Home workers comparing calories
If you fancy something savoury with lunch, compare the kcal per 100 g and for the amount you eat. A claim about lower fat alone won’t tell you how much energy your portion provides.
Who should consider these factors?
Snackers who decide on a portion in advance
If you find it easy to keep eating from a large bag while you work, a smaller pack can help you choose an amount. Still, check the weight: a small bag isn’t necessarily the same as the portion shown on the label.
Shoppers who need to check ingredients
If you have an allergy or a specific dietary preference, the paprika flavour doesn’t tell you what’s in the product. Read the current label; the products compared differ in their declarations of milk, barley and possible traces of soya, among other things.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by comparing the energy per 100 g across products. Then decide on your portion and check the salt and ingredients on the pack you buy.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and fat | Compare kcal and fat per 100 g, then work out the values for your portion. Albert Heijn lists 405 kcal and 9,2 g fat per 100 g for Chio Oven chips paprika, 427 kcal and 13 g fat for Lay's Oven Baked roasted paprika, and 507 kcal and 29 g fat for regular Lay's Paprika. | If I want crisps with lunch but am keeping an eye on my energy intake, I want to compare products using the same amount. This would be the first thing to consider for around 50% of consumers. |
| Portion size | Check the net weight and the portion size on the label. ALDI lists Sun Snacks paprika crisps in a 50 g pack; Albert Heijn’s product information gives a 30 g portion for the oven-baked crisps compared. | When I’m concentrating on work, I want to set aside an amount in advance rather than keep reaching into the bag. Portion control would be the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Lay's Oven Baked roasted paprika contains milk, Chio Oven chips paprika contains barley, and Proper Paprika lentil chips may contain soya. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the ingredients and allergen information determine whether I can choose a product. This check would be the most important step for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming lower fat means you can have a bigger portion
How much you eat still determines your energy intake. The Dutch Nutrition Centre also points out that crisps, including light crisps, are not part of its Wheel of Five healthy eating guidelines.
Decide in advance how many crisps you want to eat and use the nutrition information for that amount, rather than relying only on the wording on the front of the bag.
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Comparing kcal alone
Albert Heijn lists 405 kcal per 100 g for Chio Oven chips paprika, but also 1,6 g of salt per 100 g. Choosing based on energy alone leaves this other nutritional value out of the picture.
For the same amount, check the fat and salt too, so you can see what you’re weighing up.
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Assuming lentil crisps are lower in calories
Albert Heijn lists 467 kcal per 100 g for Proper Paprika lentil chips. That’s more than the declared energy values for the two oven-baked products compared here.
Don’t choose based on the pulse used alone: compare the nutrition information and check the ingredients that matter to you.
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Relying on an ingredients list you read before
Ingredients and allergen information can change. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear allergen labelling on packs.
Read the pack again when you buy the product and before you eat it, especially if you need to avoid an ingredient.
Brands compared
A brand’s regular crisps, oven-baked crisps and other varieties can have different nutritional values and ingredients. Always compare the exact product and pack.
Lay's
Worth comparing if you’re choosing between regular paprika crisps and an Oven Baked variety.
- Albert Heijn lists 427 kcal and 13 g fat per 100 g for Lay's Oven Baked roasted paprika, compared with 507 kcal and 29 g fat for regular Lay's Paprika.
- The Oven Baked roasted paprika variety reviewed contains milk. Check the exact variety and the current label.
Chio
The Chio Oven chips paprika variety reviewed is an oven-baked paprika snack with a declared energy value.
- Albert Heijn lists 405 kcal and 9,2 g fat per 100 g for Chio Oven chips paprika.
- The same product information lists 1,6 g of salt per 100 g and barley as an ingredient.
Proper
Paprika crisps made with lentils for anyone specifically looking for this type of product. Albert Heijn describes this variety as gluten-free and vegan.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists 467 kcal per 100 g for Proper Paprika lentil chips.
- Albert Heijn also lists 2,71 g of salt per 100 g and possible traces of soya. Check the pack if you’re checking for dietary suitability or allergens.
Sun Snacks
ALDI lists Sun Snacks paprika crisps in 250 g and 50 g packs.
- A 50 g pack gives you a defined amount if you don’t want to eat from a larger bag.
- Check the nutrition information on the pack before comparing these crisps with the oven-baked varieties.
Paprika crisps at Joybuy
This selection includes paprika crisps, paprika tortilla chips and an oven-baked variety. If you want to compare calories, check the nutrition information per 100 g for each exact product and work out the value for the portion you’ve chosen.
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Lay's Sensations Red Sweet Paprika, 150 g
A paprika snack for anyone who wants to set aside a portion for lunch while working from home.
The pack contains 150 g. To compare it with other products, check the nutrition information per 100 g and for the portion you choose.
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Doritos Pure Paprika Tortilla Chips, 170 g
An option if you specifically fancy paprika tortilla chips with lunch rather than regular paprika crisps.
The pack contains 170 g. Compare the nutrition and allergen information on the current pack with that of other types of product.
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Farmhouse Biscuits Paprika Chips, 150 g
A paprika crisp to consider if you want to decide on your own lunch portion.
The pack contains 150 g. If you have an allergy, read the allergen information on the current pack before making your choice.
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Lay's Wokkels Paprika Chips, 100 g
A paprika snack for anyone who wants to weigh out their own portion for lunch.
The pack contains 100 g. Use the weight of your own portion and the nutrition information on the label to compare it with other products.
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Lay's Oven Baked Paprika, 150 g
An oven-baked paprika crisp for anyone who wants to include this cooking method in their comparison.
The pack contains 150 g. Compare the energy and portion size for this exact variety using the current pack; don’t assume the values are the same as for a similarly named variety.
Frequently asked questions
Are oven-baked paprika crisps always lower in calories?
No. Compare the energy value of the exact products per 100 g and per portion. For the Chio Oven chips paprika and Lay's Oven Baked roasted paprika compared here, Albert Heijn lists fewer kcal per 100 g than for regular Lay's Paprika, but that doesn’t apply to all oven-baked crisps.
How do I choose a portion of crisps for lunch while working from home?
Choose an amount in advance and use its weight to work out the nutritional values. Albert Heijn’s product information uses a 30 g portion for the oven-baked crisps compared here, so a 50 g bag isn’t the same as that stated portion.
Should I check allergens again if I already know a product?
Yes. Read the current label before eating the product. The paprika snacks compared differ in their declarations of milk, barley and possible traces of soya, among other things, and ingredients can change.