chipper

My challenges with feeding Noah have been well documented here. Though I made all of my own baby food – which he happily gobbled up – and he transitioned beautifully to table food, once he hit the 2-year mark his appetite plummeted. Along with the range of foods he was willing to eat.

So the last few years have been spent coming up with a myriad of ways to ensure that whatever he DOES eat is as nutritious as can be. Wheat pasta. Whole grain waffles. No dessert unless he has a serving of fruit (I know, I know – but really? You understand, I know you do.).

Hence kale chips. And larabars. And fruit roll-ups (along with fails too numerous to mention – like “breakfast” cookies….).

And now sweet potato chips.

Sweet potatoes pack a huge nutritional punch, making them one of my very favorite vegetables. Noah had long since given up the pureed variety, and wouldn’t eat them any other way – we’re talking mashed, oven fries, and even a modified “candied” version, to no avail. So I grabbed a bag of sweet potato chips, figuring that the crunch might be to his liking.

Sure enough, he loved them, so I thought I’d try my hand at making them at home.

I experimented with a few different recipes for oven-baked sweet potato chips – all total fails. I even resorted to frying them, in an effort to get that crispy-crunch that was eluding me.

But they all had the same texture – think soggy, sweet-potato-flavored cardboard. I assumed it was just not meant to be.

And then I started to see posts popping up about microwave potato chips. Microwave chips? Really? This seemed so improbable – yet so easy – that I had to try it for myself.

It’s a keeper, guys. Easy, fast – and most importantly – CRUNCHY.  I don’t understand how the microwave is a superior option to baking or frying, but I’ll take it. Noah is happy to eat a whole potato’s worth of chips in a sitting.

And you can imagine how happy that makes me.

You have to give these a try! And tell me, do you have any sure-fire “healthy” snacks that your kids will actually eat (peanut-free, please)? Share them here!

sweet potato chips

sweet potato chips

sweet potato chips
sweet potato chips

Sweet Potato Chips
adapted from Our Best Bites

1 sweet potato (if it’s very large you can cut it in half, as you will get many more slices than you think)
non-stick cooking spray
kosher salt or sea salt (optional)

Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit your microwave’s glass plate.  You can peel the sweet potato or not (I did for this post and will try it unpeeled next time – even easier!). Thinly slice the sweet potato with a mandoline or sharp knife (I love this mandoline), and lay the slices in a single layer on the parchment paper.  Spray very lightly with nonstick spray and season with a little bit of salt, if using.

Microwave on 50% power for 8-10 minutes* or until the potatoes start to very lightly brown. Immediately transfer to a rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining slices. Leftover chips can be stored in an airtight container for 1 day (they will be less crisp after that).

* Cooking length will vary depending on your microwave, the thickness of the potato slices and even the moisture content of your potato. A little experimenting will give you the perfect formula for your kitchen.

(print this recipe)


This delicious recipe brought to you by Sheri Silver
https://sherisilver.com/2012/10/24/chipper/

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10 Comments

  1. jodi on October 24, 2012 at 7:46 am

    I will definitely try this one.

    I find with my daughter, she goes in phases. She used to love kale chips, now she doesn’t. She used to hate cucumbers, now she eats them. Sometimes she’ll eat dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, apricot mix), and sometimes she won’t. It’s a challenge!

    One thing that never goes out of style is celery spread with goat cheese or cream cheese. I make sure to peel the outer “skin” of the celery first, as it’s stringy and not easy to eat. Then stuffed with the cheese. A few drops of honey or maple syrup makes it special.

    • sherisilver on October 24, 2012 at 12:09 pm

      Celery with cream cheese was one of my favorite childhood snacks – I must revisit this with Noah; thanks! xo

  2. Jennifer (Savor) on October 24, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    Okay, you have dared me so I take the challenge. I am able to get them crispy in the oven and make a ton at a time however, if this works well and I can make a snack in minutes, then I will be a fervent supporter.

    • sherisilver on October 24, 2012 at 12:40 pm

      Game on! 🙂 What’s your secret for getting them crispy in the oven? I cannot seem to do it!

  3. Marti on October 24, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    Sounds yummy. Will have to try
    Marti

    • sherisilver on October 24, 2012 at 1:26 pm

      They are! And you should! 🙂

  4. Sarah on October 24, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    You must be in my head today. I am struggling with Jack, he’s been SUCH a picky eater for the last year. We are in such a food rut, and I need some easy options that I won’t feel totally guilty about. (Why easy? Because we have epic meltdowns if I take more than, say, 5 minutes to prepare, cook and deliver a meal to his Royal Hieny.)

    I am trying these immediately. : )

    • sherisilver on October 25, 2012 at 6:21 am

      Fingers crossed…..xo

  5. Lacy on November 8, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    Made these today! Addie LOVED. (So did her mom.) 🙂

  6. sherisilver on November 8, 2012 at 1:00 pm

    So glad! Curious – how long did you microwave for and at what power?

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