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Coconut Chips: How Healthy and Sustainable They Really are

Coconut chips are considered a healthy and filling snack between meals. You can find out here how the tropical fruit actually affects your body and what ecological effects coconut chips have.

Coconut chips: how to buy and use them

You can not only buy coconut chips and snack on them, you can often find them as part of muesli and nut mixtures or bars. They are also a popular ingredient for yoghurt and quark dishes, smoothies and smoothie bowls or creamy desserts.

You can also use the chips as a baking ingredient for cookies, muffins and other desserts. They are suitable as a decorative topping for soups, curries and other wok dishes with coconut milk. When buying, you should use organic coconut chips if possible. In this way you support sustainable agriculture that works without pesticides that are harmful to the environment and health.

Also make sure that the coconut chips do not contain any sulfur dioxide (E 220). This is a preservative that poses no risk as long as the legal limits are observed. However, some conditions, such as asthma, require caution. Sulfur dioxide also destroys vitamin B1. It is therefore forbidden to sulphurize certain products containing vitamin B1.

Some coconut chips also contain sugar syrup or other sweeteners. If you want to avoid this, you should first look at the list of ingredients.

These are the nutritional values of coconut chips

Compared to other nuts, coconut chips are relatively high in calories: Rapunzel coconut chips contain around 700 kilocalories per 100 grams. They each consist of about seven percent carbohydrates and protein and about 14 percent fiber.

Almost all of the rest is fat. So this makes up about two-thirds. Coconut chips consist largely of saturated fatty acids. They contain 64.4 grams of the rather unfavorable fats per 100 grams. Up to a certain amount, saturated fatty acids also play an important role for our body: For example, they are essential for the protection of our organs and for hormone and immune metabolism.

At the same time, however, they also increase the LDL cholesterol level. This increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to the guidelines of the German Society for Nutrition, saturated fatty acids should therefore not make up more than seven to ten percent of the total energy balance. However, this value is often exceeded. That’s why you should only consume coconut products in moderation.

Compared to nuts and seeds, coconut chips are also poorer in micronutrients. They only contain potassium and iron in appreciable amounts. Other minerals or vitamins are contained only to a small extent.

Make coconut chips yourself: Here’s how

If you want to make your own coconut chips from fresh coconut pulp, you can follow these steps:

First, it is best to cut the flesh into thin strips with a vegetable peeler.
Place the strips on an oven rack or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Optionally you can refine them with a little salt or a sweetener of your choice.
The coconut strips are now placed in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for about seven to ten minutes. If they are already slightly browned around the edges, you can take them out and let them cool down.

How sustainable are coconut chips?

Coconut palms only grow in tropical regions. The Philippines, Indonesia and India are therefore among the largest coconut producers. Coconuts therefore have to cover long transport routes to Germany. Their life cycle assessment is correspondingly poor.

In addition, it is usually very difficult to trace back the coconut chip chain. For most coconut products, it is unclear under what working conditions and for what wages farmers in the countries of origin had to grow and harvest the fruit.

That’s why you should use Fair Trade certified coconut chips whenever possible. Depending on the type of seal, regular working hours, fair wages, democratic corporate structures and transparent trade routes are among the things that are taken into account.

Another problem is that coconut trees are slow growing and not very productive. If the demand for coconut products increases, this creates pressure in the producing countries. Farmers may then turn to harmful monocultures and synthetic pesticides and fertilizers to speed up yields. This is particularly fueled by the increasing demand for inexpensive coconut oil.

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Food

Make Apple Chips Yourself

Hardly any calories, low in fat and rich in vitamins when made correctly – homemade apple chips are a delicious snack for in between. We’ll tell you how you can make chips from apples yourself.

If you want to make apple chips yourself, you can use old apples, even if they have become a bit soft and shriveled. In addition, homemade apple chips are guaranteed free of sulfur dioxide or other preservatives compared to the supermarket version. In principle, you can use any variety, but Elstar and Boskop taste best (make sure they are organic!).

Air dry homemade apple chips

Ingredients:

apples of your choice

Directions:

Wash the apples, core them (an apple corer is helpful) and cut or slice them into slices about 2 to 3 millimeters thick.
Spread the apple rings individually on a baking sheet or rack. Alternatively, you can also hang up the apple rings with string to dry.
Set them outside in the warm sun to dry. But you can also let the apple rings dry in warm, dry places such as the attic or by the fireplace. With this method you do not need any additional energy.
Cover everything with fly screens, thin curtains or similar to protect the apple chip ships from flies and wasps.
After about two to three weeks, your apples will be dry.
The apple chips can be kept dry for several weeks in a well-closable container. Storage boxes made of glass or stainless steel are best.

Make apple chips in the oven

Ingredients:

apples of your choice

Directions:

Wash the apples, core them (an apple corer is helpful) and cut or slice them into slices about 2 to 3 millimeters thick.
Arrange the apple rings on baking sheets or racks. It makes sense if you borrow several baking trays or racks in order to use the energy of the oven optimally.
Put the apples in the oven at around 70 degrees for three to four hours to dry. Leave the oven door ajar with a wooden spoon. This allows the moisture to escape. It is best if you can use some of the residual heat from other dishes or cakes. This is how you save energy. Because this form of drying is very energy-intensive.
The homemade apple chips will keep for several weeks in an airtight container.

Dry apple chips in the dehydrator

If you make apple chips more often or also dry other fruit, it could be worth buying a dehydrator. The method is more effective than drying in the oven and more reliable than drying the apple chips in the air.

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Food

Chip’s Bag Empty?

Do you sometimes find yourself unable to stop yourself from eating chips and end up eating the whole bag? Then there is a simple scientific trick that will help you overcome your cravings.

Everyone probably knows the situation in which a chip bag is open and you feel like emptying the bag. However, the harder you try to do without it, the stronger the desire for it usually becomes. But how should you react when the desire to snack gets too big and tempts you to eat the whole packet of chips?

What the science advises: Acceptance

People who have a weakness for certain foods tend to avoid them. But distraction and repression tend to produce the opposite effect, as nutrition researcher Dr. Ancel Keys figured out back in the 1940s. He conducted a study of several men who were undergoing radical dieting. As a result, the participants, who consumed only 1600 kilocalories a day, talked about nothing but food.

In a more recent study, researchers also examined the connection between dieters and the craving for sweets. While half of the subjects were on a strict diet, the other half ate as usual. The only thing they had in common was that both groups were only allowed to snack from a box of chocolates at the end of the test series. All subjects cheated in this experiment, with the “diet group” even eating more chocolates than the comparison group, which ate normally.

From these experiments, the researchers concluded that it makes more sense to accept the desire and not to suppress it. Finally, a strict diet does not help to satisfy the craving for sweets. Instead, as the experts recommend, there’s a far better method: mindful snacking.

Mindful snacking as a simple trick

In a self-conducted study, Forman examined his observations of mindful snacking. To this end, he started an experiment with 190 participants who were supposed to implement certain acceptance and mindfulness strategies. After three years of observation, the subjects who followed his instructions were more likely to maintain their weight than those who suppressed thoughts about food. Forman derived special actions and tricks from this observation that you can easily put into practice:

Identify and recognize your cravings the next time you reach for that bag of chips. For example, you can say to yourself out loud, “I want chips/chocolate.”
Observe what the craving does to you: how does your stomach feel, maybe you are hungry and need a proper meal and a balanced diet? Are you afraid of eating the whole bag of chips? Are you sad or angry at yourself for possibly not being able to resist?
Rate the intensity of your cravings. Feel free to use a scale from one to ten: one stands for almost no desire, ten for very strong desire.
Accept your need and the feelings associated with it. Don’t try to suppress the desire convulsively.
Consciously enjoy the chips now. Oftentimes, you’re probably just continuing to eat out of habit. If you “taste” it consciously and slowly, you’re more likely to have enough after just a handful of chips. You are also practicing mindfulness at the same time.
Question whether you really like the chips or whether there are healthier alternatives like seasonal fruit, vegetables or nuts that you might like as well. You may be able to change your favorite snack in the future.


This means that if you force yourself to give up completely, you are actually promoting a relapse and the associated dissatisfaction. Rather, it makes more sense to internalize: There is nothing wrong with having needs. However, you can deal with these needs and cravings for chips, chocolate, and other addictive substances in different ways.

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United Kingdom

What is the significance of fish and chips in British cuisine?

Introduction to British Cuisine

British cuisine has a rich and varied history, influenced by its geography, climate, and cultural diversity. In the early days, British cuisine was characterized by hearty dishes and simple ingredients that were easily available. Over time, the cuisine has evolved and become more sophisticated, incorporating the influences of other cultures and incorporating new ingredients and cooking techniques. Today, British cuisine is known for its comfort food, such as stews, puddings, and pies, as well as its international cuisine, including Indian curries and Chinese stir-fries.

History of Fish and Chips

Fish and chips have been a popular dish in Britain for over 150 years. The dish originated in the 19th century in the working-class neighborhoods of London and other port cities. Fish and chips were a cheap and filling meal that could be quickly prepared and eaten on the go. The dish consisted of battered fish (usually cod or haddock) and deep-fried potatoes, which were served with salt, vinegar, and sometimes a side of mushy peas.

Iconic Dish for the Working Class

Fish and chips quickly became an iconic dish for the working class in Britain. During the Industrial Revolution, workers needed a quick and affordable meal that could be eaten on their lunch breaks. Fish and chips became a staple food for factory workers, miners, and other laborers, who would queue up at the local chippy (fish and chip shop) to buy their lunch. The dish was so popular that it became an important part of British culture, and today it is considered a national dish.

Popularity Spreads Beyond Britain

In the 20th century, fish and chips spread beyond Britain to other parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. British immigrants brought the dish with them and opened fish and chip shops in their new communities. Today, fish and chips are a popular dish in many countries, and you can find them on menus in restaurants and cafes around the world.

Cultural Significance Today

Fish and chips continue to be an important part of British culture today. The dish is enjoyed by people of all ages and social classes, and it is often served at celebrations and events, such as seaside holidays and sporting matches. Fish and chips are also associated with nostalgia and tradition, and many people have fond memories of eating them with their families when they were young.

Conclusion: A Dish that Defines British Cuisine

Fish and chips are an iconic dish that embodies the essence of British cuisine. The dish has a rich history and cultural significance that make it an important part of British identity. Whether you are a local or a visitor to Britain, trying fish and chips is a must-do experience that will give you a taste of the country’s history and culture.

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Australia

Beer-Battered Fish and Chips: Dip fish fillets in beer batter and deep-fry until golden, serving with thick-cut chips.

Introduction: Beer-Battered Fish and Chips

There are few dishes that can match the popularity and comfort of beer-battered fish and chips. This classic dish is a staple in many British establishments and has become a beloved comfort food all over the world. The crispy, golden batter and flaky fish fillets make for a perfect combination with thick-cut chips. Whether you are looking to enjoy a casual dinner at home or want to impress your guests with a classic pub meal, beer-battered fish and chips is a surefire crowd-pleaser.

How to Make Beer Batter for Fish Fillets

The key to making beer-battered fish and chips is the beer batter. The batter should be light, airy, and crispy, with a flavor that complements the mild taste of the fish. To make the batter, you will need flour, baking powder, salt, and, of course, beer. You can use any type of beer you like, but a light lager or ale works best.

To make the batter, mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl and gradually add the beer until the batter is smooth and lump-free. The batter should be thick enough to coat the fish fillets, but not too thick that it becomes clumpy. Let the batter rest for a few minutes, and it will become even lighter and airy.

Deep-Frying Tips for Perfect Golden Fish and Chips

Deep-frying can be intimidating, but with the right tools and techniques, it’s easy to achieve perfectly golden fish and chips. Start by heating the oil in a deep pan or deep fryer. The oil should be hot but not smoking, around 375°F. To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a small amount of batter into the oil. It should sizzle and rise to the surface immediately.

Dip the fish fillets into the batter, making sure they are fully coated. Gently place the fillets into the hot oil, and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Drain the fish on a paper towel-lined plate, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with thick-cut chips, a side of tartar sauce, and a wedge of lemon.

In conclusion, beer-battered fish and chips is a classic dish that is easy to make and delicious to eat. With a light, crispy beer batter and perfectly fried fish fillets, this dish is a must-try for seafood lovers. So, next time you’re in the mood for some comfort food, whip up a batch of beer-battered fish and chips and enjoy a taste of the pub at home.

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Food

High Fiber Vegetable Chips

During a cozy evening in front of the TV or with an exciting board game, snacks are often served. Chips are at the top of the list. Instead of the usual potato chips, try the variant made from other vegetables. These are often richer in fiber.

High-fiber vegetable chips

If you like nibbling salty things, you should definitely try the vegetable chips. Compared to potato chips, these are often richer in fiber, which stimulates digestion and keeps you full for longer. However, if you are hoping for a lower-calorie version at the same time, you will be taught a better lesson: crisps made from vegetables are only slightly lower in calories than the potato version.

Vegetable chips are made from beetroot, parsnip, Jerusalem artichoke, or carrot, for example. The spice mixtures are also varied and range from classic salt and pepper to curry or chili.

Make your own vegetable chips

This snack made from high-fiber vegetables is on the table in just 30 minutes and has only 90 calories per serving: vegetable chips with tomato quark.

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Food

How Healthy are Veggie Chips?

Stiftung Warentest found out that most vegetable crisps contain too much fat, sugar, salt, and sometimes even harmful substances such as acrylamide. We have frightening results at a glance.

Vegetable chips as an alternative to potato chips?

Potato chips are popular for a reason: they’re crispy and flavorful and once you start, it’s hard to stop. Unfortunately, they are considered one of the unhealthiest snacks of all.

For some time now, supermarkets have been offering vegetable chips made from beetroot, carrots, or sweet potatoes as a healthy alternative. Stiftung Warentest tested 15 chips from different brands and came to the conclusion: Unfortunately, they are no healthier than potato chips. Only three products get good marks.

Critical substances spoil the snacking fun

The vegetable content in fried vegetable chips is often between 60 and 70 percent, which sounds good at first. However, the fat content is 28 to 37 percent and is, therefore, higher than in conventional potato chips. With 100 grams of vegetable chips, you eat almost 30 to 40 grams of fat.

In addition, vegetable chips have a high salt content and lots of natural sugar. The acrylamide and nitrate content was also criticized. The value was particularly high for vegetable chip mixes with sweet potatoes, as well as for carrots and lentils. In animal experiments, both substances were carcinogenic and mutagenic.

Vegetable chips are also healthy

If you want to avoid all the harmful ingredients found in vegetable chips, but are still a big fan of the crunchy snack, we have the solution: make your own vegetable chips. This gives you control of what’s in your snack and you can get really creative. We have tried a few recipes for homemade vegetable chips and think that this healthy variant is really impressive.

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Food

Potato Chips: That’s Why They’re so Addictive – They’ll Get Rid of The Calories Quickly

Chips are as much a part of a TV night as amen is to church.

Chips: Human physical condition is important

Particularly piquant: The fatter the test person who had to taste the chips – in the scientific sense – was, the more the reward center in the brain was activated when eating the potato chips. The comparison of food and drugs in terms of how they work in the brain also shows parallels. The messenger substance “dopamine” plays a central role here. This means: It can happen that you need more and more of something to get the same happiness as the first time – This becomes addictive.

Isa Mack from the “University Hospital Tübingen” doesn’t see it that dramatically. One thing is clear to them: nutrition and the reward system belong together. “For anything that is important for self-preservation and self-reproduction, the reward system has to kick in,” she told the world. The special preference for “sweet and greasy” is evolutionary. It is also known that the reward system of overweight people reacts differently to food. “But that doesn’t mean that it was always like this or that it can’t be changed,” says Mack.

It also provides a way to enjoy chips without a guilty conscience. “You have to trick yourself.” One possibility, for example, is not to take the whole bag with you, but just a small bowl in front of the television. If you want to work off the chips again, nutrition experts recommend sport.

It takes so much exercise to get rid of the chips

But chips can also be really healthy if you prepare them yourself. If you cut and prepare the potato slices yourself, season them and put them in the oven, then the snack is significantly lower in calories than the industrially produced fattening foods. There are now numerous alternatives to the classic snack. Chips are now made from carrots, zucchini and beetroot. Sweet potatoes are also good for making homemade chips.

A test by Sport1 shows how long you have to do sports if you should succumb to the temptation of 100 grams of potato chips: According to this, you either have to jog for 45 minutes, walk for 90 minutes, do 60 minutes of strength training, ride a bike for 75 minutes, 60 minutes of breaststroke or 35 minutes of squash.

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health

Losing Weight With Chips and Coke? Yes, it Actually Works – This is The Secret Trick to Achieving Your Desired Weight

Lose weight without much effort? – That’s fine. Because the key to every success in losing weight is not in meager diets: A fitness expert explains why it can theoretically also work with chips and cola to let those annoying pounds tumble.

In theory, you can also lose weight with chips and cola

The calorie requirement is the index of energy that the body needs to function. However, this is not the same for every person, but individual. Nutrients are divided into three so-called “macronutrients” or “macros”. These are carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
one gram of carbohydrates is over four calories
a gram of protein is over four calories
a gram of fat over nine calories
Fitness trainer Yannick Reinlein is certain that you can fill your calorie balance with unhealthy foods. For example, you can very well lose or maintain your weight with a diet that consists only of chips. However, Reinlein emphasizes that from his point of view this is not recommended. “You can definitely lose weight with the motto calories equal calories, but whether that’s healthy is a completely different question,” he says.

According to Reinlein, there are two main reasons why you shouldn’t do this: satiety and the feeling of hunger. “50 grams of carbohydrates from potatoes or gummy bears make no difference in terms of the calorie balance, but potatoes have a significantly higher satiety effect. So you don’t have to go hungry,” says Reinlein.

After all, unhealthy foods don’t have this name from just anywhere. Logically, it’s ultimately about the calorie balance that keeps the body functioning, but similar to an internal combustion engine, it’s always important to have the right fuel for the engine in question. “It’s exactly the same as cream and salmon. Both have fat, but the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids in salmon is much higher than that in cream, making it a much healthier source of fat,” explains the fitness expert.

You can lose weight by eating unhealthy foods

Especially with a diet that focuses on losing weight, it is important to change your diet and use healthy foods. True to the motto “you are what you eat”, nutrition is the lynchpin for physical well-being.

“A healthy body loses weight better than a sick one. Digestion is negatively affected by an unhealthy diet, and it can also promote the formation of inflammation in the body. Only when the body is healthy can it fully perform the function of burning fat,” says Reinlein.

Nevertheless, everyday movement should not be underestimated. Every step and every extra effort ensures that the calorie turnover increases. Consequently, if you burn a lot, you also need a higher calorie intake. Conversely, this means that you increase your calorie turnover through an increased amount of exercise and the combustion is boosted. If you then also save on calorie intake here, you will quickly lose weight. A good example of this is Bernd Stelter. According to him, he has only changed small habits, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or simply walking more every day. With success: Stelter has become a whole 25 kilos lighter!

Additional movement increases combustion

Ultimately, it is even true: Calories equal calories. But even if the body functions equally well on a diet of chips and cola as on a diet of vegetables and meat, you can’t compare it. This confirms that you can lose weight through an unhealthy diet, but that there is no guarantee that you will be healthier afterwards than before. If you also want to go one step further and lose weight as quickly as possible, you will still not be able to do with additional exercise. Nevertheless, the old rule applies here too: Patience makes perfect.

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Food

Vegan Chips: You Have to Pay Attention to This

You don’t always recognize vegan chips at first glance. In addition to potatoes, oil and salt, there are often flavors and additives, which is why not all chips are vegan. We’ll show you what to look out for.

Vegan chips are not a matter of course due to various additives. Animal ingredients are hidden in the salty snacks, especially in the form of flavor enhancers and flavorings.

Therefore, you should always take a look at the list of ingredients when shopping. The following substances are often found in conventional chips:
butterfat
sweet whey powder
milk protein
cream powder
buttermilk powder
cheese powder
animal rennet
shrimp powder
honey
pork powder
animal flavors such as game, poultry or fish

Animal additives are also hidden behind some E numbers, such as in emulsifier E471. The substance is obtained from animal fats.

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