/chips will strongly affect the type of fats the food contains.
Potatoes are a healthy choice when boiled, baked, mashed or roasted with only a small amount of fat or oil and no added salt. French fries and other chips cooked in oil or served with salt are not a healthy choice.
Oven chips are typically made from potatoes that are sliced and baked in the oven with a small amount of oil. While this way is healthier than deep-frying, the added oil and seasonings used in some varieties can still contribute to the calorie and fat content.
Baked potatoes offer more nutritional value than fries because they still have skin. Potato skins are the most nutrient-dense part of a baked potato. Another benefit of heart-healthy baked potatoes is that they are not deep-fried in oil and grease like french fries.
Fried potato chips do not contain healthy amounts of vitamins and minerals to help compensate for the high fat and salt content.
Choosing baked varieties may save you calories and fat, but you'll still be chomping on more sodium and acrylamides. As an occasional treat, baked chips can be part of a healthy diet but if it's making more than a guest appearance, you may want to reconsider.
There are few nutritional differences, but chips will have a higher fat content than roast potatoes, because they have a larger surface area and therefore will absorb more fat during cooking.
For starters, fries are nutritionally unrecognizable from a spud, says Jonathan Bonnet, MD, a family medicine resident physician at Duke University. “They involve frying, salting, and removing one of the healthiest parts of the potato: the skin, where many of the nutrients and fiber are found,” he says.
Make healthier home fries
Go for the gold with home fries, as well as hash browns, other starchy vegetables and even toast. Use the oven instead of the fryer. Roasting creates less acrylamide than frying. Baking whole potatoes is even better.
Most of our chips are simply made using potatoes and sunflower oil. Our original oven chips are only 5% fat and our Home Chips Lighter have 30% less fat than standard Home Chips. In fact, 95% of our products have only green or amber nutritional indicators across saturated fat, fat, salt and sugar.
Of rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread, potatoes are the healthiest of these starchy and complex carbohydrate foods. This is because potatoes are dense in nutrients, containing essential minerals, vitamins, and other micronutrients. Potatoes are also high in fiber, helping to satiate hunger and regulate blood sugar.
Red Desiree Potatoes are part of the Red Potato family and are considered to be the healthiest of all potatoes, as they contain the highest levels of vitamins, minerals and healthy phytochemicals.
Obviously, baking is one of the healthiest ways to cook a potato (boiling is fine too), especially if you are going to eat the skins, which are a good source of fiber. But baked potatoes don't have to be loaded with butter, cheese, and sour cream in order to be delicious.
One medium baked potato with the skin provides an excellent source of potassium and vitamins C and B6, and is a good source of manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, niacin, folate and fiber.
Acrylamide is a chemical created in certain foods that are cooked at high temperatures. Because chips are sliced so thin and fried so hot, they're even heavier in acrylamide than French fries (which, sadly, 7 out of 9 experts warn against).
Unfortunately, there are no concrete numbers for what moderation means for different people. For some, having a plate of fries once a week might be fine. For others, twice a month may be a better idea. “Everyone should limit their intake of fried foods, but there is not a one-size-fits-all answer,” Cox says.
One medium potato delivers 610 mg of potassium, or roughly 17% of the daily value (DV). That's about 40% more potassium than you'll find in a banana, which only contains 422 mg, or 9% DV. In addition to potassium, 1 medium potato provides 5 grams of fiber, 4 grams of protein, vitamin C and magnesium.
One of the OG healthier chips, this brand is still a favorite among nutritionists. “Sun Chips are made with whole grains” — including whole wheat, oats, and brown rice flour — “with more fiber than traditional potato chips, plus they are lower in fat and sodium, making it a healthier swap,” says DeGore.
Nancy Copperman, director of public health initiatives at North Shore - LIJ Health System in Great Neck, N.Y., says that both potato chips and Pringles aren't exactly healthy, but Pringles contain 2.5 times more saturated fat per serving, a worse type of fat.