Are Tortilla Chips Healthy Calories Nutrition And Tips

  references
  
      Harvard Health Publications: "The Truth About Fats: The Good, The Bad, and the In-Between"
    
      American Heart Association: "How Much Sodium Should I Eat Per Day?"
    
      USDA MyFoodData: White Corn Tortilla Chips
    
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The Role of Sodium
    
      Mayo Clinic: Trans Fat
    
      USDA MyFoodData: Taco Tortilla Chips
    
      USDA MyFoodData: Doritos Cool Ranch Tortilla Chips
    
      Michigan State University Extension: “Keeping Popcorn Healthy"
    
      USDA MyFoodData: Pico De Gallo Salsa
    




While tortilla chips can be a satisfying crunchy snack, they aren't the healthiest choice.

Image Credit: Allchonok/iStock/GettyImages

Calories and Nutrition
Chips and Salsa
Tips
Alternatives

Tortilla chips can be a part of a healthy diet if you mind your portions. Some brands of tortilla chips may be high in sodium. The USDA recommends that adults eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, but reducing it further to 1,500 milligrams or less can reduce your risk of heart disease significantly, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

The USDA recommends that adults eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, but reducing it further to 1,500 milligrams or less can reduce your risk of heart disease significantly, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Saturated fat: 3.5 gTrans fat: 0 g
Dietary fiber: 1 gSugar: 0 g

White corn, yellow corn and blue tortilla chips share about the same nutritional profile. Some blue corn tortilla chips may be slightly higher in protein and fiber, but it depends on the brand you buy. Flavored tortilla chips, such as Ranch, often contain more sodium, per the USDA. Always read your product labels for accurate nutrition information.

Always read your product labels for accurate nutrition information.

Check the nutrition facts label on the specific brand of tortilla chips you buy — it usually states the estimated number of chips in one serving. This is usually between six and 10 chips.

To check if your tortilla chips have trans fat in them, look for any hydrogenated vegetable oils on the ingredient list.

Lightly salted or unsalted tortilla chips may not be bad for you, but flavored varieties could be worse for your health because they are higher in sodium. For example, taco-flavored tortilla chips have 200 milligrams of sodium, according to the USDA.

For example, taco-flavored tortilla chips have 200 milligrams of sodium, according to the USDA.

      Harvard Health Publications: "The Truth About Fats: The Good, The Bad, and the In-Between"
    
      American Heart Association: "How Much Sodium Should I Eat Per Day?"
    
      USDA MyFoodData: White Corn Tortilla Chips
    
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The Role of Sodium
    
      Mayo Clinic: Trans Fat
    
      USDA MyFoodData: Taco Tortilla Chips
    
      USDA MyFoodData: Doritos Cool Ranch Tortilla Chips
    
      Michigan State University Extension: “Keeping Popcorn Healthy"
    
      USDA MyFoodData: Pico De Gallo Salsa