Bottom Line: Kettle Brand Air Fried Jalapeno Potato Chips are not too hot, but they are still pretty good for a healthy snacking option.
It’s the New Year and time to get healthy! That means veggie smoothies and steamed fish and lots of raw greens and . . . we all know that we’re not going to stick with that. But there are at least some healthier options out there that may help when combating the battle of the bulge. And that includes some lower-calorie snack choices like Kettle Brand’s Air Finished Jalapeno Potato Chips.
These chips offer a variation on their regular Jalapeno chips, and they start off in the same kettle fryers. But they are then finished off through air-frying which makes them “light and crispy” and cuts the fat by 30% from the regular version. It also cuts back on the calories a bit.
But are these chips any good or do they taste like so many other healthy duds masking as a tasty snack?
They look basically the same as the regular version, and they have a nice taste of peppery seasoning that is balanced out by some sweetness. There is also a strong taste of onion powder (that ingredient is higher up in the list than Jalapeno powder) as well as some other herbs which make them less Jalapeno-forward than similar chips. But that does give them that little bit of something different. These are plenty crunchy like other Kettle brand chips and maybe just a little bit lighter and crispy as the bag suggests. But the “air fried” part does not make much difference in the experience, and these are quite tasty.
Heat-wise, the chips come in at the Mild level at best, just like the regular Jalapeno version (if you want heat from Kettle Brand, try their Habanero Lime chips). And while they don’t have too much of a kick, the taste is overall pretty good (if you like onions), and they deliver a decent snack option that hardly seems like something you would call health food.
One serving of these comes in at 130 calories vs. the regular Kettle Brand Jalapeno chips which total to 150 cals. That is not a lot of savings in calories, but they do have only 6g of fat vs. 9g for the regular version (and no saturated or trans fats). They are higher in sodium, though, at 220mg vs. 180mg. I guess they tried to compensate for the fat with salt. These definitely are not as good for you as a plain rice cake or a raw carrot. But they do taste better and they are a slightly healthier snack option than regular chips. Just keep an eye on portion control otherwise there is not much point in getting these vs. regular old greasy chips.
I don’t know how long these air fried chips will be around, and I don’t know how widely available they are. I found them in my local Sprouts, and probably Whole Foods and other health-focused stores will carry them as well. They set me back five bucks for a bag, but nobody is giving many discounts on snack items these days. If you are looking to cut back on your calorie and fat intake, these are definitely a good option, so pick up a bag or two while they are available to start your New Year on a healthier note.
Tale of the Tape:
Ingredients: Potatoes, vegetable oils (canola, sunflower, and/or safflower), salt, sugar, onion powder, spices, torula yeast, yeast extract, garlic powder, jalapeno pepper powder, natural flavors, parsley
Serving Size: 28g (About 13 Chips)
Calories: 130
Fat: 6g (0g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 2g
Carbs: 18g
Sodium: 220mg