Healthiest Chips and Crisps at Australian Supermarkets 2026

The chip aisle is one of the most tempting—and confusing—sections of any Australian supermarket. With bright packaging screaming "75% less fat," "baked not fried," and "made with real veggies," it's easy to believe you're making a healthy choice. But are these claims actually true, or just clever marketing?

We used the KnowYourFood health scoring algorithm to analyse hundreds of chips and crisps across Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI. By looking past the front-of-pack marketing and diving into the nutrition panels, ingredient lists, and NOVA processing classifications, we've uncovered the truth about Australia's favourite salty snacks.

The Problem with Most Supermarket Chips

Before we reveal the healthiest options, it's important to understand why most chips score poorly on the health scale. The traditional potato chip is a simple concept: potato, oil, and salt. However, modern manufacturing has turned this simple snack into an ultra-processed (NOVA 4) product.

Here are the main issues with standard supermarket chips:

Excessive Sodium: Many popular brands contain over 600mg of sodium per 100g, which is considered high. A single serving can easily push you over your daily recommended limit.

Poor Quality Oils: Most chips are fried in highly refined vegetable oils (like canola or sunflower oil) that can be inflammatory when consumed in large amounts.

Hidden Additives: Flavoured chips (like BBQ, Chicken, or Sour Cream & Onion) are notorious for containing flavour enhancers (like MSG/621), artificial colours, and preservatives.

Ultra-Processing: Extruded snacks (like Pringles or Cheezels) are made from dehydrated potato flakes or cornmeal mixed with emulsifiers and shaped into uniform pieces. These are far removed from a real potato.

The Top 5 Healthiest Chips in Australia

If you're looking for a healthier crunch, these five options consistently score the highest in our database.

1. Proper Crisps (Marlborough Sea Salt) — Health Score: 82/100

Proper Crisps are a standout in the chip aisle. They stick to the basics: potatoes, high oleic sunflower oil, and sea salt. There are no artificial flavours, no MSG, and no hidden sugars.

Why it scores high: Nutri-Score B, NOVA 3 (processed, not ultra-processed), and only three real ingredients. The sodium level is moderate at 380mg per 100g.

2. Macro Lentil Bites (Sea Salt) — Health Score: 78/100

Available at Woolworths, these lentil-based snacks offer a great alternative to traditional potato chips. They are baked rather than fried, which significantly reduces the fat content, and the lentils provide a decent hit of protein and fibre.

Why it scores high: Lower in saturated fat than potato chips, good source of fibre (7g per 100g), and a short ingredient list.

3. Cobs Organic Popcorn (Sea Salt) — Health Score: 75/100

While technically popcorn, Cobs satisfies the same salty craving as chips but with a much better nutritional profile. The organic sea salt variety contains just three ingredients: organic popcorn, organic high oleic sunflower oil, and sea salt.

Why it scores high: High in whole grains and fibre, low in saturated fat, and completely free from artificial additives.

4. Red Rock Deli (Sea Salt) — Health Score: 70/100

If you prefer a traditional potato chip, Red Rock Deli's plain sea salt variety is one of the better mainstream options available at Coles and Woolworths. They are cooked in sunflower oil and avoid the artificial flavourings found in their other varieties (like Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream).

Why it scores high: A relatively clean ingredient list compared to other mainstream brands, though the sodium content is slightly higher at around 490mg per 100g.

5. ALDI Sprinters Lentil Crisps — Health Score: 68/100

For a budget-friendly option, ALDI's lentil crisps are a solid choice. They offer a similar nutritional profile to the Woolworths Macro brand but at a significantly lower price point — making healthy snacking accessible for every budget.

Why it scores high: Lower fat content than traditional chips and a good source of plant-based protein.

Comparing the Crunch: A Nutritional Breakdown

To help you make an informed choice, here is a side-by-side comparison of popular chips per 100g:

Always compare using the per 100g column, as serving sizes vary widely between brands.

The "Healthy" Chips to Avoid

Don't be fooled by clever marketing. Here are some common traps in the chip aisle:

Veggie Chips: Many "veggie" chips are actually just potato starch or corn flour dyed with a tiny amount of vegetable powder (like beetroot or spinach) for colour. They often contain just as much fat and sodium as regular chips, with very little actual vegetable content.

"Baked Not Fried": While baked chips are generally lower in fat, they are often highly processed and can contain added sugars or modified starches to improve texture. Always check the ingredient list, not just the front-of-pack claim.

Flavoured Varieties: Even if a brand offers a healthy plain chip, their flavoured varieties (like BBQ or Sour Cream & Chives) are usually packed with sugar, milk powders, and flavour enhancers. The KnowYourFood app consistently finds that flavoured chips score 10-20 points lower than their plain counterparts.

Rice Crackers: Often perceived as a healthy alternative, many rice crackers are highly processed and contain surprisingly high sodium levels. Some popular brands at Coles and Woolworths contain over 700mg of sodium per 100g — more than regular potato chips.

What to Look for When Buying Chips

When scanning the chip aisle at your local Coles, Woolworths, or ALDI, keep these four rules in mind:

Short Ingredient List: The best chips have three to five ingredients. If the list runs to fifteen items with numbers and chemical-sounding names, put it back.

Sodium Under 400mg per 100g: This is the threshold for a "moderate" sodium level. Anything over 600mg per 100g is considered high.

Saturated Fat Under 3g per 100g: Chips will always contain fat, but look for options where saturated fat is minimised.

No Flavour Enhancers (621, 627, 631, 635): These additives are a reliable sign of ultra-processing and are designed to make you eat more than you intend to.

The Healthier Snacking Strategy

The honest truth is that even the healthiest chips are still a discretionary food — meaning they should be an occasional treat rather than a daily staple. The best snacks for sustained energy and satiety are still whole foods: a small handful of unsalted mixed nuts, sliced vegetables with hummus, or a piece of fruit.

That said, if you are going to buy chips, choosing a product with a health score of 65 or above makes a genuine difference over time. Swapping from a NOVA 4 extruded snack to a NOVA 3 kettle-cooked chip with a clean ingredient list is a meaningful step in the right direction.

Scan Before You Snack with KnowYourFood

Memorising nutrition panels and ingredient lists is exhausting — and you shouldn't have to. The KnowYourFood app makes it effortless. Simply point your phone's camera at any chip barcode and get an instant health score (0–100), Nutri-Score rating, NOVA processing level, and a full additive breakdown.

The app works at Coles, Woolworths, ALDI, IGA, and any other Australian supermarket. It's free to download with two scans per day, or upgrade to Premium for unlimited scans and personalised dietary filters.

Next time you're craving a salty snack, don't just grab the brightest bag on the shelf. Scan it first, check the score, and make a choice you can feel good about. Visit https://www.knowyourfood.net to download the app and start snacking smarter today.