It’s one of everybody’s favorite dishes. You can find guacamole on coffee tables at dinner parties all across the world. The creamy texture and rich color draw people in, and the bright flavors keep them there.
Whether you’re eating guacamole with chips, spread over toast, on top of tacos, or a million other ways, it’s a fantastic part of any appetizer or main.
But is guacamole healthy? Avocados are very healthy for you. They’re rich in vitamins, potassium, and healthy fats that are great for your heart and have a bunch of other health benefits. Of course, what you eat with guacamole is often the issue.
Consuming a lot of chips, bread, and other foods that are sometimes paired with guacamole can make it unhealthy. By itself, though, it’s generally regarded as a healthy food.
If you’re worried about staying healthy while you eat something that tastes so amazing, we’ve put together some information on the health benefits of guacamole and other things you should know.
How healthy Is Guacamole and Chips?
Probably the main thing you should know about eating guacamole and chips is that it’s usually packed full of calories. Some common types of tortilla chips pack around 150 calories in just 7 or so chips!
When you think about the last time you and your friends had chips and guac, you may have gone through a big portion of a large bag of chips. It happens! For people wanting to restrict their caloric intake, chips with guac are maybe something you want to avoid.
You can cut down on the number of calories by eating different types of chips. You can dip veggie chips or baked chips into the guac. It may not taste the same, but it will still be very satisfying.
As with most things in life, it’s all about balance. Eat good foods in moderation, and you’ll be ok. Don’t down a whole bag of tortilla chips in one sitting if you want to stay healthy.
What Is Healthy?
Determining what is healthy and what’s unhealthy isn’t black and white. There’s a lot of grey in there depending on your health goals. Some people WANT to eat a lot of calories.
Maybe they’re athletes that go through a lot of calories every day, or maybe they have a high-activity job where they are on their feet for hours and burn through a lot of calories. In those cases, guacamole is very good for you. It provides nutrient-rich calories to replenish energy levels.
High-calorie foods like avocados aren’t unhealthy, per se, but problems come into play when people eat way more calories than they burn. Then the body converts those calories into fat for later use.
In general, though, avocados are healthy foods that have healthy fats good for your heart as well as a ton of vitamins and fiber to keep you healthy and strong.
Nutrition Facts for Chips and Guacamole
Chips and guacamole pack a caloric punch. People make the mistake of thinking it’s a small, light snack, and then they end up eating way too many calories.
Knowing how many calories are in chips and guacamole will help you stick with moderation and avoid eating too much of this delicious treat.
Chipotle, the famous food chain, sells chips and guacamole along with its salad bowls, burritos, tacos, and other food.
When you get through the line and to the cashier, they’ll ask you if you want chips and guacamole added to your order. “Sure,” you say, thinking it will be a nice addition.
However, those chips and guac from Chipotle come in at just under 1300 calories. That’s more than half of what most people should eat in an entire day!
Of course, if you eat homemade guacamole and a smaller portion of chips, it’s not going to have as many calories.
This just serves as an example of how high the caloric count can be and emphasizes that guacamole should be eaten in moderation.
9 Low-Calorie Chip Options
There are a lot of different low-calorie chip options out there to make eating your beloved guacamole healthier and help you consume fewer calories. They might not taste 100% like your favorite tortilla chip, but they’ll do the trick.
Here are 9 different types of healthy chip alternatives you can use the next time you make guac.
- Lentil Chips – Yes, they make chips out of lentils. You can find lentil chips in health food stores or online.
- Black Bean Chips – Popular grocery chains like Trader Joe’s sell some delicious black bean tortilla chips that many people prefer over traditional tortilla chips. Give them a try.
- Bare Veggie Chips – These chips are made from a vegetable mix and have fewer calories than regular tortilla chips
- Veggie Straws – Ok, so these aren’t exactly chips, but you can still use them to dip guac. They’re also low-calorie.
- Terra Exotic Harvest Sea Salt Chips – This popular brand offers a mix of squash, carrots, and blue potatoes to make low-sodium chips with a ton of fiber.
- Sweet Potato Chips – There are a lot of different sweet potato chips out there that will help you cut down on how many carbs you’re eating.
- Oven-Baked Tortilla Chips – Chip companies know that people are more calorie-conscious these days, so most of them make a baked alternative that’s healthier.
- Quinoa Chips – Mashed together, quinoa has the texture of a good tortilla chip but offers more protein and fewer calories than traditional chips.
- Plantain Chips – Plantain chips are typically lower in sodium, and are made with healthy oils. Look for their calorie information though. Some are lower-calorie but that’s not always the case.
Choosing a lower-calorie chip will help you make chips and guacamole a healthy treat so you can enjoy it more often by yourself or with friends. Remember, as with most things in life, you’ll get the most out of it if it’s done in moderation.