Popcorn vs Potato Chips: Nutrition Comparison
Popcorn and potato chips are the two most popular savoury snacks, and they differ significantly in nutritional value. Air-popped or lightly seasoned popcorn is a whole grain with meaningful fibre content and relatively modest calories per serving due to its high volume relative to weight. Potato chips are far more calorie-dense and typically much higher in fat and sodium per serving. The key variable with popcorn is preparation — air-popped is excellent, but heavily buttered cinema-style popcorn approaches chip-level calorie density. For a snack that satisfies volume hunger with fewer calories, popcorn is the clear winner over potato chips.
Nutrition Comparison
| Nutrient |
1 Serving (35.0g)
|
1 Serving (35g)*
|
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 109.9 kcal | 199.8 kcal |
| Total Fat | 1.5 g | 13.8 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g | 2.5 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 0 mg | 6.3 mg |
| Total Carbs | 24 g | 17.5 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g | 1.3 g |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Protein | 4 g | 2.5 g |
* Nutrition data sourced from the USDA Food Central Database. Values marked with * have been normalized to match the larger serving size for a fair comparison. Individual products may vary.
Full Nutrition Details
See the complete nutrition breakdown for each food individually, including vitamins and minerals.