It’s completely normal to crave sweet treats like cake, donuts, and ice cream or savory snacks like chips, pretzels, and salty french fries, as long as you enjoy them in moderation. Being aware of what’s actually in the foods you eat can make a big difference — especially in the U.S., where many common foods are loaded with added sugar, sodium, saturated fats, and hard-to-pronounce chemicals. According to the American Heart Association, the American Institute for Cancer Research, and the USDA, there’s one food that's considered the unhealthiest food on the planet: potato chips. High amounts of sodium and saturated fats and very low levels of fiber make this ultra-processed food No. 1 on the list of the 100 most unhealthy foods. Most bags of potato chips not only have exorbitant levels of sodium, they also contain artificial flavors and colors. Take Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Chips, for example. These addicting chips are made with Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 — two common food dyes that are considered animal and human carcinogens. That doesn’t mean you can’t have potato chips, but maybe look for ones that get a healthier rating. According to dieticians, the 6 healthiest potato chips include Jackson’s Sweet Potato Chips, Roots Purple Sea Salt Potato Chips, Terra Vegetable Chips with Sea Salt, Siete’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, Popchips Sea Salt, and Pure Protein Popper Crisps. All have simple ingredients, caloric density, low saturated fats, and low sodium content.
