When choosing flavoured crisps if you have diabetes, start by comparing the carbohydrates per 100 g, then calculate the amount for the portion you actually eat. Check the salt, fibre and ingredients too: a claim such as ‘lower fat’ doesn’t tell you whether a variety fits your personal dietary plan. According to diabetes.nl, the right amount of carbohydrates varies from person to person.
You’d like to enjoy flavoured crisps now and then and include the carbohydrates in your own portion in your dietary plan. According to diabetes.nl, carbohydrates affect blood glucose levels and the right amount varies from person to person. So checking ‘of which sugars’ alone isn’t enough.
You’re looking for a variety that suits what matters to you for an occasional snack, such as its salt or fat content. The Diabetes Fonds describes crisps as something to enjoy now and then, rather than an everyday snack.
You might fancy paprika or sweet chilli, but also check the ingredients that matter to you. The product information for Pringles Paprika and Pringles Flame Sweet Chilli lists, among other things, sources of sugar and allergens. Always check the current packaging for the variety you choose.
Start by comparing flavours on the same basis: per 100 g. Then work out your own portion, which may differ from the serving size shown on the packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates and portion size | Compare the total carbohydrates per 100 g and calculate the amount for the portion you actually eat. If you use insulin, follow your personal treatment plan. | When I eat crisps, I want to be able to include the carbohydrates in my own portion in my dietary plan. For around 36% of consumers, being able to count their portion is the top priority. |
| Salt, fat and fibre | For similar varieties, compare the salt, saturated fat and fibre values per 100 g. | For an occasional snack, I want to consider more than just flavour and check the nutritional composition too. Salt and overall nutritional value matter most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Lower fat | Check what the fat comparison is based on, and also read the carbohydrates and salt information on the same packaging. | When I’m considering an oven-baked variety, the fat content is the first thing I compare. For around 21% of consumers, this is their top priority. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the exact flavour you choose, and check the total carbohydrates too. | I want to choose a bold flavour without overlooking an ingredient or allergen that matters to me. For around 14% of consumers, this check comes first. |
A low sugar figure doesn’t tell you how many total carbohydrates you’ll eat. For example, Pringles lists 54 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for Paprika. According to diabetes.nl, carbohydrates affect blood glucose levels.
Use the total carbohydrates to calculate your portion, and check sugars, fibre, salt and ingredients separately too.
According to Lay’s, Oven Baked Roasted Paprika contains 50% less fat than regular potato crisps. This brand claim is about fat, not the amount of carbohydrates or salt.
Even with oven-baked crisps, compare the full nutritional information for the variety you choose.
Nutritional values per serving are only useful if you eat roughly that amount. The Voedingscentrum recommends comparing products per 100 g first, as different serving sizes can make comparisons difficult.
Work out how many crisps you’ll actually have and calculate the values for that amount.
Crisps aren’t a substitute for the fast-acting glucose recommended by diabetes.nl for a hypo.
Follow your personal treatment plan for a hypo, and treat crisps as a snack only.
Within the range, Oven Baked Roasted Paprika is worth considering if you specifically want to compare fat content.
Paprika and Flame Sweet Chilli show why each flavour needs to be assessed individually.
Sticks Paprika is a potato- and maize-based stick snack, so it isn’t representative of all Smiths crisps.
The range includes various types of crisps and snacks, including varieties listed under ‘lower fat, salt’.
Products that show values per 100 g and per portion let you see how your chosen portion size affects the figures.
Snack Day includes paprika-flavoured crisps, among other products.
No. The ‘of which sugars’ figure doesn’t tell you how many total carbohydrates are in a portion. According to diabetes.nl, carbohydrates affect blood glucose levels. So compare the total carbohydrates per 100 g and calculate the amount for your own portion.
Not based on the cooking method alone. Lay's says Oven Baked Roasted Paprika contains 50% less fat than regular potato crisps, but that doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates or how much salt this variety contains. Check the current nutritional information for those details.
The term alone doesn’t prove that a product fits your personal dietary plan. According to the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, voluntary food information must not be misleading, confusing or ambiguous. Base your choice on the nutritional information and ingredients for the specific crisps.
Recipes and product information can change. Check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens on the packaging again for the flavour you choose.
