If you’re watching calories and portion size
You want to take paprika crisps to the Christmas market or share them with others, so you compare the energy per 100 g. Then you can decide how much you want to eat from the bag.
Who is this comparison useful for?
If you’re also keeping an eye on salt
You don’t want to choose based on calories without considering the salt content. The salt value per 100 g lets you compare different varieties on a like-for-like basis.
If you need to check the ingredients
You may be looking for a gluten-free or vegan option, or need to avoid an allergen. Check the current packaging: the paprika flavour and cooking method won’t tell you which ingredients or allergens the crisps contain.
What should you look for when choosing?
For paprika crisps at the Christmas market, values per 100 g make it easier to compare products; how much you eat is a separate choice.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and portion size | Compare kcal per 100 g and consider how many grams you want to eat. | If I take a bag to share, I want to be able to estimate the energy in my own portion. Energy and portion size come first for around 50% of consumers. |
| Salt | Compare salt per 100 g and take the amount you eat into account. | With oven-baked crisps, I also want to know how much salt they contain, even if the energy value first caught my eye. Salt is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid an allergen or follow a specific diet, the variety needs to suit my needs before I look at calories. This comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘less fat’ means ‘fewest calories’
A fat claim doesn’t automatically rank products by energy value. Albert Heijn lists 405 kcal per 100 g for Chio Oven Chips Paprika and 427 kcal for Lay’s Oven Baked Roasted Paprika.
First compare the kcal per 100 g in the nutrition information, then look at fat and portion size.
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Not checking a calorie claim against the nutrition information
Proper Paprika Lentil Chips is described as ‘low in calories’ on its product page, while Albert Heijn lists 467 kcal per 100 g. That’s more than the two oven-baked crisps compared here.
Don’t use a claim like this instead of checking the energy per 100 g for the specific products you’re considering.
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Overlooking salt when comparing products
The variety with the fewest calories in this comparison doesn’t have the lowest salt value: Albert Heijn lists 1.6 g of salt per 100 g for Chio Oven Chips Paprika and 0.82 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Roasted Paprika.
If salt is an important factor for you, compare that value on the same basis too.
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Relying only on online product information
If you have a food allergy, the information on the packaging of the variety you buy matters. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that prepacked products must display allergen information on the label.
Before eating, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the bag.
Brands to consider
Lay’s
Lay’s Oven Baked Roasted Paprika is an oven-baked paprika crisp for anyone who wants to compare energy, salt and portion size.
- Albert Heijn lists 427 kcal and 0.82 g of salt per 100 g for this variety; Jumbo gives a portion size of 30 g.
- The product information lists milk as an allergen. Check the current packaging if you buy this variety.
Chio
Chio Oven Chips Paprika is worth considering if you’re mainly comparing energy per 100 g among the products featured here.
- Albert Heijn lists 405 kcal and 9.2 g of fat per 100 g for this variety.
- The same product information lists 1.6 g of salt per 100 g, barley as an allergen, and possible traces of wheat, sesame, milk and soya.
Proper
Proper Paprika Lentil Chips are lentil crisps with paprika flavour, rather than classic potato crisps. According to the Albert Heijn product page, this variety is gluten-free and vegan.
- The listed dietary attributes may be useful if you’re specifically looking for lentil crisps; check the packaging of the bag you buy.
- Albert Heijn lists 467 kcal and 2.71 g of salt per 100 g, and notes possible traces of soya.
Snack Day
Snack Day Paprika chips are paprika crisps sold by Lidl.
- Lidl describes this variety as a 250 g bag available in store only.
- If calories or salt are deciding factors for you, compare the nutrition information on the packaging with that of the other bags you’re considering.
Paprika crisps at Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare the energy value of paprika crisps?
First compare kcal per 100 g, then consider how much you want to eat. Albert Heijn lists 405 kcal per 100 g for Chio Oven Chips Paprika and 427 kcal per 100 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Roasted Paprika. Check the nutrition information for the variety you choose when you buy it.
Does oven-baked also mean less salt?
No, the cooking method doesn’t tell you how much salt a crisp contains. Albert Heijn lists 1.6 g of salt per 100 g for Chio Oven Chips Paprika, compared with 0.82 g for Lay’s Oven Baked Roasted Paprika.
What should I check if I have an allergy?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging of the variety you want to eat. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Lay’s Oven Baked Roasted Paprika contains milk; Chio Oven Chips Paprika contains barley and also lists possible traces of other allergens.
How long can I keep an opened bag of crisps?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened crisps in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 5 days. Before serving them later, check that they’re still as crisp as you’d like.
Is Nutri-Score enough to choose paprika crisps?
No, don’t use Nutri-Score as your only criterion when making this choice. The Dutch government says the label is intended for comparing similar types of product; for a specific variety, also check the energy, salt and allergen information.