In the wake of the holidays, the impulse to overcompensate for celebratory indulgences can drive even sane eaters to the very edge of madness. New Year’s resolutions are almost always geared towards shaping up, and food is the first target to focus on. “Losing weight” has been the top response of those surveyed for over a decade running, and it’s no surprise considering how decadent those early winter feasts can become. By this time, two weeks into the year, roughly half of people have already admitted defeat and given up on those lofty aspirations.

Snack Happier

Rather than going down the path of deprivation and sad, austere meals, finding satisfying eats will prove much more effective in the long run. In fact, contrary to the traditional three-square-meal approach, it may be beneficial to add more nourishing, wholesome snacks. Plus, those midday munchies can be downright decadent in flavor without taking a toll on your waistline.

Eat The Whole Batch

Crunchy, lightly salted baked sweet potato chips fit the definition of health food while vanquishing cravings in one resounding bite. Naturally sweet, you’ll never miss the added sugars typically found in packaged treats, nor the extra oils used for frying. Paired with a deceptively simple, creamy dip, the duo could even pass for dessert, too. Owing its caramel flavor to nothing more than soft Medjool dates, dairy-free yogurt makes up the bulk of this probiotic-packed accompaniment.

Make It Your Own

Although you can’t go wrong with the classic approach, sprinkling a tiny pinch of coarse salt to heighten the existing essence of the potato, the sky is the limit for creative seasonings.

Choose your own flavor adventure! Try any of the following seasoning mixtures to spice things up a bit…

• Simple Cinnamon Sugar: 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar + 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• Gingerbread: 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar + 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger + 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon + 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
• Citrus Sunshine: 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar + 1 Teaspoon Orange Zest + 1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest
• Sweet & Spicy: 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar + 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper + 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

Riffle through your spice collection and go wild! These are just a few suggestions for my favorite flavors, but that’s only the beginning for this versatile chip.

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Yield: Makes 3 - 4 Servings of Chips; About 2 Cups of Dip

Baked Sweet Potato Chips with Creamy Caramel Date Dip

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Crunchy, lightly salted baked sweet potato chips fit the definition of “health food” while vanquishing cravings in one resounding bite. Don’t forget the creamy date caramel dip to take this treat to the next level!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

Sweet Potato Chips:

• 2 Medium Sweet Potatoes, Orange- or Purple-Fleshed, or a Mixture of Both
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1/4 - 1/2 Teaspoon Coarse Salt
• Optional Seasonings, See Below

Creamy Date Caramel Dip:

• 1 Cup Pitted Medjool Dates
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
• 1 5.3-Ounce Container Vanilla Vegan Yogurt
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and arrange the racks so that they're all more or less centered. Line two or three baking sheets with silicone baking mats or pieces of parchment paper; set aside.
2. Thoroughly scrub the potatoes but don't peel them. The peel contains most of the fiber which makes this snack so satisfying, not to mention additional nutrients such as potassium, iron, and folate, just for starters. Use a mandoline to slice them as thinly and evenly as possible; 1-mm is ideal. You can also use a very sharp knife, but it's much more difficult to keep the slices consistent.
3. Arrange the potato slices on your baking sheets in one even layer. Brush them lightly with the olive oil and then sprinkle them evenly with salt and your additional seasonings, if using. Bake no more than two sheets at once to ensure more uniform cooking across all the chips.
4. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes, flipping once around the 15-minute mark, until the edges are crisp and golden brown. Let cool completely
5. For the dip, pour hot water over the dates, just to cover, and let soak for about 30 minutes. This will soften dates a bit and help them blend more smoothly.
6. Drain the dates but save the soaking water. Toss them into your blender along with all of the remaining ingredients. Puree, pausing to scrape down the sides of the container as needed, and slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup of the reserved soaking liquid. Continue blending until the mixture is perfectly smooth, adding in another tablespoon or two of the leftover water if needed.
7. Best if served chilled! Store the dip an air-tight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Notes

Optional Seasonings: Try any of the following seasoning mixtures to spice things up a bit...

• Simple Cinnamon Sugar: 1 Tablespooon Granulated Sugar + 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• Gingerbread: 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar + 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger + 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon + 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
• Citrus Sunshine: 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar + 1 Teaspoon Orange Zest + 1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest
• Sweet & Spicy: 1 Tablespoon Granulated Sugar + 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper + 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

Recommended Products

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.

• 
  Bergin Fruit and Nut Company, Organic Medjool Dates, 14 oz (397 g)
• 
  Global 8" Chef's Knife
• 
  La Tourangelle, 100% Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 25.4 fl oz (750 ml)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 314Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 452mgCarbohydrates: 67gFiber: 6gSugar: 53gProtein: 5g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.