Budget-conscious cyclists looking for a savoury snack
If you fancy plain crisps after a ride or at another snack break, compare bags of the same type by weight and price per kilo. A smaller bag isn’t automatically better value.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Cyclists who want to eat something just before setting off
Before a ride, portion size and fat content matter more than whether you choose own-brand or a big-name brand. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against large portions and high-fat foods at this time.
Snack buyers who want to compare labels
If you’re checking ingredients, nutritional values or allergens, compare your chosen flavour per 100 g and read the current packaging. Don’t rely on the label for another variety from the same brand.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide when you want to eat the crisps. For a regular snack break, compare similar crisps by bag size and price per kilo, then check the nutritional information for the variety you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| When you eat them and portion size | Decide whether the crisps are for just before setting off or for a later snack break; consider the portion you actually want to eat. | If I eat shortly before a ride, I don’t want a large, high-fat portion that might make cycling uncomfortable. This is the main consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Price per kilo | Compare the price per kilo of the same type of crisps and check the bag’s weight. | After cycling, I’m mainly looking for an affordable savoury snack, without mistaking a smaller bag for a bargain. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this price comparison. |
| Salt and fat | Read the nutritional information per 100 g and take the amount you eat into account when comparing. | If crisps feature regularly in my snack breaks, I want to know how much salt and fat is in my usual portion. This is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Label and packaging | Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you’ve chosen; make sure the bag size suits the portion you have in mind. | When choosing based on ingredients or allergens, I want to be able to rely on the information for this exact flavour. Checking the label matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Thinking of crisps as a light snack just before setting off
A large portion of crisps isn’t necessarily suitable before a ride. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise.
If you want to eat crisps, save them for after your ride or another snack break. Before setting off, first decide what and how much you want to eat.
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Looking only at the price of the bag
AH Chips naturel and Jumbo Chips Naturel are sold in 250 g bags; the bag of Lay's Naturel listed by Jumbo contains 200 g. Different pack sizes make it less useful to compare prices per bag alone.
Compare plain crisps with plain crisps by the current price per kilo, and check the pack weight too.
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Assuming crisps are a natural choice after sweating
A bike ride doesn’t automatically mean you need a large portion of salty crisps. To choose something that fits in with the rest of your diet, consider what else you eat and drink throughout the day.
Check the salt content per 100 g and decide how much you want to have as a snack.
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Relying on an old product description for allergen information
Ingredients can vary by flavour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on the labels of pre-packed products.
If you have an allergy, read the packaging for the exact variety you’ve bought before eating it.
Brands compared
Use these brands as a starting point when comparing specific varieties. A brand name alone tells you nothing about the price per kilo, ingredients or suitability for a particular eating occasion.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers AH Chips naturel as an own-brand option in a 250 g bag.
- A familiar plain variety to compare with other plain crisps by weight and price per kilo.
- Being an own-brand product doesn’t make these crisps suitable before or during cycling; check the nutritional information and decide on your portion too.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells Chips Naturel in a 250 g bag, as well as other crisp flavours and shapes under its own brand.
- The plain variety can be compared directly with other plain crisps by pack size and price per kilo.
- If you’re specifically looking for plain crisps, don’t use a differently seasoned or shaped variety as a like-for-like comparison.
Lidl Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s own snack brand. Lidl lists a 250 g variety of plain crisps for sale in store.
- The bag size gives you a useful basis for comparing it with other 250 g bags of plain crisps.
- Check the label and price per kilo of the variety you’re buying in store.
Lay's
Lay's offers a Naturel variety, among others. Jumbo lists this variety in a 200 g bag.
- An option if you’re looking for this particular flavour or pack size.
- Compare the current price per kilo with a similar own-brand variety; the brand name doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable as cycling fuel.
Pringles
Pringles sells crisps in a tube, including Original and seasoned varieties.
- The product shape and packaging may be a factor if those are what you’re looking for.
- Don’t automatically compare Original with another brand’s plain potato crisps; check the type, pack size and label.
Crisps for a snack break
These Joybuy products include plain crisps and one seasoned variety for a savoury snack break, for example after cycling. If you’re choosing on a budget, compare the current price per kilo of similar varieties; the products below aren’t a selection of food for a long, intense ride.
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Croky Natural Potato Crisps 200 g
A plain variety if you’re looking for crisps to enjoy after a ride or at another snack break.
200 g bag. Compare the price per kilo with other plain crisps and check the packaging for ingredients and nutritional values.
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Lay's Natural Crisps 100 g
A plain Lay's variety for anyone looking for this brand or a 100 g bag for a regular snack break.
Compare this pack size with larger bags by price per kilo; check the current label for fat and salt content.
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Lay's Oven Baked Natural 150 g
A plain oven-baked variety for a snack break outside your ride.
150 g bag. When comparing with other crisps, check the nutritional values per 100 g; the cooking method alone doesn’t determine whether a product is suitable just before cycling.
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g'woon Ribbed Natural Crisps 250 g
A ridged plain variety if you’re looking for crisps to enjoy at home after cycling or at another snack break.
250 g bag. Bear in mind how much you want to eat and compare the price per kilo with other plain varieties.
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Lay's Oven Baked Mediterranean Herbs 150 g
A seasoned variety if you’d like something other than plain crisps for a snack break.
150 g bag. If flavour is important to you, compare this variety with other seasoned crisps. If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are crisps a sensible choice during a long bike ride?
Don’t automatically use crisps as a replacement for planned fuel during a long, intense ride. Decide in advance what you want to eat and drink while cycling; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise.
Are own-brand crisps always better value than Lay's?
Not necessarily: bag sizes, shops and special offers vary. Compare the current price per kilo for the same type of crisps and check how many grams are in the bag.
Should I eat crisps after a sweaty ride because of the salt?
No, sweating alone isn’t a reason to choose crisps. Consider what else you eat and drink, and use the nutritional information per 100 g to check how much salt is in the portion you’ve chosen.
What should I check on a bag of crisps if I’m concerned about allergens?
Read the allergen information and ingredients on the current packaging for the exact flavour you want to eat. If you have an allergy, don’t rely on the brand name or information for another variety.