Own-brand shopper buying a larger bag to share
You want to portion the contents out at home or share them with others. Check the pack weight and think about how much you’ll actually use before taking a large bag with you.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Commuter who wants to take one sealed portion
You don’t want to weigh out a portion or carry an opened bag with you. Small bags or a multipack make it clear in advance how much you’ll have each time.
Shopper who compares labels carefully
You want to compare things like energy, sugars, fats, fibre, salt and allergens within the crisps category. Compare the nutritional information for the specific flavour and check the latest pack details.
What should you look for in crisps to take on the go?
First decide whether you’re looking for breakfast or a separate savoury snack. Then choose a pack format that suits taking it with you, sharing or portioning it out yourself.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast or snack | Decide whether you’ll also take a breakfast item with you. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s breakfast examples include wholegrain products, yoghurt or quark, and fruit. | When I’m in a hurry, I don’t want to mistake crisps for a complete breakfast. For around 50% of consumers, having a breakfast option is the priority. |
| Pack size and sharing | Check the bag’s weight and whether you can portion out or share the contents at home. | A large own-brand bag suits me if I’m going to spread the contents over several occasions. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this way of using the pack. |
| Sealed portion and label | Check the contents of each pack and read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen flavour on the latest pack. | When I’m out and about, I want to take one sealed portion and know what’s in it beforehand. That’s the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions
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Thinking of crisps as a replacement for breakfast
The fact that crisps are ready to eat doesn’t make them a complete breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s breakfast examples focus on other food groups.
If you like, take crisps as a separate savoury snack and choose a breakfast item as well, such as wholemeal bread, yoghurt or fruit.
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Assuming a large bag is automatically convenient for taking on the go
If you don’t want to carry the whole pack, you’ll need to take out the amount you want from a large bag yourself.
Choose a small sealed bag if you want to take one portion with you without any preparation. A large bag is better suited to portioning out or sharing at home.
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Treating a reduced-fat claim as a judgement on the whole snack
A statement about fat alone says nothing about salt, portion size or whether something is suitable for breakfast. A Nutri-Score isn’t personal nutritional advice either.
Compare similar crisps using the latest nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. Check energy, saturated fat and salt separately.
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Skipping the label because you know the flavour
Ingredients and allergens can vary by flavour. Albert Heijn also points out that product information can change.
If you have any relevant allergens, read the label on the specific pack, even if you already know the brand.
Brands to help you compare
Lay's
Lay's has several crisp ranges, including regular crisps, MAX, Sensations and Oven Baked. Compare the specific range and flavour rather than judging the brand as a whole.
- There are different shapes and textures to compare within the brand.
- A statement about the ingredients in Oven Baked doesn’t automatically apply to other Lay's crisps.
Pringles
Pringles is worth considering if you want crisps in a tube to take with you or store. Packaging and ingredients vary by product.
- Joybuy describes the tube for Pringles Original 12 x 40 g as resealable.
- The product information for this variety lists wheat and gluten. Check the latest label for each flavour.
Smiths
Smiths offers products including Sticks: a shaped savoury snack for anyone looking for something different from regular potato crisps.
- Jumbo lists Sticks varieties in 100 g packs.
- Check the product category and pack size if you’re specifically looking for potato crisps or a single portion to take with you.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn stocks its own crisp ranges, including AH BASIC and AH. Compare the different packs to find the variety that suits how you’ll use it.
- The range includes plain crisps and a separate ridged crisp variety labelled as reduced fat.
- Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the latest pack.
Jumbo
Jumbo has its own crisps in a range of shapes and pack formats, including regular bags and small multipacks of individual bags.
- According to Jumbo, the Paprika & Naturel multipack contains 15 bags of 25 g.
- If you only want to take one portion with you, you’ll need to portion out a large bag yourself.
Lidl Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s own-brand range of savoury snacks. Check the exact product type within the range.
- Lidl’s range includes crisps, popcorn, crackers and sticks.
- These products aren’t interchangeable if you’re specifically looking for crisps, so check the label on the one you choose.
Crisps and snacks at Joybuy
These products offer different ways to take a savoury snack with you or portion it out yourself. The selection includes a multipack of tubes, a bag of oven-baked crisps and a box of assorted snacks; none of them replaces breakfast on its own.
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Pringles Original, 12 x 40 g
A good choice if you want to take a 40 g tube with you and reseal it once opened.
The multipack contains 12 tubes. The product information lists wheat and gluten; if these allergens are relevant to you, check the latest label.
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Lay's Oven Baked Paprika, 150 g
A bag to portion out yourself if you’re looking for an oven-baked variety of crisps.
The pack contains 150 g. If you want a single sealed portion to take with you, you’ll need to pack the crisps separately yourself. Compare the nutritional information for this flavour on the latest label.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box Multipack, 20 pieces
A multipack for sharing a selection of savoury snacks or taking individual packs with you.
The box contains 20 items, with a variety of potato and corn snacks. Check which packs are included before buying, and if you have any relevant allergies, read the label on each individual product.
Frequently asked questions
Can crisps replace a complete breakfast on the go?
No, crisps aren’t a replacement for a complete breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s breakfast examples include wholegrain products, yoghurt or quark, and fruit. If you like, take crisps with you as a separate savoury snack.
How can I compare crisps if I’m watching my fat or salt intake?
Compare similar crisps using the nutritional information per 100 g, and check the amount per portion too. Look at saturated fat, salt and energy on the pack you choose; a reduced-fat claim doesn’t automatically tell you anything about the salt content.
Should I check allergens again when buying a familiar crisp brand?
Yes. If you have any relevant allergens, always check the specific flavour and the latest pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information must be shown on the label of prepacked products; ingredients can vary from product to product.