Snackers keeping an eye on calories
You want to enjoy crisps after school and compare the calories in a measured portion. The terms ‘light’ and ‘oven-baked’ don’t tell you, on their own, how many calories you’ll actually eat.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents looking to keep snack time in check
You’re looking for something crunchy now and then for a school-age child, without making crisps the regular after-school choice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also suggests snacks from the Wheel of Five for children, such as vegetables and fruit.
Label readers with questions about allergens or salt
You want to check the ingredients, allergens and salt content of the exact flavour you’ve chosen. This is especially important if a child has a food allergy or you’re switching between varieties.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how many crisps you’ll put in the bowl, then compare the nutritional values for that amount. If you have an allergy, always check the label for the flavour you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Calories and fat per portion | Compare kcal and fat for the same weight, for example per 30 g, and consider how much you’ll actually serve. | If I want to snack on fewer calories, I want to know what’s in my own portion, not just what’s on the front of the bag. Around 46% of consumers put calories and fat per portion first. |
| A snack occasion with clear limits | Decide on a small bowl in advance or check the pack size; keep crisps separate from your regular snacks. | For a child, I want to be able to offer crisps after school now and then without the whole bag becoming the portion. Portion size and how often crisps are served are the main priorities for around 36% of consumers. |
| Label, salt and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen, and compare salt for the same portion size. | When choosing a different flavour, I want to know exactly what ingredients and allergens are listed on the label before serving it. For around 18% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘light’ means 30% fewer calories
A claim about less fat doesn’t mean calories go down by the same amount. In its comparison of light and regular crisps, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre shows a smaller difference in calories than in fat.
Check the nutrition table and compare the calories in the same amount of crisps.
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Thinking of oven-baked crisps as a regular snack for children
A lower-fat variety doesn’t change how often you serve crisps or how much goes into a portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says crisps are an occasional choice for children, not a regular snack.
Keep crisps as a measured treat, and choose foods such as vegetables and fruit for everyday snack time too.
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Relying on the flavour name or online information
Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties. For example, Pringles says that Original may contain milk and soya.
Before serving, read the label on the flavour you’ve bought, especially if someone has a food allergy.
Brands and retailers compared
Lay's
Oven Baked Ready Salted and Light Ready Salted give you two different options to compare nutritional values.
- Jumbo lists 128 kcal and 3.8 g of fat per 30 g for Oven Baked Ready Salted, and 147 kcal per 30 g for Light Ready Salted.
- For these two varieties, ‘light’ doesn’t have the fewest calories per 30 g. Always compare the flavour and portion you’ve chosen.
Pringles
Original lets you assess pack size and nutritional value separately; Pringles lists a 40 g pack size, among others.
- Pringles lists 158 kcal and 0.3 g of salt per 30 g for Original, so you can compare these figures on an equal-portion basis.
- A small pack doesn’t automatically mean the crisps are low in calories. If you have allergies, also check the warning about possible traces of milk and soya.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn groups varieties such as AH Ridged Crisps, labelled ‘less fat’, and Lay's Oven Baked varieties in a category for crisps with less fat or salt.
- The category helps you find specific varieties so you can compare their labels side by side.
- A category label is no substitute for comparing the calories, fat and salt on the packaging of each variety.
Jumbo
At Jumbo, you can compare regular own-brand crisps with lower-fat varieties.
- Jumbo lists 132 kcal per 25 g for Ready Salted Crisps and also has a category for crisps with less fat.
- Don’t compare 25 g directly with a figure per 30 g: first decide how much you want to eat.
Lidl
Lidl’s Snack Day range includes crisps in a 150 g ham & cheese variety, among others.
- The pack weight gives you a starting point for measuring out a smaller portion.
- For a comparison of calories, fat, salt and allergens, check the nutritional information on the pack you’ve chosen.
Oven-baked crisps on Joybuy
These Joybuy products are oven-baked crisps for anyone who wants to measure out an after-school portion and compare their chosen flavours. Use the nutritional information on the pack to work out the calories in your portion.
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Lay's Oven Baked Mediterranean Herbs, 150 g
For anyone who wants to measure out a portion of oven-baked herb crisps. Compare the nutritional information for the amount you serve, and if you have allergies, read the label for this flavour.
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Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt, 125 g
For anyone looking for oven-baked sea salt crisps and wanting to choose their own snack portion. Measure out a portion and check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack.
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Lay's Oven Baked Barbecue, 150 g
For anyone who wants to compare barbecue crisps within the oven-baked range. Decide on your portion in advance, and check the information on this pack for calories and allergens.
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Lay's Oven Baked Paprika, 150 g
For anyone looking for paprika crisps and a measured portion. Compare the nutritional value of this flavour with other crisps on the same portion basis, and check the label if you have allergies.
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Lay's Oven Baked Natural, 150 g
For anyone who wants to look at the Natural variety of oven-baked crisps. Measure out a portion for snack time and check the nutritional information for this exact variety on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Are light crisps always low in calories?
No, the word ‘light’ doesn’t tell you how many calories are in your portion. In the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s comparison, light crisps contain an average of 490 kcal per 100 g, compared with 542 kcal for regular crisps; the difference in calories is smaller than the difference in fat. So check the nutrition table too.
Which crisps can I compare by calories for after-school snacks?
First compare the same quantity of the specific varieties you’re considering. Jumbo lists 128 kcal per 30 g for Lay's Oven Baked Ready Salted and 147 kcal per 30 g for Lay's Light Ready Salted; Pringles lists 158 kcal per 30 g for Original. Check the figures on the pack you buy.
Are crisps suitable as a daily snack for children?
Don’t make crisps the regular after-school snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that children aged 4 to 12 mainly have snacks from the Wheel of Five, and says a small bag or bowl of crisps is an occasional choice.
Where can I check the allergens in a particular flavour?
Read the label on the exact flavour and pack you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods; don’t rely only on the product name or on another flavour in the same range.