When choosing crisps for drinks, start by comparing the kcal per 100 g, then decide how many grams you want to serve per person. Labels such as ‘light’ or ‘oven-baked’, and a favourable Nutri-Score, don’t tell you how many calories are in a bowl on their own. Check the salt and allergen information on the label for the flavour you choose, too.
You want to serve crisps with drinks, so you compare both the kcal per 100 g and the amount you put in a bowl. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 215 kcal for a 40 g bowl of crisps; a different serving size changes the number of calories per bowl.
You want to choose a flavour and crisp shape to suit the occasion, without assuming that a particular shape contains fewer calories. Then compare the nutritional information for the specific products you’re considering serving.
As well as calories, you check the salt and ingredients, especially if a guest needs to avoid an allergen. This information can vary by product and flavour, so always read the label on the pack you buy.
First decide whether serving size, label information or flavour matters most for your get-together. Then compare only the products that fit your choice, using the same 100 g basis each time.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per serving | Compare kcal per 100 g and decide how many grams to put in a bowl. | If I want to get fewer calories from crisps, the amount I actually serve makes all the difference; around 50% of consumers give calories per serving top priority. |
| Salt and allergens | Read the salt value in the nutritional information and check the ingredients and allergen information for the flavour you’ve chosen. | When I put crisps out for guests, I want to know what ingredients and allergens they contain, and how much salt they have; around 30% of consumers put these label checks first. |
| Flavour and sharing | Choose a suitable flavour and pack, then check the kcal per 100 g for those specific options. | When sharing snacks with drinks, I’m mainly looking for crisps that suit everyone’s flavour preferences; flavour and suitability for sharing matter most to around 20% of consumers. |
A claim about fat doesn’t tell you how many kcal or how much salt your chosen crisps contain per serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also says that a favourable Nutri-Score doesn’t mean a product is healthy in its own right.
Compare the nutritional information for the exact flavours side by side: check the kcal per 100 g, then look at serving size, salt and ingredients.
Albert Heijn lists a 25 g serving for AH Chips Naturel, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 40 g as the serving size for an average bowl of crisps. That means calorie figures per serving aren’t directly comparable unless you also consider the weight.
Before your get-together, portion out the amount you want to serve and use that weight to compare products fairly.
Albert Heijn’s product listings give 480 kcal per 100 g for Boerderij Chips Ribbel Zeezout and 532 kcal per 100 g for AH Chips Naturel. These specific figures don’t prove that ridged crisps as a category contain fewer calories.
Compare the nutritional information for the products and flavours you’re actually considering, rather than drawing conclusions based on their shape or brand name.
According to Albert Heijn, Pringles Original contains wheat and gluten, and may contain milk and soya. A name such as ‘Original’ doesn’t tell you which allergens are listed for another product.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared should be clearly listed in the ingredients list.
These brands and retailers offer a range of crisp shapes and flavours. To find an option with fewer calories, always compare the nutritional information on the specific pack.
Alongside its regular crisps, Lay's has an Oven Baked range for anyone specifically looking at fat content.
Stacked crisps in a tube, for anyone who also considers the packaging when serving snacks with drinks.
Smiths also offers shaped snacks, including Sticks Paprika Chips, for anyone looking for something different from regular potato crisps.
Albert Heijn’s product information provides nutritional values and serving sizes for specific crisp varieties.
Jumbo lists both its own-brand crisps and other types, so you can compare specific varieties side by side.
Snack Day is Lidl’s own brand, with plain and paprika crisps among its range.
These four Lay's Oven Baked and Oven varieties are worth considering if you’re looking for oven-baked crisps to serve with drinks. Choose a flavour you’d like to serve, then check the kcal per 100 g, intended serving size and allergens on the pack. Oven-baked doesn’t automatically mean fewer calories.
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An oven-baked option with Mediterranean herbs for anyone who’d like to serve this flavour with drinks. Compare the kcal per 100 g on the pack, and check the allergen information if milk is relevant to you or your guests.
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An oven-baked paprika option for anyone looking for that flavour to serve with drinks. Decide how many grams you want to serve, then check the kcal per 100 g and allergen information on the pack, including whether it contains milk.
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An oven-baked plain option for anyone who prefers a flavour without an added seasoning description. Compare the kcal per 100 g before portioning, and check the current pack for allergen information.
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An oven-baked cheese and onion option to share with drinks. Check the kcal per 100 g and the serving size you plan to serve; also read the allergen information if milk is relevant.
No. Compare products using the same serving size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 196 kcal per 40 g bowl for light plain crisps, compared with 215 kcal per 40 g bowl for average crisps. These averages don’t tell you the value for every flavour or pack.
Nutri-Score helps you compare the nutritional composition of similar products, but it doesn’t tell you how many kcal you’ll get from your portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that an A or B rating doesn’t automatically mean a product is healthy either; check the nutritional information and serving size as well before making your choice.
Yes. ‘Plain’ on the flavour label doesn’t tell you which allergens are present. For example, Albert Heijn lists wheat and gluten in Pringles Original, with milk and soya as possible allergens. Check the current ingredients list for each variety you choose; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared should be clearly listed there.
Seal the pack tightly after use and follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn recommends keeping AH Chips Naturel in a cool, dry, dark place and sealing the pack well after opening.
