Are dehydrated vegetable chips a healthy snacking option?

When you think about chips, the very first image that most likely enters your mind is the traditional deep-fried potato chips, typically skilled with simply salt or a range of other appealing flavours. Lay’ s, Uncle Chips and wafers, anybody? Chips are irresistibly crispy, taste tasty and are constantly so difficult to put down!

Whenever a package is opened, it appears to overcome before you even understand it. When you reach in and can’ t get any’more chips, that s when you discover yourself opening the package a bit broader, simply to inspect if it’ s really empty.cAs much as all of us like chips as a treat, the regret that features them is genuine – particularly when it pertains to the deep-fried ranges with high salt material, which can result in a bunch of health concerns.

As India is going through a clever snacking transformation – experiencing an increase in need for much healthier treat alternatives – dehydrated veggie chips are likewise making their existence felt in the scene.

You might likewise have actually seen viral Reels about these ‘ healthy treats on social networks.

Everything about dehydrated veggie chips

Rather of the deep-frying method, numerous little- and big-scale brand names are turning veggies like ladyfinger, beetroot, taro, jackfruit, gourd, and carrots into crispy chips utilizing the approaches of dehydration and vacuum frying – promoting them as a much healthier option to routine chips. Essentially, they are simply veggies … however crunchier and skilled with spices for that included taste and chips-like experience. Are they actually healthier, or is it yet another marketing trick? We asked health professionals.

Dehydrated veggie chips can be a much healthier snacking alternative compared to routine fried chips, depending upon how they are processed and taken in. Unlike fried chips, which are high in unhealthy fats and calories, dehydrated chips are usually lower in fat because they aren’ t prepared in oil.

“Dehydration maintains much of the veggie s initial nutrients, such as fiber and some vitamins, making them a good choice for individuals seeking to preserve a well balanced diet plan,” Mohini Dongre, senior dietitian, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram.

Dehydration includes getting rid of water material from the veggies. The procedure assists protect them for a longer duration and increases the service life naturally (without needing any preservatives).

Dehydration usually maintains most nutrients in veggies, however water-soluble vitamins like Vitamin C and B might reduce. Fiber material stays undamaged, and anti-oxidants and polyphenols normally keep their strength,” Simrat Kathuria, CEO and head dietitian at The Diet Xperts informs India Today

Keep an eye out for covert components

The health ratio of these well-intended chips can likewise be reduced, making it crucial to check out the components label. High salt material and making use of synthetic colours can be a significant warning.

Some dehydrated chips are greatly salted or flavoured with synthetic spices to boost taste, which can add to extreme salt consumption, possibly resulting in hypertension with time,” states dietitian Mohini Dongre.

It is likewise essential to look out for sugarcoated.

A number of brand names are now providing these dehydrated veggie chips without any addition of synthetic colours or preservatives. Health professionals concur that it is a favorable indication. It is essential not to fall for the claims pointed out on the front of the package however to thoroughly examine the dietary label pointed out at the back.

Ahmedabad-based Dr Dimple Ganatra, who has actually worked as a health care expert for 22 years, began her dehydrated veggies brand name, Healthy Grabz, in 2022 to promote healthy snacking.

Having seen many clients, I understood for many years that individuals do require great food. In India, we have numerous cases of diabetes and heart-related diseases. I stopped my task and began looking into healthy snacking alternatives. Considering that the dietary worth is extremely excellent in veggies and individuals lack fiber nowadays, we began dealing with dehydrated veggies,” she shows India Today

Utilizing contemporary methods at their own production setup, the brand name utilizes dehydration approaches teamed with an air-frying strategy to turn veggies like okra, gourd, carrot, beetroot and potatoes into crispy chips. These chips consist of practically no oil, making up just 0.1 percent for spraying functions (as discussed in the components list).

The crispy bhindi you consume from us amounts to a raw veggie you consume, in regards to dietary worth,” states Dimple.

Small amounts is crucial

Small amounts is crucial when enjoying dehydrated veggie chips. Their focused nature and minimized water material make them more calorie-dense than fresh veggies, making it simple to consume more in one sitting and causing overindulging if not conscious.

Be conscious of the part sizes. This is where many people stop working, since they believe if the treat is healthy, they can have it as much as they desire,” states Simrat Kathuria.

One disadvantage to this is that dehydrated veggies are less filling due to their lowered volume, so it’ s simpler to overindulge them,” includes Dongre.

Vacuum-fried chips exist too

Another root of veggie chips getting appeal in the market is the vacuum-fried version. Like dehydrated veggies, vacuum-fried veggies likewise declare to be a much healthier option to routine deep-fried chips.

Now, vacuum frying includes frying food at a lower temperature level under minimized pressure. This assists keep nutrients which are otherwise lost in high-temperature cooking.

In a basic frying procedure, food is prepared at greater temperature levels, which can result in the loss of nutrients and the absorption of more unhealthy fats. With vacuum frying, the procedure takes place at temperature levels substantially lower than conventional frying – typically around 80-120° C rather of 160-180 C. The chips likewise take in less oil, which leads to an item that is not just crisp and flavourful however likewise lighter in fat material compared to standard fried treats,” Avinash Gutta, head of marketing at Fabeato – a healthy snacking brand name offering vacuum-fried veggies – informs us.

Health specialists, on the other hand, note that, unlike dehydrated veggies, vacuum-fried chips are not oil-free. They consist of just a somewhat lower quantity of oil compared to standard deep-fried chips.

According to Gutta, vacuum frying develops a light and crispy texture that more carefully looks like standard chips.

The primary distinction is that our vacuum-fried chips are created to use a treat experience comparable to routine chips – crispy and gratifying – while being much healthier. Dehydrated chips, while healthy, can frequently have a harder or leatherlike texture that might not attract those searching for the familiar crunch of a chip,” he includes.

A couple of brand names like Dimple’ s Healthy Grabz utilize a mix of dehydration and air-frying methods to fight the concern and keep the veggies healthy and crispy.

Even when it comes to vacuum-fried veggies, one requires to be mindful of not simply oil material, however likewise extreme salt material, synthetic flavours, sugar and included preservatives.

Be it dehydrated or vacuum-fried, one need to prevent purchasing loose veggie chips (quickly offered in the markets and online shops) that come without FSSAI accreditation and nutrition labels. A great deal of such stock is imported from China.

Specialists like Simrun Chopra, nutritional expert and creator of the Bengaluru-based center Nourish with Sim, recommend purchasing a dehydrator in the house rather of counting on store-bought veggie chips.

Can dehydrated chips change fresh veggies?

Furthermore, it is essential to keep in mind that these veggie chips can not change veggies in your routine diet plan.

While dehydrated chips can add to your veggie consumption, fresh or gently prepared veggies use a wider spectrum of dietary advantages. It’ s crucial to stabilize them with entire veggies and other nutrient-dense foods, instead of depending on them as a main veggie source,” dietitian Dongre states.

Such dehydrated chips must be a once-in-a-while choice. They can’ t be an option to genuine food,” includes Simrun Chopra.

The last crunch

Dehydrated veggies can produce a healthy snacking alternative, specifically much better than sugar-loaded and deep-fried chips and other food products. It all depends on what’ s inside the package (so, check out the labels) and on how much you consume. Small amounts is the essential since – even the healthiest treat in higher amounts can be damaging.