Film fans looking to limit their calorie intake
You want to enjoy crisps, but compare the energy content of specific varieties and plan how many grams you’ll have during the film.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers who want to manage their snack portions
You’re looking for a small pack or planning to portion out a larger bag in advance, so you don’t end up eating the whole pack without realising.
Snackers who also check salt or allergens
As well as calories, the salt content or ingredients matter to you. If you have an allergy or intolerance, always check the latest label.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by comparing crisps per 100 g, then calculate the amount you actually plan to eat. A claim such as ‘reduced fat’ doesn’t tell you how many kcal are in your portion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Compare the kcal per 100 g of the varieties you’re considering, then calculate the value for your planned portion. | I want to enjoy crisps without judging my portion on a fat claim alone. For around 50% of consumers, the energy content of their planned portion comes first. |
| Portion and pack size | Check the net weight and portion size, and decide in advance how many grams to take from a larger bag. | I can easily keep eating from a large bag while watching a film, so I want to decide how much to have beforehand. This is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Salt and allergens | Check the salt content per 100 g, as well as the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging. | If salt or a particular ingredient is the deciding factor for me, I can’t choose based on kcal alone. This check is the top priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘reduced fat’ means far fewer calories
A fat claim doesn’t tell you the energy content of your portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that the calorie difference between light crisps and standard crisps can be small.
Compare kcal per 100 g and calculate the amount for the number of grams you plan to eat.
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Treating a share bag as one portion
Albert Heijn lists five portions in a 150 g bag of Lay’s Oven Baked Original; according to Jumbo, a 250 g bag of Original Crisps contains ten portions. So the amount in a bag isn’t necessarily the same as the stated portion size.
Serve yourself the amount you’ve chosen in a bowl, or decide in advance how you’ll share the bag.
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Buying crisps without checking the cinema’s rules
According to Pathé’s house rules, you can’t bring your own food or drink into its cinemas. This doesn’t tell you what the rules are at other cinemas.
Check the house rules of the cinema you’re visiting before you buy.
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Relying only on an online description if you have an allergy
Recipes and product descriptions can change. If you need to avoid an ingredient, always follow the information on the current packaging.
Before eating, check the ingredients list and declared allergens on the label.
Brands and own-label options to consider
Lay’s
The Oven Baked range is worth considering if you want to compare oven-baked crisps with standard crisps.
- Albert Heijn lists Lay’s Oven Baked Original at 428 kcal and 13 g of fat per 100 g.
- According to Albert Heijn, the same product contains 0.85 g of salt per 100 g. Check the label for the variety you choose.
Pringles
Original is an example of formed crisps that are also available in a 40 g pack.
- Pringles lists Original at 528 kcal per 100 g and 158 kcal per 30 g portion.
- A small pack doesn’t tell you the kcal per 100 g. If you have an allergy, check the ingredients for your chosen variety too.
Albert Heijn
The product information for Lay’s Oven Baked Original includes nutritional values and a portion size you can use for comparison.
- The stated 30 g portion makes it easier to work out the nutritional value for the amount you choose, using the per-100 g figures.
- Check the packaging itself: Albert Heijn says that ingredients and nutritional values may change.
Jumbo
Jumbo Original Crisps are a standard plain variety you can use as a specific comparison product.
- Jumbo lists 528 kcal per 100 g and ten 25 g portions in the 250 g bag.
- Don’t assume these figures also apply to other flavours or products.
Lidl / Snack Day
Snack Day Original is an own-label example of standard crisps in a 250 g bag.
- Lidl gives the product type and net weight, so you can factor in the pack size.
- To compare calories, salt or allergens, check the nutritional information and ingredients on the packaging.
Crisps for different portion choices
These Joybuy products include two oven-baked varieties for anyone interested in that style of crisp, plus a smaller bag of standard crisps if you’d rather choose your portion in advance. Compare the nutritional information for each flavour separately.
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Lay’s Oven Baked Barbecue, 150 g
A good option if you want to compare oven-baked crisps with other types. The bag contains 150 g. Decide how many grams you’ll have and check the nutritional information for this barbecue flavour on the packaging.
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Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt, 125 g
For anyone considering an oven-baked variety in a 125 g bag. As well as kcal per 100 g, check the salt content and calculate the figures for the amount you plan to eat.
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Lay’s Sensations Thai Sweet Chili, 40 g
For anyone who’d rather choose a 40 g bag upfront than portion out a larger one. The pack size doesn’t automatically make these crisps lower in calories, so check the nutritional information and ingredients for this flavour.
Frequently asked questions
Are light or reduced-fat crisps automatically a better choice for my film snack?
No: a fat claim doesn’t tell you how many kcal you’ll end up eating. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that light crisps may contain fewer calories than standard crisps, but the difference can be small. So compare the kcal per 100 g and the amount you’ll have.
Should I compare crisps per 100 g or per portion?
Use the per-100 g figures to compare products on a like-for-like basis, then calculate the figures for your planned portion. The portion size on the packaging may not match the amount you eat during a film.
Can I take crisps I’ve bought myself to the cinema?
Not at Pathé: its house rules don’t allow food or drink from outside. If you’re going to another cinema, check its own rules before buying crisps to take with you.
Where can I check allergens in crisps?
Read the current ingredients list on the packaging for your chosen flavour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens that must be declared are shown on labels. Don’t rely on the general product category or an earlier online description.
How should I store crisps if I only eat some of the bag?
Seal the opened bag tightly and store it somewhere cool, dry and dark. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened crisps in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 5 days.