Which Is Worse For You, Chips Or Popcorn?

Let's be honest: snacking time is an essential part of life. It's especially satisfying if a bag of chips is involved. Or if you're busy watching a movie, popcorn works well too, eh? When there are such irresistible options like popcorn and chips in the world, it's truly hard to say no. But of course, if there are health concerns, you need to ask yourself: What's better for you in the long run? Which option won't make you feel guilty (or worse) and bloated (or worse) the next day?

The answer isn't as simple as you may expect. As explained by Taste, potato chips and a bowl of popcorn are not all that different if you're thinking about calories. Of course, if you opt for air-popped popcorn over other varieties, you'll save around 30 percent of the calories in the bargain. But the ultimate question is this: If there is a face-off between popcorn and chips, which choice is likely to emerge as the winner? Here's your answer.

No prizes for guessing this, but yes, chips are worse for you. According to Livestrong, many factors are worth considering when evaluating this situation. But the simple answer is this: When you eat popcorn, you're likely to feel far more satisfied than if you treat yourself to chips. Why?

Because you can eat more popcorn for the same number of calories. It's also important to make a mindful choice when you're choosing popcorn. As everyone knows, the popcorn you get in the cinema is far from healthy and is loaded with butter or other kinds of fat, not to mention an (un)healthy application of salt. And, it turns out, there are some surprising side effects of eating too much of this kind of popcorn.

But if you opt for air-popped popcorn from the comfort of your home, you'll be doing your health a huge favor. A one-ounce serving of chips, per Livestrong, has about 152 calories, 14.2 grams of carbs, 10.2 grams of fat, and just 1.8 grams of protein. On the other hand, you're looking at 128 calories, 1.3 grams of fat (wow,) 21.8 grams of carbs and 3.6 grams of protein for one ounce of popcorn. Important note: if you end up eating normal microwave popcorn, you won't reap the same benefits and depending on which type you consume, you might be looking at 12.2 grams of fat. 

A Reddit user summed up the argument well when they wrote, "As far as calorie density, you'll be able to eat 'more' popcorn versus chips. Chips are further away from a whole food than popcorn so in that sense it's 'better.'" Make the smarter choice. Next time, eat a nice bowl of air-popped popcorn.