Recipe: Healthy Baked Herb Potato Chips

If you thought the only way to enjoy potato chips was to buy the greasy, high-fat variety from the store, you've been seriously missing out. It's totally possible to make a lower-fat, healthier version right at home using your oven. And since you're making them on your own, you can season them however you want. Whether you like a mix of herbs or just a pinch of salt, you'll be able to flavor them to your taste.

To make baked potato chips, it's best to use a mandoline – a slicer that can cut potatoes paper-thin. If you don't have one, aim for slices that are as thin as possible, ideally between ⅛ and 1/16 of an inch thick. Wash your potatoes well in cold water, removing any eyes, and then slice them thin. One potato will make a nice snack, but if you're making a batch for a family meal, you may want a few potatoes.

Lay your slices on a baking sheet so no slice is touching another slice. If they touch, they'll stick together during the baking process. For a totally low-fat option, spray each slice lightly with non-fat cooking spray. If you're not worried about using a little bit of oil, brush each slice ever so slightly with olive oil. Olive oil is a healthy alternative to the other oils normally used in potato chips, so you'll still be making a healthier choice.

Following that, sprinkle each slice with the herbs of your choice. Common options include dill or rosemary, or a little sea salt, but you can try any combination you like. You might also use herbs of Provence, a spicy mix that includes turmeric and paprika, or a Tex-Mex version with cumin and red pepper. Some people even like a simple black pepper and just a hint of salt. Since the batches are small, you could try various combinations at first, and then decide which ones you like best.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Once it is preheated, place your tray of slices into the oven and bake (rotating the sheet half way) for about 30 minutes. Keep an eye on the "chips," as every oven cooks them at slightly different speeds. Ideally, your chips will turn golden brown – that's how you know they're done. Throughout the cooking process, you should be monitoring the chips to look for that golden brown color.

Then take the chips out of the oven, set them on a paper towel to absorb any moisture or excess oil, and you're ready to enjoy! Your family will love these, healthy chips in place of the greasy store-bought spuds.

What’s your favorite healthy make-at-home swap?