Substitutions that are healthy and yummy - I miss chips and crackers:(

sw0312
sw0312 Posts: 30 Member
edited November 11 in Food and Nutrition
So today I just ate my Sara Lee multigrain bread (45 cal a slice - love it!) with turkey (60 cal), spring mix lettuce (20 cal), chipotle low cal mayo (35 cal), a sharp cheddar slice (70cal) and avocado (30 cal) for a total of 305 calories. For a yummy sandwich that is not too shabby. What are missing are the chips!!! I so miss the crunchy, salty taste of chips and crackers with a sandwich. I even tried veggie straws but they have virtually no veggies in them and are 130 cal for 20 sticks and it is not worth it. I like plain rice cakes and have broken those up but if anyone has a miracle substitution I would love it! Also, post your substitutions that get you by.
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Replies

  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    Pickles. Very low calories but you still get crunchy and salty.
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    Actual veggie sticks (carrots and celery) with salt.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Popcorn. Otherwise, I eat the chips I guess.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I love Quest chips, but I know a lot of people don't, and they're not as cheap as regular chips, but they totally do it for me... but I'm not really the type who really loves chips (sure, I used to eat the whole bag, but I have more of a sweet tooth).

    Otherwise, you could try pop chips or those special K popped crackers or something.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I love Quest chips, but I know a lot of people don't, and they're not as cheap as regular chips, but they totally do it for me... but I'm not really the type who really loves chips (sure, I used to eat the whole bag, but I have more of a sweet tooth).

    Otherwise, you could try pop chips or those special K popped crackers or something.

    Are the Quest chips lower in calories?
  • susansmoaks
    susansmoaks Posts: 77 Member
    i like pop chips and boomchicka pop
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    120 calories for a bag but 21g of protein.

    Or popcorn maybe?
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  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
    Did you make the sandwich at home? I'd suggest making your own chips. I have one of those microwave chip makers. They work great! Also kale chips.
  • mz107
    mz107 Posts: 16
    I love the skinnygirl lime and salt popcorn!
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    OP didn't say unhealthy, just calorie dense with little nutrition.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    *looks down at lunch plate*

    Ummm... chips are just fine to have. Not seeing the issue.
  • RachelSueMobley
    RachelSueMobley Posts: 3 Member
    Pretzels. 18 Rold Gold Tint Twists are only 110 calories.
  • cheshirecatastrophe
    cheshirecatastrophe Posts: 1,395 Member
    Thinly-sliced jicama with salt? Maybe some red pepper or chili powder? Jicama is THE BEST. I also like the pickle idea.
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    Athijade wrote: »
    *looks down at lunch plate*

    Ummm... chips are just fine to have. Not seeing the issue.

    Then you didin't read well.
  • sw0312
    sw0312 Posts: 30 Member

    SuggaD wrote: »
    Did you make the sandwich at home? I'd suggest making your own chips. I have one of those microwave chip makers. They work great! Also kale chips.

    I did make it this morning before work and that is a great idea I will have to look into the chip maker!
  • agal129
    agal129 Posts: 215 Member
    I've taken to subbing kale chips for potato chips lately. I buy Brad's raw food brand from Kroger, but you can easily make your own too. Another thing to consider is buying baked chips or eating a cracker like triscuits (although they aren't low calorie)
  • Unknown
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  • sw0312
    sw0312 Posts: 30 Member
    GuitarJerry wrote: »
    I just eat chips. Why do you think they are not healthy?

    When I make a wonderful sandwich with great flavors and healthy ingredients for 305 calories it is pitiful to see that 20 veggie sticks is almost half of those calories not to mention other higher calorie chips.

    I want to stay within my calorie allotment without blowing it on 20 measly veggie sticks - no pleasure in that lol!
  • sw0312
    sw0312 Posts: 30 Member
    mz107 wrote: »
    I love the skinnygirl lime and salt popcorn!

    I will have to try that!
  • sw0312
    sw0312 Posts: 30 Member
    AliceDark wrote: »
    Pickles. Very low calories but you still get crunchy and salty.

    Great idea
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Well all substitutions will be 120 calories for 20 chips or something... or 20 pretzels.

    If you want volume and crunch, then yeah, go with pickles or raw carrots, lol (I eat carrots a lot with sandwiches and wraps, honestly).
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  • Lasmartchika
    Lasmartchika Posts: 3,440 Member
    sw0312 wrote: »
    GuitarJerry wrote: »
    I just eat chips. Why do you think they are not healthy?

    When I make a wonderful sandwich with great flavors and healthy ingredients for 305 calories it is pitiful to see that 20 veggie sticks is almost half of those calories not to mention other higher calorie chips.

    I want to stay within my calorie allotment without blowing it on 20 measly veggie sticks - no pleasure in that lol!

    How many calories are you eating daily that you can't fit some chips into your day?
  • sw0312
    sw0312 Posts: 30 Member
    Let me rephrase my original post.
    I am watching my calories doing a 1200+calorie per day diet. Adding in exercise every day if I can. I can eat chips if I want in fact I can eat anything I want but I was looking for some lower calorie healthier options. I have been logging and staying on this since 01/07 /15 and have lost 6 pounds and all around feel like a healthier person. I want to start enjoying healthier foods rather than the chips that I know would lead me back to where I was. I would rather find a substitution with more nutrients, lower calories and the salt and crunch that I like. 20 veggie sticks do nothing for me (empty calories). Again - I am not saying I can't have them I was only looking for a yummy substitution.
  • avskk
    avskk Posts: 1,787 Member
    I like popchips, particularly the Special K brand (not because they're better but because they're available, mostly). Pretty big serving for ~120 calories. Pretzel sticks are good, too, especially if you get the super-salty ones.
  • aSearch4Me
    aSearch4Me Posts: 397 Member
    @sw0312 along the line of raw veggies, I'm a big fan of raw snow peas with sandwiches in place of chips/crackers. Great crunch & sweet. If you need a substitute for crackers for things like chicken salad/tuna salad, endive leaves work well & most grocery stores stock it.
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
    http://harvestsnaps.com/products/snapea-crisps-lightly-salted

    I like these.
  • psmd
    psmd Posts: 764 Member
    I used to always have chips or pretzels with a turkey sandwich. I agree with you, if you are trying to go for stuff that's filling, more nutritious, etc. then chips have to go as a regular item. Now I usually bring a sandwich to work as well as a few pieces of fruit (apple, banana, pear, orange, whatever) and it is really filling and tastes good (I love fruit but don't eat enough of it). Sometimes some soup if I still want something warm to eat. I really don't miss the chips at all.

    I also like hummus with pretzels or pita chips (can make these yourself easily) if you are looking for a substition more similar to chips.
  • astrose00
    astrose00 Posts: 754 Member
    I love cucumbers. I slice them and eat with vinegar (or lime juice) and salt and pepper. I might drizzle a tiny bit of olive oil on it it along with some crushed red pepper for spice. It's very light and refreshing goes great with sandwiches. Sometime I even use a mandolin to slice the cucumber (length-wise) and put inside the sandwich.

    Nature's Harvest also has a low calorie bread (only 40 cals per slice). Tastes the same to me as Sara Lee. I have OCD when it comes to calories so if I can save 10 calories (per 2 slices) I will!

    I don't know why people who don't plan on answering the OP's questions feel the need to chime in with useless advice or commentary... Sure, plenty of people fail on their diets by being restrictive. But I would guess that many fail on their diets because they are too liberal with eating high calorie foods that wind up blowing their calorie deficits. It's a lot easier to stop eating pickles or cucumbers or veggies than potato chips. Potato chips don't even fill you up which make them even more "dangerous" if you're prone to overeating. My mom had weight loss surgery and the doctor specifically told her to stay away from chips for this reason.

    I restrict my calories to lose weight. Sure, I could have a 1,000 calorie slice of pizza. But my macros will be blown and I will be starving for the rest of the day. In my experience, most of the people on MFP that complain about being hungry all the time are the ones who eat high calorie foods with little nutritional value. That is, when they open up their diaries you see candy, high calorie lattes and other things that have no bang for the buck.

    OP I also eat carrot with hummus. 100g of carrots and a tablespoon of hummus are about 70 calories and go pretty far. I know it's not crunchy, but I also eat Danon Light and Fit Greek with about 80 calories if I want a little more tha a small sandwich.
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