Christmas market visitor keeping an eye on calories
You want to take some crisps with you and compare the kcal per snack. Look at the same amount of crisps, rather than relying on the wording on the front of the bag.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Someone sharing crisps and choosing a portion in advance
You’re taking crisps for others to share, but want to decide how much you’ll eat in one sitting. Small bags or pre-portioned servings make it easier to see how much you’re having, but they don’t change the nutritional value per gram.
Visitor checking ingredients or allergens
You want to know what’s in a packaged flavour or an unpackaged snack from a stall. Read the label or ask for allergen information about unpackaged products. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how this information must be provided to consumers.
What should you look for when choosing?
Oven-baked crisps
When to choose them: If you want to choose an option with a lower average number of kcal per 40 g within these product groups: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 164 kcal for oven-baked crisps and 215 kcal for regular crisps.
What to consider: These are averages, not the nutritional values for every flavour or bag. Check the packaging of the product you’re buying.
Light crisps
When to choose them: If the label shows fewer kcal than the regular alternative you’d otherwise choose.
What to consider: According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the calorie difference between light and regular crisps is small. What’s more, a light claim may refer to fat or sugar rather than kcal.
Regular crisps in a portion of your choice
When to choose them: If you prefer a regular flavour and mainly want to control how much you eat in one sitting.
What to consider: A smaller portion doesn’t change the kcal per gram. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 215 kcal per 40 g of regular crisps.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Kcal per snack | Compare kcal per 100 g and calculate the amount for the portion you want to eat. Also check the salt content. | I want to eat a portion of crisps while I’m out and work out in advance how many kcal it contains. Around 50% of consumers prioritise keeping the kcal per snack low. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen and salt information for your chosen flavour. For unpackaged snacks, ask for allergen information. | If I need to avoid a particular ingredient or keep an eye on salt, I want to know exactly what’s in this snack. Around 30% of consumers prioritise these checks. |
| Portion size and taking them with you | Check the net weight and decide whether you can portion out the crisps in advance. | I’m taking crisps to share, but don’t want to keep eating from a large bag without realising how much I’ve had. A manageable portion is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Relying only on ‘light’ or ‘less fat’ claims
A claim about fat doesn’t automatically tell you how many kcal crisps contain. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the calorie difference between light and regular crisps is small.
Compare the kcal per 100 g and per planned portion with your usual alternative. Then check the rest of the nutritional information on the bag.
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Assuming a sharing bag is one portion
It’s hard to keep track of how much you’re eating from a bag you’re sharing. The nutritional values per 100 g are only useful for planning if you also decide how much you’ll have.
Portion out the crisps before you leave, or choose a smaller pack and work out the kcal in your portion.
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Assuming the allergen information is the same for another flavour
Ingredients can vary between flavours. You also need allergen information about unpackaged snacks from a stall to make an informed choice.
Read the label for your chosen flavour again, and ask about allergen information before choosing an unpackaged snack.
Brands and retailers to consider
Lay's
Lay's offers options including Oven Baked and Light Naturel for anyone looking to compare different varieties with regular crisps.
- An oven-baked variety gives you a specific product to compare with regular crisps using the nutritional information.
- Don’t assume a set number of kcal from ‘Oven Baked’ or ‘Light’; check the flavour and packaging you’ve chosen.
Pringles
According to Pringles Netherlands, Pringles Original is available in 40 g, 70 g and 165 g tubes.
- The different pack sizes give you options when deciding how much to take with you.
- A smaller tube doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g. If kcal are a deciding factor, compare the labels.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists products including Lay's Oven Baked, Lay's Light and AH Vegetable Crisps.
- These different product types give you a starting point for comparing flavours and nutritional information.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information can change and advises customers to check the packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo has a reduced-fat crisps category that includes oven-baked varieties.
- The category can help you find products whose nutritional information you’d like to compare.
- ‘Less fat’ on its own doesn’t tell you which product contains fewer kcal per portion.
Lidl
At Lidl, you can compare crisps in store by checking their packaging.
- Comparing labels in store lets you check the kcal and net weight of the products in front of you.
- Don’t rely on a category name alone if you also want to check salt, ingredients or allergens.
Oven-baked crisps on Joybuy
These barbecue-flavoured oven-baked crisps are a good choice if you want to take a bag with you and decide for yourself how much to eat. Compare the nutritional information for this flavour with the regular crisps you’d otherwise buy.
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Lay's Oven Baked Barbecue, 150 g
For anyone who wants to take oven-baked crisps with them and decide how much to have in one sitting.
Barbecue flavour; 150 g bag. Check the kcal for your chosen portion and the allergens on the label for this variety.
Frequently asked questions
Do oven-baked crisps always contain fewer kcal?
No, you can’t assume that of every bag. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 164 kcal per 40 g of oven-baked crisps and 215 kcal per 40 g of regular crisps. Before you buy, compare the kcal in the specific flavour for the same amount.
Does ‘light’ mean crisps contain a lot fewer kcal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the calorie difference between light and regular crisps is small. A light claim may refer to energy, fat or sugar, so check what the claim relates to and compare the kcal on the packaging.
What should I check on a bag of crisps for a Christmas market?
Check the kcal for the amount you want to eat, as well as the salt content, ingredients and any allergens in that flavour. Also check the net weight if you want to portion out the bag in advance. Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging, as product information can change.
How can I find out about allergens in an unpackaged snack at a Christmas market stall?
Ask the stallholder for allergen information before choosing the snack. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, consumers must be given information about allergens in unpackaged products in a way other than on a label.