Organic crisps are better suited to an everyday snack than to eating just before you set off. Choose between potato and lentil crisps based on the specific pack, portion size and nutritional information. If you’re cycling soon afterwards, what your stomach can tolerate matters most. The organic label tells you about how a product is made, not whether it’s suitable as sports nutrition.
You want to be able to check the organic status of your crisps on the specific pack, rather than relying on a natural-looking design. Skal Biocontrole says the EU organic logo is compulsory for pre-packaged food produced in the EU and sold as organic.
You want to avoid a snack sitting heavily on your stomach during the ride. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large portions and foods high in fat, protein or fibre can stay in your stomach for longer if you eat them shortly before exercising.
You eat crisps as an everyday snack and want to compare portion sizes and nutritional information. Product details from Albert Heijn and Jumbo show that the potato and lentil crisps reviewed differ in their fat, salt and protein content per 100 g.
When: You want potato crisps as an everyday snack and check the organic label on the pack you choose.
What to consider: Organic status doesn’t tell you whether a portion will sit comfortably just before a bike ride. Check the nutritional information and when you plan to eat them, too.
When: For an everyday snack, you want to compare crisps made with lentil flour against potato crisps.
What to consider: The fact they’re made with lentils doesn’t, by itself, mean they’re suitable just before a ride. Check the fat and salt content, as well as the portion size.
When: You’re setting off soon or want to bear in mind what your stomach can tolerate while cycling.
What to consider: You skip the savoury snack at that time, but can enjoy crisps on another occasion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Organic status | Check the EU organic logo and organic claims on the specific pack. | I want to be able to see whether the particular pack I’m choosing for my usual cycling snack is organic. Around 40% of consumers would choose verifiable organic status as their main reason for buying. |
| When you eat them and how well you tolerate them | Think about how soon you’ll be setting off after eating; check the portion size and fat content. | If I’m getting on my bike soon, I mainly want to choose a snack that won’t sit heavily on my stomach. For around 40% of consumers, this would be the main consideration around a ride. |
| Nutritional information and portion size | Compare fat, salt, carbohydrates and protein per 100 g and per portion. | For a savoury snack, I want to know how much I actually eat from the pack and what that portion contains. This comparison would be the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
The EU organic logo tells you about how a product is made. It doesn’t tell you how a portion of crisps will sit just before exercise or how much fat they contain.
Check the organic status first, then assess the label, portion size and when you plan to eat them separately.
The crisps reviewed list a 25 g portion, while each pack contains several portions. Eating straight from the pack makes it harder to compare how much you’ve eaten with the nutritional information.
Check the portion size on the pack and serve out the amount you want to eat beforehand.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large portions and foods high in fat can stay in your stomach for longer and cause discomfort if eaten shortly before exercise.
It’s better to try an unfamiliar snack when you have time to relax, rather than just before an important ride.
A brand name or a product’s place in the crisps range tells you nothing about whether that particular variety is certified organic.
Check the EU organic logo and product information on the pack you’re actually choosing.
Own-brand range including organic plain potato crisps.
Own-brand range including organic plain potato crisps and vegetable crisps.
Snack range including organic lentil crisps for anyone wanting to compare an alternative to potato-based snacks.
A well-known crisps brand with plain varieties in the range shown by Jumbo.
A well-known crisps brand; Jumbo includes Pringles Original in its range of plain crisps.
Look for the EU organic logo on the specific pack and read the product information. Skal Biocontrole says the logo is compulsory for pre-packaged food produced in the EU and sold as organic. Albert Heijn also lists the control code NL-BIO-01 on its AH Biologisch Chips naturel.
A large portion of crisps generally isn’t an obvious choice just before setting off. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, foods high in fat, protein or fibre, as well as large portions, can stay in your stomach for longer. So consider when you’re eating, how much you’re having and what you can tolerate.
Don’t assume crisps will work for you as food on a ride. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of getting enough carbohydrates during endurance sports. You should also consider the fat content, how practical they are to eat and what you can tolerate while cycling.
Not just because they’re made with lentils. According to Jumbo’s product information, BioToday Linzenchips Zeezout contains 12 g of protein and 1.7 g of salt per 100 g. Compare these figures, the fat content and the portion size with the specific potato crisps you’re considering.
