A healthy and dorm-friendly alternative to your favorite snack food.

 

by Kristin Burnham

 

It's 9 p.m. Your stomach grumbles, you've got hours of studying ahead of you and the dining hall is closed. What do you do? Surrender to your hunger pangs and visit the first-floor vending machine in search of a nighttime snack. But before you pop in the eighty cents for a bag of salty, greasy potato chips, consider an easy, more healthful alternative: make-your-own microwave potato chips.  With a fraction of the fat and more than 8 times the fiber, this snack will keep you full and satisfied. If only chemistry was that enticing…

What you need:
-1 fresh potato
-Your choice of spices (garlic powder, seasoning salt, parmesan cheese, etc.)
-Either oil, butter or cooking spray
-A knife
-Microwave-safe dish

Instructions:
1.    Scrub potato under water to remove any dirt.
2.    Slice potatoes paper-thin, less than 1/16".
3.    Sprinkle potato slices with salt, if desired. Place potato slices in a bowl of cold water to soak for 10 minutes. Remove and pat dry.
4.    Rub microwave-safe dish with a small amount of oil, butter or cooking spray.
5.    Sprinkle potato slices with your choice of herbs or spices. Place in microwave-safe dish.
6.    Microwave on high for 5 to 5½  minutes, or until they curl and are a light brown color. Microwave time may vary.
7.    Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 275
Total Fat: 0.3g
    Saturated Fat: 0.1g
    Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 22mg (varies with added spices)
Potassium: 1553mg (44% DV)
Total Carbohydrate: 64g (21% DV)
    Dietary Fiber: 8g (32% DV)
Protein 7.5g (14% DV)

For more dorm-friendly, microwavable recipes, check out A Man, a Can, a Microwave: 50 Tasty Meals You Can Nuke in No Time by David Joachim at Amazon.com.