Veggie Straws vs Potato Chips: Which Is Better for Kids?

Nutrition breakdown

For equal 28g portions, the avocado-oil Sea Salt Veggie Straws have 20 fewer calories and 4g less fat than Lay’s Classic, but 60mg more sodium. Lay’s supplies 2g protein versus less than 1g, and 1g fiber versus less than 1g. Those are tradeoffs, not an overall health ranking. Both labels list less than 1g total sugar. Veggie Straws declare 0g added sugar; Lay’s SmartLabel says it is not a significant source of added sugars rather than giving a separate numeric amount. Check which bag you have: Garden Veggie’s original Sea Salt formula lists 130 calories, 7g fat, 220mg sodium and 0g fiber per 28g, so its numbers should not be used for the avocado-oil version.

Ingredient comparison

The avocado-oil straws start with a mix of potato starch, potato flour and corn starch, and include cane sugar, sweet potato powder, spinach powder and tomato paste. They do contain vegetable ingredients; the label does not give a vegetable-serving equivalent. Their less-than-1g fiber per 28g is the more useful fact when comparing them with vegetables. Lay’s Classic lists potatoes, vegetable oil and salt. A shorter ingredient list alone does not settle the nutrition comparison. Garden Veggie’s FAQ also confirms that its straws are fried; the brand’s puffs are baked. Avocado oil does not mean the straws are baked.

When to pick each

Pros & cons

Frequently asked questions

Are veggie straws healthier than potato chips?

It depends on the nutrient and the exact bag. At 28g, Garden Veggie Sea Salt Straws made with avocado oil have 140 calories and 6g fat, versus 160 calories and 10g fat in Lay’s Classic. But Lay’s has less sodium (140mg versus 200mg), more protein (2g versus less than 1g), and slightly more fiber. There is no single winner across those measures.

Do veggie straws count as a vegetable?

They contain vegetable ingredients, including potato flour, sweet potato powder, spinach powder and tomato paste in the avocado-oil formula. The manufacturer label does not state a vegetable-serving equivalent. With less than 1g fiber per 28g, they should not be treated as nutritionally interchangeable with a serving of vegetables.

How much sugar is in veggie straws and potato chips?

These two US Sea Salt/Classic labels both list less than 1g total sugar per 28g. The avocado-oil Veggie Straws declare 0g added sugar. Lay’s Classic SmartLabel says “Not a significant source of added sugars.” Those statements apply to the named formulas, not every flavored chip or straw.

What is a better savory snack than veggie straws?

Choose according to what you want more of. Compare protein and fiber on the labels of roasted chickpeas, cheese snacks or whole-grain crackers, or choose vegetables with a dip. A savory name alone does not guarantee low sugar, more fiber or suitability for a particular child. Our linked crackers guide and catalog let you compare specific products.

Are Veggie Straws baked or fried?

Garden Veggie says its straws and chips are fried; its puffs are baked. The Sea Salt Straws made with avocado oil are still straws, so the oil change should not be read as a baked-product claim.