Night-shift worker comparing calories
You want to take crisps for your break, so you compare the calories per 100 g. Also consider how much you plan to eat from the pack: a lower figure per 100 g doesn’t, by itself, determine the size of your snack.
Who are these options relevant to?
Portion planner on the go
You want to decide in advance how many crisps to take with you for your shift. Compare the portion size on the label with the pack’s full contents, then measure out the amount you want separately.
Shopper checking salt and allergens
As well as calories, ingredients, salt or allergens matter to you. Read the information for your chosen flavour on the current packaging; details for another variety aren’t a substitute.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, compare the calories in crisps on a like-for-like basis, per 100 g. Then decide what portion to take with you and check the ingredients for that specific flavour.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | Compare kcal per 100 g; don’t infer the calorie content from a claim that the crisps contain less fat. | I want to choose crisps for my break based on their calorie content, even if the front of the pack focuses on a fat claim. For around 36% of consumers, kcal per 100 g is the deciding factor. |
| Portion and packaging | Check the portion size and total pack contents, then decide how much to take separately. | For a long shift, I want to prepare an amount in advance rather than eat from the whole pack. Portion control comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | Compare salt per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen flavour. | I need to know what’s in my crisps before choosing a flavour, perhaps because of an allergen or because I’m watching my salt intake. For around 21% of consumers, checking the label is most important. |
| Availability | Check whether your chosen variety is actually available to order; a product listing alone doesn’t confirm this. | If I’m planning a snack for a shift, I want to choose a variety I can actually order. Availability is the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘less fat’ means ‘proportionally fewer calories’
The ‘less fat’ claim for Lay’s Oven Baked doesn’t mean the calorie content is reduced by the same amount. Albert Heijn lists 427 kcal per 100 g for the Roasted Paprika flavour.
Compare the kcal per 100 g for the flavours you’re considering. Then look at fat and salt as separate figures.
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Looking only at kcal per portion
The portion size shown on a label may not match how much you eat from a pack during a night shift. For example, Albert Heijn lists a 25 g portion for AH Ridged Crisps, lightly salted, lower in fat.
Also check the total pack contents and measure out your portion in advance if you want to take a specific amount with you.
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Assuming another flavour has the same ingredients
Salt levels and allergens can vary between varieties. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information lists milk as an allergen in Lay’s Oven Baked Roasted Paprika.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for your chosen flavour.
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Planning to have crisps instead of a meal during your break
Thuisarts recommends eating light meals during night shifts. Choosing crisps as a savoury snack is a different decision from deciding what to take as a meal.
Plan your meal and any snack separately, and decide in advance how many crisps you want to take with you.
Brands and product ranges compared
These examples can help you compare specific product ranges and labels; the information doesn’t automatically apply to every crisp made by the same brand.
Lay’s
The Oven Baked range is worth considering if you want to compare the calorie content of individual flavours.
- Albert Heijn lists 427 kcal per 100 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Roasted Paprika.
- A claim that the crisps contain less fat doesn’t mean they contain proportionally fewer calories. Check salt and allergens for each flavour.
Albert Heijn
AH Ridged Crisps, lightly salted, lower in fat is a supermarket own-brand option with nutritional information and portion details on its product page.
- Albert Heijn lists 461 kcal, 20 g of fat and 0,9 g of salt per 100 g for this variety.
- ‘Less fat’ doesn’t indicate the difference in kcal compared with every other crisp. Compare products on the same basis.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both standard salted crisps and a separate category of crisps with less fat.
- The nutritional information for Jumbo Salted Crisps provides a point of comparison: 528 kcal per 100 g.
- The nutritional value of this standard salted variety doesn’t tell you anything about every crisp in Jumbo’s lower-fat category.
Pringles
Pringles Original is worth considering if you’re choosing a tube and want to decide on your portion in advance.
- Pringles Netherlands lists a 40 g pack size for Original, among others.
- Pringles Netherlands lists 528 kcal per 100 g for Original. A smaller pack doesn’t change that figure per 100 g.
Crisps to explore on Joybuy
These oven-baked crisps come in 125 g or 150 g bags, so you can measure out a portion for your night shift. Before choosing, compare the nutritional information and allergens for the specific flavour on the packaging.
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Lay's Oven Baked Mediterranean Herbs, 150 g
An option if you want to measure out your own amount of crisps for your break. The bag contains 150 g; check the nutritional information and allergens for this flavour on the packaging.
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Lay's Oven Baked Barbecue, 150 g
For anyone who wants to take a barbecue-flavoured snack and measure out a portion for their shift. The pack contains 150 g; read the nutritional information and allergen details for this variety on the label.
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Lay's Oven Baked Paprika, 150 g
A paprika-flavoured option for a pre-measured snack during your break. The bag contains 150 g; check the nutritional information and allergens for this variety, rather than those for another paprika flavour.
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Lay's Oven Baked Natural, 150 g
A plain variety if you want to decide how many crisps to take with you for your shift. The bag contains 150 g; check the nutritional information and allergens for this variety on the current packaging.
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Chio Oven Chips Sea Salt, 125 g
An option if you want to buy a bag of crisps for your night shift and measure out your own portion. The pack contains 125 g; compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients on the label.
Frequently asked questions
Do crisps with less fat automatically contain fewer kcal?
No. A claim that crisps contain less fat doesn’t tell you how many kcal they contain. Albert Heijn lists 427 kcal per 100 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Roasted Paprika; compare the calories per 100 g of the specific products you’re considering.
How do I choose a portion of crisps for my night shift?
Decide in advance how many crisps you want to take with you and measure out that amount. Compare your portion with the amount shown on the label and the total pack contents; for example, Albert Heijn lists a 25 g portion for AH Ridged Crisps, lightly salted, lower in fat.
Can I take crisps instead of a meal for my break?
Choosing crisps as a snack isn’t the same as planning a meal for your night shift. Thuisarts recommends eating light meals during night shifts, so decide separately what to take as a meal and what, if anything, to take as a measured snack.
Where can I check the allergens in a particular flavour of crisps?
Read the allergen information on the packaging for that specific flavour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly and accurately listed on the label; don’t rely on the ingredients for another variety.