Are Avocado, Olive, or Coconut Oil Potato Chips Healthier?
Nutrition & FitnessDiet & Nutrition

Are Potato Chips Made With Avocado, Olive, or Coconut Oil Any Healthier?

Though alternative oils may make only a small difference in terms of nutrition, they can lead to some other benefits.
Are Potato Chips Made With Avocado, Olive, or Coconut Oil Any Healthier?
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Updated on November 11, 2025
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People have long agreed that potato chips are a delicious snack. But with the rise in health-aware consumers and the addition of new potato chip brands on the market, some companies have shifted to using alternative oils, rather than the standard canola, sunflower, or corn versions.

Are these alternative oils healthier? We spoke to a dietitian to get the lowdown on whether chips made with avocado, olive, or coconut oil have any additional nutritional benefits.

Which Cooking Oil Is Best?

“While some oils are healthier than others, the type of oil used in potato chips won’t make a huge nutritional difference or significance for overall health,” says Rahaf Al Bochi, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and creator of Olive Tree Nutrition, who’s based in the Washington, DC, and Baltimore area.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any benefits to choosing a chip made with an alternative oil.

In fact, many chip brands that opt for healthy oils like avocado or olive oil make products with overall shorter ingredient lists — meaning you won’t get the artificial colors or flavors you’d typically find in traditional chips.

“Chips made with avocado oil or olive oil may be slightly healthier options — but in the end, potato chips should be enjoyed in moderation, regardless of the oil used,” says Bochi.

If you’re chowing down on chips, it’s important to check the serving size listed on the nutrient label. This can tell you the nutritional information for a certain number of chips. You can then use that information to decide the best portion size for you, based on factors like your age, weight and height, and activity level.

In general, health experts recommended keeping your consumption of highly processed foods — especially those high in salt and saturated fat, like traditional potato chips — to a minimum.

If you don’t want to give up chips entirely, you could consider eating a smaller portion or choosing options with no added salt or artificial ingredients. You could also consider sometimes swapping out chips for another crunchy snack, such as heart-healthy nuts or homemade popcorn.

You can even try to make your own potato chips at home, if you want full control over how they’re made and which ingredients are used.

Bochi’s go-to for homemade chips is avocado oil, because of its health benefits and its ability to withstand higher temperatures. Olive oil is next on her list, since coconut oil has a higher percentage of saturated fat.

If you’re going to make your own potato chips, you may want to watch the amount of salt that you add and how much you eat. Bochi says to keep in mind that as satisfying as this classic snack may be, moderation is key.

Now, let’s provide some additional clarity and information on these three different types of oils.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is made from pressing avocado pulp, and its health benefits include reducing cholesterol and promoting heart health. With 10 grams of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids per tablespoon, avocado oil is rich in healthy fat, oleic acid, vitamin E, and lutein, an antioxidant for the eyes. In addition, avocado oil has a high smoke point, so it’s great for cooking at high temperatures.

Olive Oil

Olive oil, particularly extra-virgin olive oil, is associated with numerous health benefits, including lowering the risk of heart disease, reducing inflammation, and protecting against cancer. It’s high in antioxidants and healthy fats.

Coconut Oil

There are three types of coconut oil: partially hydrogenated coconut oil, refined coconut oil, and virgin coconut oil.

Of the three, virgin coconut oil is considered to have the most health benefits, as it is removed without unnatural chemical processes from the fruit of fresh, mature coconuts. When the correct type is used — and used sparingly — coconut oil raises HDL (“good”) cholesterol in the body. However, recent research has discovered that it can raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol as well.

The Takeaway

  • While some oils are healthier than others, the type of oil used in potato chips won’t make a significant nutritional difference in the health profile of the snack.
  • More than worrying about the type of oil used for frying them, consuming potato chips in moderation is the healthiest choice.
  • If you make your own potato chips at home, avocado oil is the best oil to use for frying, due to its high smoke point.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Food Portions: Choosing Just Enough for You. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. July 2021.
  2. Can Processed Foods Be Part of a Healthy Diet? American Heart Association. July 31, 2024.
  3. Yes, Avocado Oil Is Good for You. Cleveland Clinic. December 19, 2024.
  4. 6 Major Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Cleveland Clinic. January 16, 2024.
  5. Coconut Oil. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
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Kayli Anderson, RDN

Medical Reviewer
Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Kayli Anderson has over a decade of experience in nutrition, culinary education, and lifestyle medicine. She believes that eating well should be simple, pleasurable, and sustainable. Anderson has worked with clients from all walks of life, but she currently specializes in nutrition therapy and lifestyle medicine for women. She’s the founder of PlantBasedMavens.com, a hub for women to get evidence-based, practical, and woman-centered guidance on nutrition and cooking, hormone health, fertility, pregnancy, movement, mental well-being, nontoxic living, and more.

Anderson is board-certified in lifestyle medicine and serves as lead faculty of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s (ACLM) "Food as Medicine" course. She is past chair of the ACLM's registered dietitian member interest group, secretary of the women's health member interest group, and nutrition faculty for many of ACLM's other course offerings. She is the coauthor of the Plant-Based Nutrition Quick Start Guide and works with many of the leading organizations in nutrition and lifestyle medicine to develop nutrition content, recipes, and educational programs.

Anderson frequently speaks on the topics of women’s health and plant-based nutrition and has coauthored two lifestyle medicine textbooks, including the first one on women’s health, Improving Women's Health Across the Lifespan.

She received a master's degree in nutrition and physical performance and is certified as an exercise physiologist and intuitive eating counselor. She's a student of herbal medicine and women's integrative and functional medicine. She lives with her husband in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, where you’ll find her out on a trail or in her garden.

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Adrianna Aguilar

Author

Adrianna Aguilar is a certified personal trainer who thrives on connecting people to each other and their bodies. With her extensive background as a dancer and mover, she fell in love with the methods of Guy Voyer and myofascial stretching techniques. While she specializes in myofascial stretch training, she’s also an ACE certified personal trainer. Her other qualifications include StrongFirst Level 1 in Kettlebells, trained in classic Pilates under The Pilates Standard, TRX Suspension qualified, and being a FEET-NESS instructor.

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