Choose small individual bags if you want a set portion to take with you; a sharing box is a better fit if variety and sharing are your priorities. A multipack doesn’t automatically make crisps suitable to eat just before exercise: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against large portions and high-fat foods at that time. Check the serving size, ingredients and allergens for every variety.
If you’re exercising soon after a snack, the amount you eat matters more than the number of bags in the box. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise. Consider a different snack if crisps don’t suit you at that time.
An individual bag is easy to take with you, without having to portion out a large bag. Do check the weight of each bag: Jumbo lists a sharing bag with 25 g per portion, while Albert Heijn lists a Lay's Ready Salted 20-pack with 40 g bags.
A range of flavours gives everyone a choice, but you’ll also need to check the ingredients in each variety. This is especially important if anyone sharing the snacks needs to avoid an allergen.
First decide when you want to eat the crisps and how large a portion you’d like. Then choose between a single flavour for yourself and a mix to share.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Timing and stomach comfort | Adjust the amount you eat to the time until your training session. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise. | If I’m training soon after eating and often get an upset stomach, I mainly want to think about when and how much I eat; around 36% of consumers prioritise timing and stomach comfort. |
| Portion to take with you | Compare the weight of each bag and check whether the portions are individually wrapped. Jumbo lists 15 bags of 25 g; Albert Heijn lists 20 bags of 40 g for Lay's Ready Salted. | For my lunchbox, I want to take one set portion without opening a sharing bag; around 29% of consumers prioritise individual portions. |
| Variety and sharing | See which flavours are in the box and check the ingredients and allergens for each variety. | When I’m handing out bags, I want a choice of flavours and to be able to consider everyone sharing them; around 21% of consumers prioritise sharing and variety. |
| Availability | Check whether your preferred pack is available from your retailer. Lidl notes that some Snack Day products are available in store only. | If I rely on a nearby shop, I want to know which pack format I can buy there; availability is the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large portions and high-fat foods can stay in your stomach for longer and cause discomfort if eaten just before exercise.
If you still want crisps at that time, keep the portion small or choose a different snack. Don’t try a new eating routine for the first time on an important training or competition day.
A box with more bags doesn’t necessarily contain smaller portions. Jumbo lists a sharing bag with 25 g per bag; the Lay's Ready Salted 20-pack at Albert Heijn contains 40 g bags.
Compare the weight of each individual bag and the total pack weight before choosing a size.
Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties. For example, Jumbo lists possible soya and wheat (gluten) in Lay's Family Mix.
Read the information on the packaging for every flavour someone wants to eat, especially if allergens are a concern.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that light crisps do contain slightly fewer calories than regular crisps, but the difference is small. So the word ‘light’ doesn’t tell you whether a portion suits the time you plan to eat it.
Compare the nutritional information with the amount you actually want to eat, and consider when you’ll be exercising too.
Lay's offers both single-flavour packs and boxes containing a selection of snacks. Albert Heijn lists, among other options, Ready Salted 20 x 40 g and a Celebration Box with 30 pieces.
Albert Heijn lists Pringles Original as a 12-pack of 40 g cans; Pringles also lists 40 g as an available size for Original.
Jumbo lists its own-brand Paprika & Ready Salted sharing bag, with 15 bags of 25 g.
Snack Day is Lidl’s own brand, offering a range of crisps flavours and snacks.
These packs offer either a single flavour in stated portions or a selection of crisps to share. When choosing, focus on the weight of each bag or can, and the information for the flavours you want to eat.
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A box for sharing a selection of crisps or taking a portion with you. Before choosing, check the weight of each bag and the allergens in the flavours you want to eat.
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This box is for anyone who wants to share a selection of crisps. Check the pack for the weight and ingredients of each variety, and see whether the pieces are individually wrapped if you want to take them in a lunchbox.
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The same flavour and a stated 40 g per bag make this format easy to portion for individual snack breaks. Decide whether 40 g suits the time until your training session, and check the current label if ingredients or allergens are important to you.
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Twelve cans in the same flavour suit anyone looking for a can to take on the go. Each can contains 40 g; if you’re eating just before exercise, check whether that amount suits you. Check the label too if you need to avoid wheat (gluten), milk or soya.
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A mixed box for sharing or choosing between different varieties. Check how many grams are in each bag before choosing a portion to eat before exercise, and read the ingredients and allergen information for the flavour in question.
Not as a large portion just before exercise. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against large portions and high-fat foods at that time, as they can stay in your stomach for longer and cause discomfort. Base your choice on the amount, the time until your training session and how you respond to that kind of snack.
Choose based on the weight of an individual portion, not just the number of pieces in the box. Jumbo lists a sharing bag with 15 bags of 25 g; Albert Heijn lists 40 g bags for Lay's Ready Salted and 40 g cans for Pringles Original. See which size suits your snack break.
Yes. If allergens matter to anyone sharing the snacks, check the relevant varieties individually. Jumbo lists possible soya and wheat (gluten) in Lay's Family Mix. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that labels on prepacked foods must clearly state what they contain, so read the packaging of the product you’re actually using.
No. The word ‘light’ doesn’t answer the questions of portion size and timing. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, light crisps do contain slightly fewer calories than regular crisps, but the difference is small. Compare the nutritional information and decide how much you want to eat and when you’ll be exercising.
