A set portion on the go
Want to take one savoury snack with you in the morning without eating from an opened large bag? A single-serve bag makes it easy to see how much you’re getting. Albert Heijn lists 40 g bags in a Lay's Ready Salted multipack.
Which size works best for you?
Comparing nutritional information
If you want to compare flavours or varieties, look at energy, fat, sugars and salt per 100 g, as well as the amount you’ll actually eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the information on the packaging.
Choosing a flavour and shape for on the go
If flavour, texture or the shape of a crisp is important to you, check that the variety you like is available in a size you can take with you. In a Dutch study from 2017, Multiscope identified flavour and convenience for taking out as separate factors when choosing snacks; the study wasn’t specifically about crisps in the morning.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how you want to take your crisps with you and store them. Then check the contents of each individual bag and compare the nutritional information for the specific flavours you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A portion for on the go | Check the weight of each individual bag and make sure the portion information refers to that bag. | I want to grab one bag when I’m out without eating from a large pack. For around 31% of consumers, having a set portion is the priority. |
| Nutritional information | Compare energy, fat and salt per 100 g and for the amount you plan to eat. | When I’m choosing between varieties, I want to see how their nutritional values compare for the same amount. For around 25% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
| Stocking up for several occasions | Check how many individual bags there are, how much each contains and which flavours are included. | I’d rather have individual bags ready for different mornings than open a large bag each time. Around 25% of consumers prefer to stock up this way. |
| Flavour and texture | Choose between potato crisps, stacked crisps and any corn snacks included in a mix. | I mainly want a flavour and shape I enjoy, but still need a pack I can take with me. For around 19% of consumers, this preference is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘lower fat’ means less salt
Another nutritional value could actually be higher. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists average light ready salted crisps as containing 196 kcal and 0.57 g of salt per 40 g, compared with 216 kcal and 0.45 g of salt in 40 g of regular ready salted crisps.
Compare the nutritional information for the products you’ve chosen at the same serving size, rather than relying on a claim on the front of the pack.
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Taking a large bag without portioning some out
If you eat straight from a large bag, it’s harder to tell how many crisps you’ve had for that one occasion.
At home, put the amount you want in a resealable container or take an individual bag with you.
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Relying on the ingredients from a previous purchase
A familiar brand or flavour is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you’re buying now. Pringles says that its recipes can change.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information each time you buy, especially if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
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Assuming the total weight of a multipack is one portion
A multipack contains several individual bags. For example, Albert Heijn lists a Lay's Ready Salted pack of 20 bags of 40 g each, while Lidl describes a pack containing 15 bags.
Check the contents of one bag if you want to know how much you’re taking for mid-morning.
Brands compared
Lay's
Lay's offers a range of potato crisps, including small bags in multipacks.
- Albert Heijn lists a Lay's Ready Salted multipack of 20 bags of 40 g each, with 40 g stated as one portion.
- Compare flavours and varieties separately; the nutritional information for one Lay's product won’t necessarily apply to the rest of the range.
Pringles
Pringles makes stacked crisps in a tube. For Original, the brand lists 40 g, 70 g and 165 g sizes.
- A 40 g tube is a small, individual size for anyone looking for this style of crisp.
- Pringles says its recipes can change, so check the ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging.
Smiths
Smiths is worth considering if you’re looking for shaped savoury snacks such as Hamka's, Wokkels or Bugles, rather than regular potato crisps.
- According to Lay's brand history, shaped savoury snacks continued to be sold under the Smiths name.
- Don’t use Smiths as a catch-all name for classic potato crisps; check which type of savoury snack you’re choosing.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s own-label range includes various types of crisps in larger bags.
- Albert Heijn lists, among other products, its own-label ready salted crisps in a 250 g bag, so you can portion out as much as you want.
- Check the size and information for the specific variety; a larger bag isn’t divided into individual snack portions in advance.
Lidl / Snack Day
Lidl is an option if you’re looking for a multipack with a selection of small bags.
- Lidl describes a multipack with 15 individual bags and says the product is only available in store.
- Before choosing it for a single snack occasion, check the packaging to see which types are included and how much each bag contains.
Crisps and snack mixes on Joybuy
Here you’ll find individual small packs and multipacks to consider for a mid-morning snack. The mixed boxes also contain savoury snacks other than potato crisps, so check which varieties are included in each box.
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Pringles Original, 12 × 40 g
For anyone who wants to take an individual tube with them and plan ahead for several snack occasions. The pack contains twelve tubes of 40 g each; compare the nutritional information for the amount you eat.
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Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chili, 40 g
An individual bag for anyone who wants to take this flavour with them without having to take crisps from a larger pack first. The pack contains 40 g; check the label for the nutritional information for this bag.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 15 bags
A multipack for anyone who wants to spread individual bags across several occasions. The mix includes corn snacks as well as potato crisps; check the contents and nutritional information on the packaging for each type.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 packs
For anyone who wants to have a selection of individual snacks ready for several occasions. The box contains twenty packs, with both potato crisps and corn snacks; check the contents and nutritional information for each variety.
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Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g
For anyone looking for a crisp mix to enjoy on several snack occasions. The pack contains 180 g in total; check how much is in an individual bag before treating it as a set portion.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 40 g bag of crisps a standard portion for the morning?
A 40 g bag gives you a set amount, but it isn’t a general nutritional guideline for a mid-morning snack. Albert Heijn lists 40 g as one portion in a Lay's Ready Salted multipack; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives average ready salted crisps as containing 216 kcal and 0.45 g of salt per 40 g. Also consider what else you eat during the day.
Are oven-baked or lower-fat crisps automatically a better snack choice?
No. A claim like that doesn’t tell you how all the nutritional values compare. For average light ready salted crisps, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists less energy but more salt per 40 g than for average regular ready salted crisps. So compare the products you’ve chosen at the same serving size, including fat, salt and energy.
What should I check before buying crisps if I have an allergy?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for your chosen flavour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists 14 allergens that must be declared on the label; don’t rely solely on a previous purchase of the same variety.
How should I store crisps from an opened large bag?
Seal the pack tightly or put any leftover crisps in an airtight container. Albert Heijn gives this storage advice for its ridged crisps; follow the instructions on your product’s packaging.
What should I bear in mind if I often have crisps as a snack?
Pay particular attention to how much you have each time and the amount of salt per portion in your chosen crisps. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre cites the Health Council’s recommendation that adults have no more than 6 g of salt a day; remember to include the rest of your diet in that total.