High-protein crisps can be a savoury addition to a school lunch, but the protein claim does not make them a complete lunch. Compare protein, salt and fibre per 100 g and per portion, and check the ingredients and allergen information. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who do sport already get enough protein from a varied diet, so extra protein products are not automatically needed after exercise.
You’re looking for something savoury to have with lunch around a training session, and wondering whether a protein product adds anything to your usual meals. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who do sport do not need special protein products.
You want to take a crunchy snack with you, but look beyond the protein claim on the front of the pack. The amount per portion, salt content, fibre and ingredients can all help you compare different options.
You’re looking for a savoury snack made with plant-based ingredients. The allergen information and the details on the packaging of your chosen flavour also matter when making your choice.
First, decide how many crisps you’ll actually pack in your lunchbox. Then compare the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g, so you’re not comparing a small bag and a larger pack on different terms.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein around exercise | Compare protein per eating portion and consider whether your usual meals already meet your needs. | If I want something savoury with lunch around an intensive training session, I want to know what the bag adds without automatically choosing an extra protein product. For around 30% of consumers, sport and recovery are the main priorities when making this choice. |
| Nutritional value and portion size | Check protein, salt, fibre and energy per portion and per 100 g; also see how many portions the pack contains. | For me, a snack needs to fit in with the rest of my school lunch, even if the pack contains more than one portion. Nutritional composition and portion size are the most important factors for around 50% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements for your chosen flavour. | If I eat a plant-based diet or need to take a food allergy into account, I can’t rely on the name or a logo alone. Ingredients and allergens are the first consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Extra protein on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you how much salt, fibre or energy the snack contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the nutrition table and ingredients list too.
Think of crisps as a possible addition and consider them alongside the rest of the lunch, such as wholemeal bread, fruit or vegetable sticks.
A bag of Body & Fit Smart Protein Chips Original weighs 23 g; Albert Heijn lists a 25 g portion for AH Proteïne Crisps Paprika. The amount you pack or eat determines what the listed values mean for that lunch.
Use the values per 100 g to compare products, and the values per portion to assess how much you’ll eat. If you’re only taking some of a larger bag, portion it out in advance.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Proteïne Crisps Paprika may contain milk, sesame, soya and lactose. So a plant-based or gluten-free label does not replace the allergen information.
Check the current ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements for every flavour, especially if a food allergy limits your choices.
Albert Heijn lists Body & Fit Smart Protein Chips Original as discontinued; Jumbo says The Organic Crave Protein Chips Salt & Pepper is no longer part of its online range. So a product page being visible does not mean you can order the snack.
Check availability and the information on the packaging of the version you can actually buy.
The own-brand range includes AH Proteïne Crisps Paprika and Sweet Chili. Albert Heijn describes the paprika flavour as vegan and gluten-free.
Smart Protein Chips Original is a soya and potato snack in a 23 g bag, for anyone who wants to compare the protein content per bag.
Protein Chips Salt & Pepper is a lentil crisp option that can be used for comparison.
Regular crisps and Oven Baked are worth considering when flavour and type of crisp are your priorities, rather than as an established high-protein option.
No, at most, think of them as a savoury addition. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a varied diet for teenagers and lists options such as wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetable sticks as everyday foods to take with you.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who do sport already get enough protein from a varied diet. So consider a high-protein snack alongside your usual meals, rather than assuming every training session calls for a special product.
Check protein, salt, fibre and energy both per portion and per 100 g. Then check how many portions are in the bag and look at the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen flavour.
An authorised claim is not personal advice to buy those crisps. According to the EU register, the claim about protein and the maintenance of muscle mass may only be used for a food that meets the requirements for being a ‘source of protein’. The claim does not make the snack a complete lunch.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of your chosen crisps. For AH Proteïne Crisps Paprika, Albert Heijn recommends keeping an opened bag in a sealed container. Check the current packaging before setting aside a portion for your lunchbox.
