People who fancy a savoury snack after training
You fancy something crunchy after exercise and want to compare crisps with less fat than standard potato crisps. Think of them as an addition to what else you eat and drink, not a replacement.
Who might this choice be relevant to?
People who prioritise their post-workout meal
After an intense workout, or if you’ll be exercising again soon, you’ll want to work out how protein, carbohydrates and fluids fit into your meal first. The Netherlands Association of Sports Nutrition Experts covers these elements as part of recovery after exercise.
Snack shoppers who compare labels
You want to know how much fat and salt each flavour contains, or you need to check the ingredients and allergens. So compare the packaging of the product you’re actually buying: a different flavour may have a different composition.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for a savoury snack or putting together a meal after an intense workout. Then check the nutritional values per 100 g as well as the portion you plan to eat.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Food and drink after exercise | Consider how the snack fits alongside protein, carbohydrates and fluids, especially after intense exercise. | After a tough workout, I don’t want a bag of crisps to replace my meal and drink. For around 42% of consumers, this recovery-focused consideration comes first. |
| Fat and portion size | Compare fat and energy per 100 g and per planned portion; check what a lower-fat claim is comparing the product with. | If I’m mainly craving savoury crisps, I want to know what the fat claim means for the amount I’ll eat. For around 33% of consumers, this snack choice comes first. |
| Salt and ingredients | Check the salt content, ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour you’ve chosen. | If I’m watching my salt intake or need to avoid an allergen, I can’t rely on the product range name. Checking the label is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ‘lower fat’ means it’s a recovery meal
A fat claim doesn’t tell you whether a portion of crisps is right for what you want to eat after an intense workout. Albert Heijn lists 5.1 g of protein per 100 g for Lay's Oven Baked Naturel; the Netherlands Association of Sports Nutrition Experts also includes carbohydrates and fluids in its guidance on recovery after exercise.
First decide what you’ll eat and drink after your workout. If you like, choose crisps afterwards to satisfy a savoury craving.
-
Choosing salty crisps to make up for sweating
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that exercising intensely is not, in itself, a reason to eat more salt. So a salty flavour doesn’t automatically make crisps a suitable choice after exercise.
Choose based on flavour and nutritional information, and consider what you drink separately.
-
Treating every flavour as the same product
Joybuy lists milk as an allergen in Lay's Oven Baked Paprika, while the product information for the Naturel variety lists none of the 14 major EU allergens. Information for one flavour doesn’t automatically apply to another.
Check the current label for your chosen flavour every time you buy it, especially if you need to avoid an allergen.
Brands to consider
Lay's
For Lay's Oven Baked Naturel in a 150 g pack, Albert Heijn states that it contains 50% less fat than standard potato crisps.
- For this product, Albert Heijn lists 13 g of fat, 70 g of carbohydrates, 5.1 g of protein and 0.85 g of salt per 100 g.
- Don’t apply these values to other flavours or product listings. Check their own labels, especially if you have allergies.
Chio
Chio Oven Chips is another range to consider if you’re looking for oven-baked crisps. Jumbo lists Sea Salt Flavour among its lower-fat crisps.
- The Sea Salt Flavour variety gives you a different taste option from the Lay's varieties mentioned here.
- Compare fat, salt and allergens using the packaging for the specific variety.
BitesWeLove
Jumbo lists BitesWeLove Protein Puffs in its lower-fat crisps category. Protein puffs are a different type of product from potato crisps.
- You can assess this product type separately by its nutritional values and ingredients if you’re also considering options beyond potato crisps.
- The name Protein Puffs doesn’t prove that a portion is suitable as a post-workout meal; check the nutritional information for each variety.
Pringles
Pringles Original is a point of comparison if you’re mainly considering this flavour and pack, but it isn’t automatically a lower-fat crisp option.
- Albert Heijn lists 30 g of fat per 100 g for Pringles Original, so you can compare this variety with other products on the same basis.
- When comparing products, also check the portion size and the other nutritional information. A single value doesn’t determine how a snack fits into your eating occasion.
Crisps for a savoury snack
These oven-baked crisps are options if you fancy something savoury after exercise alongside the rest of your meal. Choose your preferred flavour and pack first, then compare the nutritional information and allergens for that specific variety.
No image available
Lay's Oven Baked Barbecue, 150 g
A barbecue flavour for a savoury snack after exercise. 150 g bag; check the nutritional information and allergens for this flavour on the packaging.
No image available
Lay's Oven Baked Paprika, 150 g
A paprika flavour for a savoury snack alongside your food and drink after exercise. 150 g bag. Joybuy lists milk as an allergen for this variety; if you have an allergy, always check the current label.
No image available
Lay's Oven Baked Natural, 150 g
A natural flavour for anyone looking for a savoury post-workout snack without an added flavour name. 150 g bag. Joybuy lists none of the 14 major EU allergens for this variety; if you have an allergy, keep checking the current packaging.
No image available
Lay's Oven Baked Mediterranean Herbs, 150 g
A herby flavour for anyone considering crisps as an extra snack after exercise. 150 g bag; compare the nutritional information and allergens for this flavour with those of other varieties.
No image available
Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt, 125 g
A Sea Salt variety for anyone who wants to compare another pack alongside other oven-baked crisps. 125 g bag; before buying, check the salt content and allergens on the current label.
Frequently asked questions
Can lower-fat crisps replace my post-workout meal?
Not after an intense workout if they’re all you eat and drink. The Netherlands Association of Sports Nutrition Experts includes protein, carbohydrates and fluids in its guidance on recovery after exercise; crisps can, at most, be a savoury addition to what else you eat and drink.
Do I need extra salt from crisps after a sweaty workout?
Not automatically: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you don’t need to eat more salt just because you exercise intensely. So don’t choose crisps solely to get salt; consider their salt content as part of everything else you eat.
Which nutritional values should I compare for lower-fat crisps?
Compare fat, energy and salt per 100 g and per portion. After an intense workout, also consider how protein and carbohydrates fit into your overall meal. Albert Heijn lists 13 g of fat, 70 g of carbohydrates, 5.1 g of protein and 0.85 g of salt per 100 g for Lay's Oven Baked Naturel; don’t apply these values to other flavours or product listings.
Do all Lay's Oven Baked flavours contain the same allergens?
No, don’t assume they do. Joybuy lists milk for the paprika variety and lists none of the 14 major EU allergens for the Naturel variety. If you have an allergy, always check the current label on the exact pack you’re buying.