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Salty Snacks Healthier Than Potato Chips

There's nothing better than opening up a new bag of potato chips and taking that first, heavenly bite—especially if you're feeding an intense salt craving.

But every dieter knows that downing a bag of greasy (read: fattening) sodium-filled chips isn't a good call. Doing so will lead to dehydration, which can increase hunger and derail your hard-earned weight loss wins. What's more, extremely salty foods—like chips—can cause water retention, so they'll leave you looking paunchier than you are. But just because chips are a no-go doesn't mean you can't satisfy your urge for a salty snack. There are plenty of healthy, savory snacks that can quell your craving without skyrocketing your blood pressure or expanding your waistline.

All the snacks below are far more nutrient-dense than a bag of chips and have no more than 180 calories per serving. Read on to find out how they each stack up against a typical snack bag:

THE COMPETITION

Ruffles Original Potato Chips, snack bag, 1.5 oz.
240 calories, 15 grams fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 210 mg sodium, 23 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 3 g protein

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The Good Bean Sea Salt, 1 oz

Calories 120
Fat 3 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Sodium 185 mg
Carbs 18 g
Fiber 5 g
Sugar 1 g
Protein 5 g

These dried chickpeas are downright addictive. They have the crunchiness of a chip, but lucky for you, carry far fewer calories and less fat and sodium. Plus, they're filled with two of the most satiating nutrients on the block: fiber and protein. Keep a bag of the stuff in your desk; noshing on them will help you stay away from the vending machine next time a salty snack attack strikes.

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I Heart Keenwah Quinoa Puffs Sea Salt Truffle, 1 oz

Calories 120
Fat 4 g
Saturated Fat 0.5 g
Sodium 190 mg
Carbs 16 g
Fiber 1 g
Sugar 0 g
Protein 5 g

This salty gluten-free snack features quinoa flour, brown rice flour and pea protein concentrate (it's easier to digest than other protein alternatives like whey), which ups its protein count beyond that of the competition. It also uses far less oil, which help keeps your hands grease-free and maintain your flat stomach.

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Field Trip Jerky Teriyaki No.23 Beef Jerky, 1 oz

Calories 80
Fat 1.5 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Sodium 125 mg
Carbs 4 g
Fiber 0 g
Sugar 4 g
Protein 13 g

This Asian-inspired jerky is lower in fat and sodium than conventional varieties and is also free of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a scary additive that increases appetite. If you're looking to fill up without filling out, make this your go-to. An 80-calorie serving has a whopping 13 grams of protein, a nutrient that's been shown to keep hunger at bay and help the body build more muscle mass, giving you that lean look you crave.

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Sunbiotics Cheesy Probiotic Almonds, 1 oz

Calories 180
Fat 13 g
Saturated Fat 1.5 g
Sodium 170 mg
Carbs 7 g
Fiber 3 g
Sugar 1 g
Protein 6 g

If you're sick of noshing on traditional nuts, these probiotic (a healthy bacteria that fuels weight loss) enhanced nuts should be a welcome addition to your snack drawer. They get their cheesy flavor from a sprinkling of sea salt and nutritional yeast—an inactive yeast made from beet molasses and sugarcane—which keeps the calorie count low and the nutritional profile robust. Grab a small handful as a pre-workout snack. Researchers say the nut's L-arginine content can actually up carb and fat burn during workouts.

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Milas Oloves Natural Green Pitted Olives Lemon & Rosemary, 1.1 oz package

Calories 50
Fat 6 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Sodium 250 mg
Carbs 0 g
Fiber 0 g
Sugar 0 g
Protein 0 g

Like olive oil, olives are filled with healthy monounsaturated fats that boost heart health and ward off hunger. With just 50 calories for an entire to-go pack, you can't go wrong with Milas Oloves' savory, citrus- and herb-infused snack. Though they're sold at a number of health food stores, most Starbucks locations recently started carrying them (along with some other new healthy snacks), so they're easy to find in a pinch.

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Just Pure Foods Zucchini Chips, Sour Cream & Onion, 1/2 package, 0.75 grams

Calories 95
Fat 7.5 g
Saturated Fat 1 g
Sodium 195 mg
Carbs 7 g
Fiber 1.5 g
Sugar 0 g
Protein 2 g

While eating something made of dehydrated squash may not seem like it would be too tasty, this snack is actually beyond satisfying. Its oniony, garlicky flavor rivals that of a sour cream and onion chip. The primary difference between the two snacks? Downing half of bag of Just Pure Foods' creation won't damage to your waistline.

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Kashi Original 7 Grain Sea Salt Pita Crisps, 11 crisps

Calories 120
Fat 3 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Sodium 180 mg
Carbs 22 g
Fiber 5 g
Sugar 2 g
Protein 3 g

To the untrained eye, any bag of pita chips likely seems healthier than a bag of Ruffles, but that's simply not the case. Many brands dip their pita bread into vats of oil and then roll it in tons of salt, making their snacks just as sabotaging as a bag of chips. We're fans of Kashi's whole-grain chips because they're light in sodium and fat—but don't taste like it. Dip them into some protein- and fiber-filled hummus to boost the satiety factor even further.

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Organic Valley Stringles Organic String Cheese, 1 stick

Calories 80
Fat 6 g
Saturated Fat 3.5 g
Sodium 210 mg
Carbs 0 g
Fiber 0 g
Sugar 0 g
Protein 7 g

Though you may not think of cheese as a snack that will crush a salt craving, the calcium-rich treat provides a fair amount of sodium. We like Organic Valley Stringles because they're exceptionally creamy, light in sodium, easy to eat on the run and made with hormone- and antibiotic-free organic milk.

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Boomchickapop Popcorn Sea Salt, 2 cups

Calories 87
Fat 4 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Sodium 60 mg
Carbs 11 g
Fiber 2 g
Sugar 2 g
Protein 2 g

If you like to graze while you watch TV, air-popped popcorn should be your go-to because you can eat a ton of it without breaking the calorie bank—which you're bound to do when you're tuned into the latest episode of Silicon Valley. This crunchy snack offers a hit of hunger-banishing fiber from the whole grains and carries just 4 grams of fat. Better yet, it's made with just three ingredients: popcorn, sunflower oil and sea salt—something chemical-laced microwave popcorn can't claim.

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Wonderful Pistachios, Salt and Pepper, 1/2 cup, shelled

Calories 160
Fat 14 g
Saturated Fat 1.5 g
Sodium 180 mg
Fiber 3 g
Sugar 2 g
Protein 6 g

Unlike chips, pistachios are nearly impossible to overeat in one sitting. In a study of 140 university students, one group of participants was given in-shell pistachios while the other group was given shelled nuts. The researchers found that participants noshing on shelled pistachios consumed a whopping 41 percent more calories that those who had to remove the shells themselves. The authors say that the slowed eating time associated with the shell removal likely contributed to the smaller food intake because it allowed participants time to register that they had eaten their fill.

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Inspired by The New York Times best-selling book series, Eat This, Not That! is a brand that's comprised of an award-winning team of journalists and board-certified experts, doctors, nutritionists, chefs, personal trainers, and dietitians who work together to bring you accurate, timely, informative, and actionable content on food, nutrition, dieting, weight loss, health, wellness, and more. Read more about Eat This