Parents looking for an everyday snack for their toddler
For everyday snack times, they want something that follows the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice for young children and toddlers, rather than making chips a regular choice.
Who is this choice for?
Parents who want to share chips occasionally
For a family occasion, they consider the variety, the amount and a calm mealtime with supervision. A serving size on a packet of chips isn’t specific advice for a child’s age.
Parents who need to check allergens or childcare rules
The information on the exact packaging matters to them. The nacho cheese varieties reviewed list milk ingredients, while the Albert Heijn variety reviewed is labelled gluten-free. If you’re sending food in with your child, the childcare provider’s or school’s policy also matters.
What should you consider?
First decide whether this is an everyday snack or an occasional sharing occasion. Only in the latter case is it useful to compare the labels and packaging of different chips.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday snack | Is this an everyday snack time? If so, choose foods from the Wheel of Five, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread. | I’m looking for something for an everyday snack time and don’t want chips to become a regular snack; this is the main priority for roughly 50% of consumers. |
| Allergens and childcare policies | Read the allergen information and check for any gluten-free claim on the exact packaging. Ask the childcare provider or school about its policy before sending anything in. | If an allergen or childcare rule affects my choice, I need to know what applies to this variety; this is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Occasional sharing | Don’t treat the contents of the packet or its standard serving size as a toddler portion. Make sure your child sits calmly and stay with them while they eat, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends. | For an occasional family occasion, I want to decide on a small amount myself and stay with my child; this is the biggest consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions
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Assuming gluten-free means suitable as an everyday snack
Albert Heijn labels the Nacho Cheese Flavour variety reviewed as gluten-free. That label says nothing about whether chips are suitable as one of the everyday snacks recommended for toddlers by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Use a gluten-free claim only to answer the question it relates to. Also consider the occasion and read the nutritional information on the packaging you’ve chosen.
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Using the standard serving size on the packet
The Albert Heijn and Doritos packets reviewed list product servings of 25 g and 30 g respectively. These aren’t serving recommendations for toddlers.
For an occasional sharing occasion, decide on a small amount yourself and don’t serve chips straight from a sharing bag.
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Judging by the flavour name alone
The nacho cheese varieties reviewed list milk ingredients; Albert Heijn also lists lactose and possible traces of soya. A familiar flavour name is no substitute for checking the allergen information.
Every time you buy them, check the current packaging for the exact variety you intend to give your child.
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Making chips an everyday snack
For young children and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five between meals. An occasional family occasion is different from choosing a snack every day.
For everyday snack times, choose fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread, for example, and consider chips only for an occasional occasion.
Brands and varieties to consider
The examples below relate to specific packaging that has been reviewed. Always check the label of the variety you choose when you buy it.
Doritos
The Nacho Cheese packet reviewed is a 272 g party pack, with an average product serving size of 30 g listed.
- Albert Heijn lists milk as an allergen for this variety and 0.89 g of salt per 100 g.
- The product serving size isn’t a toddler portion; check the current packaging for nutritional and allergen information.
Albert Heijn
The Tortilla Chips Nacho Cheese Flavour reviewed comes in a 200 g pack, with a standard serving size of 25 g listed.
- Albert Heijn labels this specific variety as gluten-free.
- The product information lists milk and lactose, and possible traces of soya. The gluten-free claim doesn’t make these chips an everyday toddler snack.
Jumbo
The 170 g Tortilla Naturel reviewed offers a plain variety to compare with flavoured chips.
- Jumbo lists maize, sunflower oil and salt as ingredients in this variety.
- According to Jumbo, this variety contains 0.90 g of salt per 100 g. A short ingredients list doesn’t automatically make chips a suitable everyday snack for toddlers.
Flavoured tortilla chips on Joybuy
These three flavours are only relevant if you’re comparing chips for an occasional family occasion. The pack size doesn’t tell you what a suitable toddler portion is; for everyday snack times, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre still recommends choosing foods from the Wheel of Five.
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Doritos Sweet Chilli Pepper Tortilla Chips, 170 g
A flavoured variety to consider only for an occasional sharing occasion, not as an everyday snack for a toddler.
The bag contains 170 g; this isn’t a portion recommendation for a toddler. Check the current nutritional and allergen information before serving.
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Doritos Nacho Cheese Tortilla Crisps, 170 g
A nacho cheese variety to consider for an occasional family occasion, not as an everyday snack for a toddler.
The pack contains 170 g. Read the allergen information on the bag you choose and don’t treat a listed standard serving size as a toddler portion.
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Doritos Sweet Chili Pepper Tortilla Chips, 44 g
The smaller bag is another pack size to consider for an occasional sharing occasion, not a confirmed toddler portion.
The bag contains 44 g. Before choosing this variety, carefully check the current packaging for allergens, including whether milk is listed.
Frequently asked questions
Are flavoured tortilla chips an everyday snack for a toddler?
No, they shouldn’t be the usual choice for a young child or toddler. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five between meals, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread.
Is plain automatically a better choice for a toddler than a flavoured variety?
No. A shorter ingredients list doesn’t automatically make plain tortilla chips suitable as an everyday snack. For the Tortilla Naturel reviewed, Jumbo lists 0.90 g of salt per 100 g. Assess each variety by its own label and the snack occasion you’re considering it for.
Do flavoured tortilla chips always contain gluten?
No. Albert Heijn labels the Tortilla Chips Nacho Cheese Flavour reviewed as gluten-free. Don’t assume this applies to other brands or flavours, and check the current packaging for the exact variety.
What should I consider if my toddler is occasionally given chips at a family occasion?
Make sure your child sits calmly while eating and stay nearby, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends. Don’t use the standard serving size on a packet of chips as a toddler portion. If you’re unsure whether your child can chew the snack safely, choose something softer.