If you’re exercising soon after eating, it’s best to choose something other than crisps: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise. If you’d still like crisps at another time, choose a portion that suits you and check the label for the exact variety.
You want a little something to eat before your workout and don’t want your portion to feel too heavy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against choosing a large portion or a high-fat food just before exercise.
You eat crisps as a savoury snack and want to choose a bag that contains the right amount for the portions you plan to have.
You pay attention to ingredients, allergens or nutritional information, so you check the pack for the variety you’ve chosen. This is especially important when a recipe may change.
First, think about when you’re going to exercise. If you still want crisps, check how much you plan to eat and look at the nutritional information for the exact variety.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Timing and portion | How soon does your workout start, and how large will your portion be? The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise. | If I’m about to exercise, I don’t want a large or heavy snack to get in the way. Around 42% of consumers put this workout timing first. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight and decide whether you can divide the bag into the portions you want to eat. | When I buy crisps for several snack occasions, I want to be able to decide in advance how much I’ll have each time; this is the biggest consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Variety label | Check the ingredients and allergens, and compare fat and salt per 100 g and per intended portion. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or want to compare nutritional values, I need the label for that exact flavour. This is the first thing around 25% of consumers consider. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large portion or a high-fat food just before exercise, as it can stay in your stomach for longer and cause discomfort.
If your workout is starting soon, it’s better to choose a small, lighter snack. If you do want crisps, keep your portion small.
Ingredients vary from product to product. For example, Jumbo lists wheat and possible traces of milk and soya for Pringles Original.
Check the ingredients list, allergen information and any cross-contamination warning on the pack you’ve chosen.
Timing and portion size still matter with oven-baked crisps. A claim on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you how a portion will affect you just before exercise.
Compare the nutritional information for the exact variety and first work out how much time you have before your workout.
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes plain and ridged crisps.
Albert Heijn offers products including AH Plain Crisps and a multipack.
Snack Day is Lidl’s own-brand range of crisps and savoury snacks.
Lay's has several crisp ranges, including regular crisps, MAX and Oven Baked.
According to Pringles, Pringles Original is available in 40 g, 70 g and 165 g tubes.
Smiths is mainly associated with savoury snacks such as Wokkels, Hamka's, Nibb-it, Chipito and Bugles.
This Joybuy selection is a bag of oven-baked plain crisps. Compare the pack size and label if you’re choosing crisps for a time other than just before your workout.
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A plain variety to consider if you’d like crisps and want to decide on your portion in advance, rather than as an automatic choice just before exercise.
Oven-baked crisps in a 150 g bag. Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
If you’re exercising soon afterwards, crisps aren’t the most obvious snack choice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large portion or foods high in fat, protein or fibre just before exercise. It’s better to choose something small and light.
Check the net weight, the portion you plan to eat and the nutritional information for the exact variety. Compare nutritional values on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g, then see what that amount means for your intended portion.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen. For example, Jumbo lists wheat and possible traces of milk and soya for Pringles Original; don’t assume other crisps have the same ingredients.
Use the information on the current packaging for the product you have. Recipes and product information can change, so a product page you viewed earlier may not always match the packaging.
