Snacks, tortilla chips, low fat, unsalted
Whole food · Snacks
Photo: Wikipedia
These are light, crispy, and airy corn-based chips, made from masa dough that is baked or lightly fried to achieve a satisfying crunch without heavy oil. They offer a clean, toasty corn flavor with a neutral profile that makes them a versatile base for dips and toppings. Nutritionally, they are a high-carbohydrate, low-fat snack that provides a good source of dietary fiber.
Calorie split: 11% protein · 77% carbs · 12% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love them for their satisfying, audible crunch and their role as the perfect, sturdy vehicle for everything from fresh salsa and guacamole to hearty bean dips. They are a cultural staple in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, often served as a communal appetizer or a base for nachos.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
As a high-carbohydrate, low-protein snack, they can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, especially when eaten alone. To counteract this, pair them with a protein or healthy fat source like black bean dip, cheese, or guacamole to slow digestion and increase satiety. Those monitoring calorie intake should practice portion control, as the light texture can make it easy to overeat.
Key benefits
- Low in fat compared to traditional fried chips
- Good source of dietary fiber for digestive health
- Provides a quick source of energy from complex carbohydrates
- Contains a moderate amount of plant-based protein
- Unsalted version supports a lower sodium intake
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The word 'totopo' is the traditional Nahuatl name for a toasted or fried corn tortilla, and the triangular shape of many tortilla chips is designed to maximize structural integrity for scooping.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 1.7 g |
| Energy | 416 kcal |
| Energy | 1739 kj |
| Protein | 11.0 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 5.7 g |
| Ash | 1.0 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 80.1 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 5.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.85 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 159 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.6 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 97.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 318 mg |
| Potassium, K | 272 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 15.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.1 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.11 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 15.7 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.20 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.22 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.28 mg |
| Niacin | 0.42 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.18 mg |
| Folate, total | 16.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 16.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 16.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 23.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 4.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 37.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 24.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 82.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 507 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 3.5 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 20.9 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.85 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.68 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.09 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 1.7 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 1.5 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 2.9 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 2.5 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.08 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 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, corn-based, extruded, chips, plain — USDA does not publish this profile for Snacks.
| Tryptophan | 0.05 g |
| Threonine | 0.25 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.23 g |
| Leucine | 0.80 g |
| Lysine | 0.18 g |
| Methionine | 0.14 g |
| Cystine | 0.12 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.32 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.27 g |
| Valine | 0.33 g |
| Arginine | 0.33 g |
| Histidine | 0.20 g |
| Alanine | 0.49 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.46 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glycine | 0.27 g |
| Proline | 0.57 g |
| Serine | 0.31 g |
FAQ
Are low-fat tortilla chips baked or fried?
They are typically baked or fried in a minimal amount of oil to achieve crispness while keeping the fat content significantly lower than traditional fried chips.
What is the main ingredient?
The primary ingredient is corn, usually in the form of masa harina (corn flour treated with lime), water, and a small amount of oil.
How do they differ from regular tortilla chips?
The key difference is the fat content; low-fat versions contain about 5.7g of fat per 100g, whereas regular fried chips can have 15-20g or more.
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 4.16 kcal/g · 11% calories from protein · 5.3 g fiber · 0.8 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: 0.06 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.