Don’t buy high-protein paprika crisps as a regular lunch staple for children in a nursery. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for toddlers and pre-school children, such as vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread. If you’re an adult looking for a snack that’s relatively high in protein, protein crisps could be an option. Compare the portion size, salt content and allergens too.
If you’re putting together a lunch or snack for young children, whether it’s suitable for the group matters more than a protein claim on a bag of crisps. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides separate guidance on food in nurseries and snacks for young children.
If you’re a member of staff or an athlete looking for a paprika snack for yourself, the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion can help you compare regular potato crisps with protein crisps. Salt and allergens should also be part of your decision.
If you’re buying crisps for an individual snack occasion for adults, the size of the bag may be a factor. A larger pack doesn’t change the protein content per 100 g, so you’ll need to choose your portion carefully.
First, decide whether you’re buying for children at a nursery or for an adult. Only then does it make sense to compare paprika snacks by nutritional value and pack size.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery lunch | Check the age group and the nursery’s food policy; choose foods that fit the regular lunch menu. | When I buy food for young children, I want to know whether it fits their usual lunch menu. For around 50% of consumers, suitability comes first. |
| Protein in an adult snack | Compare protein per 100 g and per planned portion, and check the salt and energy values too. | For an adult snack, I want to see how much protein I’ll actually get per portion. Around 30% of consumers say this is their top buying priority. |
| Size and how you’ll use it | Check the pack size and the portion you plan to serve or take with you. | When I buy crisps for adults, I want a bag that suits the number of people eating and the occasion. For around 20% of consumers, this is the most important factor. |
A higher protein content doesn’t automatically make crisps a suitable regular lunch for young children. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread, among other options, as snacks for toddlers and pre-school children.
Make a separate choice for the children’s lunch menu, and consider paprika crisps separately, at most, as a snack for adults.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Proteïne crisps paprika contains 28 g of protein and 0,88 g of salt per 100 g, while Proper Paprika lentil chips contains 10 g of protein and 2,71 g of salt per 100 g. Comparing protein alone overlooks this difference in salt.
Check the energy, ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per portion on the same packs too.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. When buying food for a group at a nursery, you also need to take account of each child’s individual dietary and allergy requirements.
Check the physical packaging when a new delivery arrives and follow the nursery’s food and allergen policies.
These names can help you distinguish between regular paprika crisps and paprika snacks made with different ingredients. On their own, they say nothing about whether a product is suitable for a nursery lunch.
Albert Heijn lists both regular AH Chips paprika and AH Proteïne crisps paprika: two different types of product for this comparison.
Lay's sells both regular paprika crisps and an Oven Baked version. The Oven Baked label doesn’t tell you how much protein a product contains.
Proper Paprika lentil chips is a paprika snack made from lentils, not the same type of product as regular potato crisps.
Jumbo stocks several types of paprika crisps, including own-brand products and products from other brands.
ALDI lists Sun Snacks paprikachips as regular paprika crisps.
This ranking is based on the declared protein content per 100 g in the product information from Albert Heijn and Joybuy. It isn’t an assessment of overall nutritional value or suitability for a nursery lunch.
| Rank | Product | Details | Notes | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AH Proteïne crisps paprika 70 g | 28 g of protein and 0,88 g of salt per 100 g. | Albert Heijn lists this as the highest protein content per 100 g of these four products. The product may contain milk, sesame seeds, soya and lactose. | Albert Heijn |
| 2 | Proper Paprika lentil chips 85 g | 10 g of protein and 2,71 g of salt per 100 g. | According to Albert Heijn, based on the declared protein content, these lentil crisps rank below AH Proteïne crisps. The salt content is a separate point to consider. | Albert Heijn |
| 3 | Lay's Paprika Chips 300 g | 6,2 g of protein per 100 g. | Joybuy lists these regular paprika crisps as a point of comparison, not as protein crisps or a nursery lunch option. | Joybuy |
| 4 | AH Chips paprika 250 g | 6,1 g of protein and 0,8 g of salt per 100 g. | Albert Heijn lists these regular potato crisps as having less protein per 100 g than the two lentil varieties in this comparison. | Albert Heijn |
No, don’t choose them as a regular lunch staple for young children. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for toddlers and pre-school children, such as vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread. You should also follow the nursery’s food policy and take account of individual requirements.
First, check the nutritional values per 100 g, then work out the figures for the portion you plan to eat. Albert Heijn lists 28 g of protein per 100 g for AH Proteïne crisps paprika and 6,1 g for AH Chips paprika. Check the salt content, energy and ingredients at the same time; protein content alone doesn’t determine which snack is right for you.
Check the current packaging against each child’s allergy and dietary requirements. Albert Heijn says that AH Proteïne crisps paprika may contain milk, sesame seeds, soya and lactose. Don’t rely solely on an old online product description.
No, the size of the bag doesn’t change whether crisps belong in the regular snack menu. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread, among other options, for toddlers and pre-school children. Check any exception against the nursery’s policy.
