Chips are "A Good Thing"

Michigan is the biggest producer of potato chip potatoes in the nation and our share of the market is growing fast. Michigan grower's commitment to quality, our growing conditions, and climate (just right for a perfectly mature potato) is paying off in more multinational and regional snack food companies buying their potatoes from Michigan.

Calories

Calories amount to150 per serving. That's a lot less than you might expect. Especially for potato chip lovers like kids and teenagers, who burn up a lot of the calories they take in. Although teens may tend to snack more often than adults, a very small number of their total calories come from potato chips. 

Fat

The 10 grams of fat you see on the label translate into about 2 ¼ teaspoons of oil. That's less than a lot of people use to pop a batch of popcorn. As a matter of fact, the fat in potato chips accounts for less than 1 % of the daily calories in the average American diet.   

Cholesterol

Most potato chips don't contain any cholesterol because most potato chips are cooked only in unsaturated vegetable oils. 

Salt

Here's something else on the label you can't help but notice. The typical one ounce bag contains approximately 175 milligrams of sodium. That's about 1/10 of a teaspoon of salt. No more than you'll find in a couple slices of bread. Potato chips taste salty because all the salt goes on the outside. After the chips are already cooked. 

Preservatives

You won't find anything about preservatives on the label. That's because most potato chips contain no preservatives or additives of any kind. 

Nutrients and Fiber

Potato chips are a source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and eleven other important nutrients. What's more, a one-ounce bag of chips has almost twice the potassium of a glass of orange juice. And two to four times the fiber of corn flakes, or about as much as four slices of cracked-wheat bread. After all, potato chips are sliced from fresh potatoes.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

(Per serving) serving size 1 ounce about 15 chips. A portion you might get at your favorite deli.

Calories 150
Protein 2 grams
Carbohydrate 1.4 grams
Fat 10 grams
Cholesterol* (0 mg/100g)... , 0 milligram
Sodium I75 milligrams
Potassium 205 milligrams 
Percentage of U.S. recommended Dally Allowance (U.S. RDA)
Protein 2
Vitamin A **
Vitamin C 10
Thiamin 2
Riboflavin **
Niacin 4
Calcium **
Iron 2
Vitamin B6 8
Phosphorus 4
Magnesium 4
Copper 6

*Information on cholesterol content is provided for individuals who, on the advice of a physician are modifying their total dietary intake of cholesterol.

**Contains less than 2% U.S. RDA for this nutrient