If you want to choose a higher-protein snack for Friday afternoon drinks, compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per bag before buying paprika crisps or a paprika-flavoured snack. A small protein snack isn’t automatically suitable for sharing, so check the flavour, salt content and allergens too. If you’re specifically looking for a product labelled ‘high in protein’, don’t rely on the wording on the front of the pack alone.
If you want to choose a higher-protein paprika snack for drinks, compare the amount per bag too. The protein varieties reviewed list 23 to 29 g of protein per 100 g, but their pack sizes vary considerably.
When you’re catering for several people, the amount in the bag matters too. The Lay’s Paprika and Jumbo Paprika Chips reviewed come in 200 g and 250 g bags respectively, and list around 6 g of protein per 100 g according to Albert Heijn and Jumbo.
If soy, milk, other allergens or salt are important considerations for you, check the current ingredients list and nutritional information on the pack, even when a product makes a protein claim.
First decide whether extra protein or a bag of crisps to share is your priority. Then compare the portion size and ingredients of the products that suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per serving | Compare the protein per 100 g with the amount in the bag. For a ‘high in protein’ claim, also check the proportion of the product’s total energy that comes from protein. | If you want a higher-protein snack for this particular occasion, the amount per bag tells you more about your serving than the value per 100 g alone. Protein is the top priority for around 50% of these consumers. |
| Amount to share | Check the net weight and the stated number of servings; decide whether you need an individual bag or a bowl to share. | A small pack won’t be enough if you want to put crisps out for the whole group. For around 30% of consumers, having enough to share matters most. |
| Ingredients | Read the allergen information and compare salt and other nutritional values per 100 g and for your portion. | If you need to account for an allergen or want to compare different salty snacks, the ingredients matter more than a high protein figure. This is the first consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Having more protein than standard crisps does not, on its own, prove that a product can carry the ‘high in protein’ claim. According to the European Union, at least 20% of its energy value must come from protein.
Check the claim and nutritional information for the exact variety, rather than comparing products on grams of protein alone.
An individual 23 g or 30 g bag contains less product than a regular 200 g or 250 g bag of crisps, even if it has a higher protein content per 100 g.
Compare the net weight and the amount of protein per bag, and consider how many people will be eating them.
Protein is just one part of a product’s nutritional value. The paprika snacks reviewed also differ in salt content, ingredients and portion size.
Check the other nutritional information as well as the protein, and base your choice on the amount you’ll actually serve.
The varieties reviewed list different allergens and possible traces. A protein claim says nothing about whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.
Every time you buy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack of the variety you’ve chosen.
These examples highlight differences between specific paprika snacks; the nutritional values and limitations do not necessarily apply to every product from a brand.
AH Proteïne crisps paprika is a lentil snack in a 70 g bag, making it better suited to an individual serving or as an extra snack than as the only crisps for a large group.
Smart Protein Chips paprika flavour combines soy and potato in an individual 23 g bag.
Protein Chips Paprika & Onion comes in a 30 g bag and has a paprika and onion flavour, so it isn’t paprika-only.
Paprika Flavour Chips is a soy and potato crisp in a 25 g bag.
The Lay’s Paprika variety reviewed is a standard potato crisp in a 200 g bag, suitable for sharing over drinks.
According to the European Union, the claim ‘high in protein’ can be used when at least 20% of a product’s energy value comes from protein. So, the number of grams of protein per 100 g alone isn’t enough to establish whether a product meets this requirement.
According to Albert Heijn and Jumbo, the Lay’s Paprika and Jumbo Paprika Chips reviewed list 6,0 g and 6,1 g of protein per 100 g respectively, while AH Proteïne crisps paprika lists 28 g per 100 g. Also compare the amount you’ll actually eat: a large bag of crisps and a small bag of protein crisps aren’t the same size serving.
Albert Heijn recommends storing AH Proteïne crisps paprika in a sealed container after opening. Also check the storage instructions on the pack you buy.
Compare the salt content per 100 g and for the portion you plan to eat, and read the allergen information for the exact variety. The products reviewed differ in this respect: soy, milk and possible traces are among the allergens mentioned. A protein claim does not mean that a product is free from allergens.
