Potato chips, restructured, lightly salted
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
These are restructured potato chips, meaning they're made from potato flour or flakes pressed into a uniform shape, then fried and lightly salted. They offer a satisfying, airy crunch with a mild, savory flavor that's less aggressive than traditional kettle-cooked varieties. Nutritionally, they are a calorie-dense snack, delivering significant energy from fats and carbohydrates with a modest protein content.
Calorie split: 5% protein · 38% carbs · 57% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love them for their predictable, satisfying crunch and mild, salty flavor that pairs well with a wide range of dips and beverages. Their uniform shape makes them ideal for scooping and their light saltiness allows the potato flavor to come through.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high fat and calorie content can contribute to weight gain if consumed in large quantities, and the refined carbohydrates may cause a rapid blood-sugar spike. To counteract this, pair them with a protein-rich dip like hummus or a vegetable platter, practice strict portion control (e.g., sticking to a single serving), and avoid eating them as a standalone meal.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick source of energy from carbohydrates and fats.
- The 'lightly salted' version contains less sodium than many standard chips.
- The restructured form offers a consistent texture and shape.
- Can be a convenient, shelf-stable snack for on-the-go consumption.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The restructured chip was invented in the 1960s to use potato waste, creating a perfectly uniform chip that is less likely to break during shipping.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 1.4 g |
| Energy | 559 kcal |
| Protein | 6.7 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 35.3 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 53.4 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 4.2 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.34 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 24.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 62.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 148 mg |
| Potassium, K | 1301 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 264 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.5 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.30 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 7.8 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 27.2 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.16 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.17 mg |
| Niacin | 5.5 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.65 mg |
| Folate, total | 58.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 58.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 58.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 12.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 7.7 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 22.1 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 5.5 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.13 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 4.3 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.73 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 14.9 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.12 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 14.5 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.24 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 12.4 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 12.0 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.41 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Snacks, potato chips, made from dried potatoes, sour-cream and onion-flavor — USDA does not publish this profile for Potato chips.
| Tryptophan | 0.07 g |
| Threonine | 0.28 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.31 g |
| Leucine | 0.48 g |
| Lysine | 0.44 g |
| Methionine | 0.10 g |
| Cystine | 0.08 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.29 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.25 g |
| Valine | 0.38 g |
| Arginine | 0.31 g |
| Histidine | 0.15 g |
| Alanine | 0.25 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.93 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.1 g |
| Glycine | 0.21 g |
| Proline | 0.37 g |
| Serine | 0.29 g |
FAQ
What does 'restructured' mean for potato chips?
It means the chips are made from potato flour, flakes, or mash that is formed into a uniform shape before frying, rather than being sliced directly from a whole potato.
Are restructured chips healthier than regular chips?
Not necessarily. While they may have a more consistent texture and sometimes lower sodium, they are still a processed, fried snack high in calories and fat.
Why are they called 'lightly salted'?
This indicates a reduced sodium content compared to standard chips, typically around 30-50% less salt, though they are still a salty snack.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 5.59 kcal/g · 5% calories from protein · 4.2 g fiber · 0.3 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.20 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.