Parents keeping an eye on portion size
You want to buy crisps for yourself and compare kcal per 100 g with the amount you actually put in a bowl.
Who are these choices for?
Parents looking for lower-fat crisps
You want familiar potato crisps, but you’re checking the fat content and which product a lower-fat claim is compared with.
Families who read labels carefully
When buying crisps for adults, you also want to check the salt, ingredients and allergens. For a baby, choose a different kind of snack.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which feature matters most to you, then compare the nutritional information for the exact variety of crisps you want to buy.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Calories and portion size | Compare kcal per 100 g, then think about how many grams you’ll have. | When I have crisps on a busy day, I want to know how the amount in my bowl affects the calories I’m eating. For around 50% of consumers, this would be the main reason to compare crisps. |
| Lower fat | Check the fat and kcal per 100 g, and find out what the lower-fat claim is compared with. | I’m looking for the texture of potato crisps, but mainly want a variety with less fat than the product it’s compared with. For around 25% of consumers, this would be the main reason for their choice. |
| Salt and ingredients | Check the salt content and the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. | In my family, I need to know who the snack is for and what’s in it; I wouldn’t give crisps for adults to a baby. Around 25% of consumers would put this label check first. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘lower fat’ as ‘fewest calories’
A fat claim compares products on fat, not necessarily on kcal. Albert Heijn lists 428 kcal per 100 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Naturel and 461 kcal for AH Ribbelchips naturel minder vet.
For the exact variety, check the kcal, fat and salt per 100 g.
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Comparing different portion sizes directly
A smaller suggested portion can show fewer kcal, even if the product contains more kcal per 100 g.
Compare products per 100 g first, then consider how much you’ll eat.
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Choosing crisps for a baby because they’re lower in fat
A fat claim doesn’t change the amount of salt in crisps. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies food containing salt.
Keep crisps as a snack for adults and choose suitable first foods for your baby.
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Guessing allergens from the flavour name
The flavour name doesn’t tell you which allergens a product may contain. Pringles lists milk and soya as possible allergens in Original.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging every time you buy it.
Brands to help you compare
Lay’s
The Oven Baked range is worth considering if you want to compare lower-fat potato crisps.
- Albert Heijn lists 428 kcal and 13 g of fat per 100 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Naturel.
- Lay’s says the Oven Baked range contains 50% less fat than regular potato crisps. This doesn’t compare all Lay’s flavours by kcal.
Albert Heijn
The supermarket’s own-brand range includes a lower-fat variety of AH Ribbelchips naturel.
- Albert Heijn says this variety contains 35% less fat than AH Ribbelchips naturel.
- The variety lists 461 kcal per 100 g; consider this separately from the fat claim.
Pringles
Pringles Original is a stackable crisp sold in a tube, and is also available in smaller pack sizes.
- Pringles lists Original pack sizes of 40 g, 70 g and 165 g.
- Pringles lists 528 kcal per 100 g for Original; check the allergen information on the packaging too.
Chio
Jumbo features Chio Oven Chips varieties in its lower-fat crisps category.
- The varieties listed include Paprika, Onion & Sour Cream and Sea Salt.
- Being listed in that category doesn’t tell you how many kcal or how much salt an individual variety contains; check the label for details.
Jumbo
Jumbo groups products including Lay’s Oven Baked and Chio Oven Chips under lower-fat crisps.
- This makes it easier to find varieties to compare.
- Compare the nutritional information for the exact flavour and pack; the category doesn’t rank products by kcal or salt.
Lidl
Lidl explains that Nutri-Score can help you compare products within the same category.
- Nutri-Score can provide an extra point of comparison within a product group.
- It doesn’t replace the nutritional information per 100 g or the ingredients list.
Oven-baked crisps on Joybuy
These two oven-baked varieties are options if you’re looking for Barbecue or Sea Salt crisps for yourself. Before choosing, compare the nutritional information and portion weight on the packaging for the exact variety.
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Lay’s Oven Baked Barbecue, 150 g
A Barbecue variety for anyone wanting to compare oven-baked crisps by kcal per 100 g and their own portion size.
Pack weight: 150 g. Check the packaging you buy for salt, ingredients and allergens.
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Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt, 125 g
A Sea Salt variety for anyone looking for oven-baked crisps and wanting to compare nutritional information per 100 g.
Pack weight: 125 g. Check the portion weight, salt and allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are crisps with fewer calories automatically suitable as an everyday snack?
No. A lower calorie value is just one way to compare crisps. Also consider portion size, salt, ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g; Nutri-Score is designed for comparisons within the same product group.
What portion size should I use to compare crisps?
First compare products per 100 g, then consider how much you’ll eat. Albert Heijn lists a 30 g portion for Lay’s Oven Baked Naturel and 25 g for AH Ribbelchips naturel minder vet.
Can I give these crisps to my baby?
Don’t choose crisps as a snack for a baby. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies food containing salt; these crisps are intended as a snack for adults.
How can I check allergens for a family member?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you buy, even if you already know the flavour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of clear allergen information on labels; Pringles lists milk and soya as possible allergens in Original.
Can I rely on nutritional values listed online?
Use online nutritional information to compare varieties in advance, but check the label on the packaging you buy too. Ingredients and product information can change, so details for a different pack or variety may not be the same.