Want to make nachos on a student budget? Choose tortilla chips for crunch, then decide separately which ingredient will provide the protein in your meal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 40 g bowl of crisps contains an average of 2.5 g of protein; this average applies to crisps in general, not specifically to tortilla chips. A high-protein tortilla or wrap is a different kind of meal if you want to replace the chips, while a separate protein snack doesn’t automatically make a full evening meal.
You want to put together an evening meal after exercising that includes a clear source of protein, without automatically reaching for a shake or bar. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says most people who exercise don’t need specialist protein products if they eat a varied diet; individual needs can vary.
You’re after a meal to share and mainly want the chips for crunch. Check what ingredients you already have before choosing between filled nachos and a different type of meal; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends factoring in your cupboards, fridge and freezer when planning meals.
You want to know what ‘high protein’ on a packet means. Under the relevant EU rule, this claim can be used when at least 20% of the product’s energy comes from protein. On its own, this says nothing about the make-up of your whole evening meal.
First decide whether you want to use chips as a topping, or would rather use a tortilla or wrap as the base of your meal. Then compare the nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen and consider which ingredients will round out the meal.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Protein for exercise | Compare protein per 100 g and per serving; if there’s a protein claim, also check the proportion of energy that comes from protein. | After exercising, I want to know which part of my evening meal provides the protein, rather than judging by the name of the chips. This protein question is the deciding factor for around 33% of shoppers. |
| Student budget | Check the pack weight, the number of intended servings and which ingredients you still need. | When I’m making nachos for several people, I want to see what I already have at home and how much I’ll need for the whole meal. For around 27% of shoppers, planning comes first. |
| Type of meal | Choose between chips as a topping and a tortilla or wrap as the base; check the nutritional information for the option you choose. | For dinner, I want to make more than a bowl of plain chips, so I decide how the filling will work with them. Around 27% of shoppers focus on how the meal comes together. |
| Flavour and crunch | Choose plain or seasoned chips to suit your dip or toppings, and check the current packaging. | With nachos, the flavour and texture of the chips matter most to me, as the other ingredients are already decided. For around 13% of shoppers, this is the main consideration. |
The EU requirement for this claim is based on the proportion of the product’s energy that comes from protein. It doesn’t tell you how much veg, fibre or salt is in your whole meal.
Check the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving, then consider what other ingredients you’ll eat with the chips or tortilla.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 2.5 g of protein per 40 g bowl of crisps in general. This isn’t the nutritional value for every bag of tortilla chips.
Use tortilla chips for the crunch you want, and choose the filling separately if protein is important in your evening meal.
Jumbo’s High Proteïne Tortilla Large is a tortilla or wrap, not a ready-to-eat chip. Albert Heijn lists protein snacks as a separate product category. These products therefore don’t automatically serve the same purpose in a nacho dish.
Decide whether you’re looking for a chip to use as a topping, a tortilla you can fill or a snack on its own before comparing packets.
Ingredients and nutritional values can change. Albert Heijn therefore recommends checking the packaging, even if you’ve already looked at the product information online.
Check the packaging you receive, especially if ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.
These brands showcase different types of products and ways to use them. A brand mention doesn’t mean that all of its products are high in protein or available through Joybuy.
Worth considering if you want to compare regular tortilla chips with a separate range of protein snacks.
Doritos presents Naturel as a tortilla chip for loaded nachos or dipping.
Jumbo sells both tortilla chips and High Proteïne Tortilla Large, a pack of six tortillas or wraps.
Lidl’s Snack Day range includes sweet chilli tortilla chips in a 300 g bag.
These three products are regular tortilla chips for anyone who wants to keep the chips’ crunch in a nacho dish. Choose the meal’s source of protein separately; using a tortilla or wrap instead is a different option.
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For dipping or nachos where you want other ingredients to provide the protein. Check the nutritional information on the packet if the amount of protein in your meal matters to you.
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For cheese-flavoured nachos with a separate source of protein in the filling. When choosing, also check the nutritional information per serving on the packet.
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A plain option for dipping or adding to nachos. For an evening meal where protein takes centre stage, add a suitable filling and check the nutritional information on the packet.
Under the EU rule that applies in the Netherlands, at least 20% of a product’s energy must come from protein for it to carry the ‘high protein’ claim. This requirement applies to the product; it doesn’t tell you whether the whole evening meal suits your plans.
Don’t count on tortilla chips as your main source of protein without checking the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 2.5 g of protein for 40 g of crisps in general; check the packet for the nutritional value of a specific tortilla chip. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also says most people who exercise don’t need specialist protein products if they eat a varied diet.
Use the chips as part of the dish and choose a protein-containing ingredient separately for the filling, according to what you want to eat. For example, Jumbo suggests black beans and sweetcorn in a nacho recipe. Compare the portions and labels of the ingredients you actually use.
Check the packaging of the product you receive as well. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so the packaging is important if you need to avoid a particular ingredient or allergen.
