We love a crunchy salty snack as much as anybody!
When people search for better-for-You chips, healthier snacks, or better-for-you chip alternatives, they are usually trying to solve the same problem we used to deal with every time we went to the grocery store. You still want a snack that brings on the flavor and texture, right? How do you find that without having to scour a 30-piece ingredients list? It used to be hard.
Now there's a Pip's Heirloom Snack for every better-for-you snacking moment!
What We Mean By A Better-for-You Chips: 15 Better Alternatives Chip
From our side of the pantry, better-for-You Chips: 15 Better Alternatives snacking has to answer a few basic questions. What oil is used? How much saturated fat and added sugar are we dealing with? Are the ingredients recognizable? Will the snack actually satisfy you, or will you tear through a whole bag of regular chips and still keep hunting for something else?
We couldn't find these kinds of cleaner snacks on the shelves, so we set out to make our own healthier alternatives and alternatives to potato chips that make everyday snacking feel more intentional. We work with heirloom corn from family farms, simple ingredients, and oils like avocado oil and sunflower oil across our lineup. Most of our products are gluten free, many are baked, and all are made with heirloom corn. That's the kind of better-for-You snack we know best!
For us, better-for-you snacking also includes context. Pairing a crunchy snack with hummus, bean dip, avocado, Greek yogurt dip, or a plate of fresh vegetables takes the snacking experience to the next level and adds more variety. A better-for-You chip can also be part of a high protein or high fiber snack when you pair it well. Think about pairing our corn dippers with a good bean dip, or mixing mini popcorn with dark chocolate and nuts, or honestly just taking any of our chips with your favorite dip and a plate of vegetables from a local farmers market haul.
That kind of "yes, and" mentality gives you more satisfaction than empty calories and makes it easier to enjoy chips without feeling hungry an hour later. Homemade dips built from whole foods, olive oil, canned chickpeas, fresh herbs, black pepper, or avocado can add fiber, protein, and better-for-You fats that regular chips alone usually do not bring. That is one reason we keep coming back to our heirloom mini popcorn and dippers. They play well with real food.
If you want better-for-You snacks that still feel fun, here are 15 alternatives to chips we reach for at Pip's Heirloom Snacks!
1. Sea Salt Mini Popcorn
When someone wants alternatives to potato chips for that kind of "mindless snacking" we all do from time to time, this is where we'd point you first. Our Sea Salt Mini Popcorn keeps the crunch people love in traditional chips and the fact that the kernels don't get stuck in your teeth makes them so easy to eat. It is also made with 21g whole grain per serving and 40% less fat than the leading sea salt popcorn, which makes it one of our favorite guilt-free swaps for day-to-day snacking.
It also fits the anti-inflammatory-minded better than any kinds of fried snack foods because you are starting with popcorn, avocado oil, and a shorter list of recognizable ingredients. For movie night, lunch packing, or that late afternoon moment when regular chips sound good, this is one of the easiest healthier options in our pantry. Our Snack Hacks post also shows how easy it is to turn mini popcorn into street corn popcorn or chocolate-drizzled snack mixes when you want more range.
2. Cinnamon Churro Twists
Cinnamon Churro Twists are light, airy, and crispy, with a warm cinnamon-sugar flavor. They are made with upcycled heirloom corn flour and avocado oil and contain 50% less fat than the leading corn snack. They are also Upcycled Certified, Certified Vegan, gluten-free, and Non-GMO Project Verified.
3. Build Your Own Bundle
A lot of people get stuck in the snack aisle because they want options. With Pip’s Build Your Own Bundle, you can create your perfect selection by mixing and matching your favorite snacks in a 4-, 8-, or 12-pack bundle.
Choose from Cheese Balls, Crunchies, Corn Dippers, Twists, Fries, Mini Popcorn, and more. It is an easy way to keep variety around without committing to a preselected variety pack, so everyone can build a lineup that fits their own cravings.
4. Sea Salt Corn Dippers
A lot of alternatives to chips miss the point because they are not actually fun to eat with dip. Our Sea Salt Corn Dippers are different. They are made with just three ingredients: corn, sunflower oil, and sea salt. They are crunchy, dippable, vegan, and gluten free, which makes them a strong pick when tortilla chips feel too heavy and regular chips are not what you want.
This is one of our favorite better-for-You alternatives for snack boards because there are just a ton of options. There's the classic bean dip, guacamole, salsa, or your other favorite dip. Our favorite? Homemade hummus made from canned chickpeas, olive oil, lemon, and fresh herbs! This increases the protein and fiber and truly rounds out an amazing snack.
5. Chili Cheese Corn Dippers
If you grew up loving bold tortilla chips, chili cheese seasoning, or sour cream and onion style flavors, this is our heirloom-corn answer for chips with a little more personality. Our Chili Cheese Corn Dippers give you that snacky, craveable edge while still leaning on heirloom corn, real cheddar cheese, non-GMO ingredients, and a gluten free format.
This is where a better-for-You chip conversation gets more honest. Health is not only about the plainest possible flavor. It is also about finding healthier snacks you will actually eat in a normal week instead of labeling every satisfying crunch an occasional treat and then demolishing a whole bag of regular chips two days later.
6. Cheddar Cheese Balls
We still have a serious soft spot (or should we say crunchy spot) for our cheese balls. These are the kind of chips-adjacent snacks that taste great straight from the bowl and still hold up when a few broken pieces land at the bottom. Ours are baked, made with real cheddar cheese, heirloom corn, and clean oils, and come in at 20% less fat than the leading cheese puff. They are gluten free, non-GMO verified, and skip the fluorescent vibe that gives old-school cheese puffs their reputation.
This is one of the clearest examples of our whole philosophy. We love the nostalgic snack foods people grew up on. We just think you deserve to enjoy them with clean ingredients!
7. White Cheddar Cheese Balls
Can't go without mentioning these! Our White Cheddar Cheese Balls are baked with real white cheddar and heirloom corn.
For anyone moving away from classic potato chips or traditional chips because they want a richer snack with a little more personality, this is one of our favorite better-for-You alternatives.
8. Cheddar Crunchies
Cheddar Crunchies are for the people who love that crunchy bite you usually get from crunchy cheese snacks. Our version is baked, gluten free, and made with real cheddar cheese and heirloom corn. It also has 20% less fat than the leading cheese crunchies.
We think of this as a bridge snack. It makes sense for people who usually buy regular chips, protein chips, baked chips, or cheese curls and want something that still scratches the same itch with a cleaner ingredient story.
9. Cinnamon Churro Twists
better-for-You chips do not always have to be savory. Sometimes the better move is reaching for a sweet-leaning crunchy snack that still keeps the ingredient list reasonable. Our Cinnamon Churro Twists are made with upcycled heirloom corn flour and avocado oil, are gluten free and vegan, and have 50% less fat than the leading corn snack!
They are also a good reminder that better-for-you does not mean joyless. If you are trying to cut back on desserts with a lot of added sugar, or you just want healthier snacks that taste like a treat without tipping into candy territory, these earn their place.
10. Cheddar Fries
Our Cheddar Fries are also baked, not fried, made with real cheddar cheese, heirloom corn, and avocado oil. They bring fry-shop energy in a snack aisle format, which is exactly why they work for people trying to leave regular chips behind without feeling deprived.
A lot of baked potato chips still taste like a compromise. These do not. You get bold flavor, crispy texture, and a shape that feels playful. That matters more than people admit when they are building healthier options into everyday life.
11. Fiery Cheddar Fries
Sometimes you want heat! We got you. Our Fiery Cheddar Fries are baked, gluten free, made with real cheddar cheese, heirloom corn, and avocado oil, and they bring that spicy kick without drifting into the greasy territory people often associate with traditional chips.
They are also available in snack size packs, which can be useful for portion control when weight loss is part of the goal and you know that an open family-size bag of chips rarely ends with a measured serving size.
12. Shark Tank Sampler Pack
The truth about better-for-You snacking is that monotony kills good intentions fast. Our Shark Tank Sampler Pack solves that while bringing you back to our appearance on Shark Tank! You get a mix of cheddar cheese balls, white cheddar cheese balls, truffle mini popcorn, sea salt mini popcorn, cheddar crunchies, cinnamon Churro twists, corn dippers, and fries in one box. The whole pack is built around the same heirloom corn philosophy that put us on the map in the first place.
For someone trying to move away from potato chips, regular chips, and the same handful of traditional potato chips every grocery trip, a sampler can be the easiest reset button.
A Few Smart Ways To Eat Chips In A Healthier Way
Even the best better-for-You chip works better when you pair it well. We love Sea Salt Mini Popcorn next to fruit and nuts for a more balanced snack. If you want more flavor, a dusting of ranch seasoning on plain popcorn or a homemade mix with parmesan cheese can go a long way. We love our dippers with avocado hummus, roasted beet hummus, or spinach artichoke dip when we want something more substantial. Those combinations add fiber, protein, and healthy fats that help a snack feel complete.
Portion control matters, too. Any chips, from potato chips to protein chips to our own snacks, are easier to enjoy when you pour out a serving size instead of eating straight from the whole bag. That one habit can make a big difference for weight loss goals, calorie awareness, and simple everyday satisfaction. Cleveland Clinic’s better-for-you snacking advice also leans toward snacks that combine protein, high-fiber carbs, and better-for-You fats for fullness.
FAQ: Better-for-You Chips: 15 Better Alternatives Chip Questions We Hear All the Time
Which Pip’s products are baked?
Pip’s baked products include Cheddar Cheese Balls, Cheddar Crunchies, Cheddar Fries, and Fiery Cheddar Fries. They are baked—not fried—and made with heirloom corn.
What are the best alternatives to potato chips?
That depends on what you love about potato chips. If it is the satisfying crunch, our Mini Popcorn and Corn Dippers are great alternatives. If it is the cheese flavor, Cheese Balls, Crunchies, and Cheddar Fries may make more sense.
Outside our pantry, people also reach for roasted chickpeas, fruit crisps, sweet potato snacks, beet chips, kale chips, plantain snacks, or homemade tortilla crisps. Some alternatives may still be similar to regular potato chips in calories, fat, or sodium, so it always pays to read the nutrition label.
