Runners with long training sessions
You want to know when a savoury snack might fit in, without confusing it with fuel for a long run. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large portion or foods high in fat just before exercise.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers comparing pack sizes and portions
You’re buying paprika crisps as a snack and considering how much is in the bag and how much you want to eat at one time, rather than treating the whole pack as one portion.
Shoppers checking labels and allergens
The ingredients list for the exact variety you choose may be the deciding factor for you. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens that must be declared have to be clearly listed in the ingredients on the label.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide when you want to eat the crisps: food choices around a training session call for different considerations from an occasional snack. Then check the portion and the label for the specific variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| When to eat before a run | Think about how soon before your training you want to eat, then check the fat content per 100 g and the portion you plan to have. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against a large or high-fat portion just before exercise. | If I’m going for a run soon, I don’t want a large portion of crisps to dictate when I eat. That’s why around 36% of consumers prioritise when they eat before a run. |
| Snack or meal | Plan regular meals and drinks separately from any crisps you have. Don’t judge the snack solely by the carbohydrates listed in the nutritional information. | After a training session, I don’t want to replace my meal with a bag of crisps. For around 29% of consumers, the fact that crisps are a snack on their own is the main consideration. |
| Pack size and portion | Compare pack sizes and check whether a portion is specified on the label. Decide in advance how much you want to have as a snack. | With a larger bag, I want to be able to choose how much I eat at one time. Around 21% of consumers prioritise portion control. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen, even if you’ve bought another product from the same brand before. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the label on this specific bag matters more than the brand name. Around 14% of consumers put this check first when buying. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming that carbohydrates on the label make a product suitable just before a run
A product can contain carbohydrates and still be a high-fat snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large portion or foods high in fat just before exercise.
Choose when to eat it carefully, and compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the amount you actually plan to eat.
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Treating the whole bag as one portion
A pack may contain enough for several snack breaks. The pack size alone doesn’t tell you how much to have at one time.
Check the pack size and any portion information on the packaging, then decide in advance how much you’ll have as a snack.
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Assuming a label claim applies to all paprika crisps
Ingredients vary between products: Smiths Chips Paprika, as described by SPAR, contains milk ingredients. A claim on another variety tells you nothing about these sticks.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack every time you buy, especially if you need to avoid an ingredient.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Lay's
Lay's offers a standard Paprika variety and an Oven Baked Roasted Paprika variety.
- According to Lay's, Oven Baked Roasted Paprika contains 50% less fat than regular potato crisps.
- That comparison doesn’t automatically make the oven-baked variety suitable as fuel just before a run. Compare the nutritional information on the pack you buy.
Smiths
Smiths Chips Paprika is a paprika-flavoured snack in stick form, rather than a classic flat potato crisp.
- SPAR’s product information lists potato powder and maize grits among the ingredients.
- It also lists milk ingredients. If milk is a concern for you, check the current packaging when you buy.
Albert Heijn
AH Chips paprika is a supermarket own-brand variety in a 250 g bag.
- Albert Heijn’s product page describes this specific variety as vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free.
- These claims apply only to the variety in question, so check the current packaging. They don’t tell you whether it’s suitable to eat around a training session.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range includes standard paprika crisps and ridged crisps with paprika flavour.
- Jumbo Paprika Chips and Jumbo Ribbelchips Paprika are separate varieties with different pack sizes.
- The shape or size of a bag doesn’t determine whether crisps are suitable around a marathon training session.
Snack Day
Snack Day Paprika chips is a Lidl own-brand variety of paprika-flavoured potato crisps in a 250 g bag.
- Lidl describes this variety as crunchy potato crisps.
- Check the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack in store if they’re important to your choice.
Sun Snacks
Sun Snacks is ALDI’s own-brand paprika crisps, sold in a 250 g bag.
- ALDI’s product information identifies the product as paprika crisps.
- Check the pack for nutritional values, ingredients and allergens before choosing this variety for a particular snack break.
Paprika snacks for an occasional snack break
These Joybuy products are options if you’re looking for a paprika snack outside your immediate training window. The oven-baked crisps and snacks in different shapes are separate varieties. None of these products replaces planning your meals and drinks around a long run.
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Lay's Oven Baked Paprika 150 g
An oven-baked paprika snack for an occasional snack break, not a replacement for food around a long training session.
Pack size: 150 g. Check the current packaging for the nutritional information for this variety.
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Croky paprika crisps 200 g
For anyone who wants to enjoy paprika crisps as a snack on their own and decide in advance how much to have.
Pack size: 200 g. Check the packaging for portion information and allergens.
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Lay's Chips Paprika 100 g
A smaller bag for anyone planning to enjoy paprika crisps as an occasional snack.
Pack size: 100 g. A smaller pack isn’t automatically a suitable portion, so decide how much you want to have.
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g'woon Ribbed Chips Paprika 250 g
For anyone looking for ridged crisps with paprika flavour for an occasional snack break.
Pack size: 250 g. Check the current ingredients list and allergen information if you need to avoid an ingredient.
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Lay's Wokkels Paprika Chips 100 g
A shaped paprika snack for anyone who isn’t specifically looking for flat potato crisps.
Pack size: 100 g. Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat paprika crisps just before marathon training?
It’s best to avoid a large portion of paprika crisps just before a run. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against a large portion at this point and recommends avoiding foods high in fat, protein or fibre. So consider when you’re eating your snack and how much you’re having.
Can paprika crisps replace a meal after a run?
No. Treat paprika crisps as a snack on their own, not as a full meal after training. Plan a regular meal and drinks separately. The fact that crisps contain carbohydrates doesn’t make a bag a complete eating plan.
Do I need special sports products for a long training session?
Not necessarily. What you choose to eat and drink around a long training session depends on the effort involved and what you can tolerate while running. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses this planning for endurance sports separately from everyday snack choices.
How can I check for allergens in paprika crisps?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging for the specific variety. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens that must be declared have to be clearly listed in the ingredients on the label.
Does a vegan or gluten-free claim apply to all paprika crisps from a brand?
No. Check such claims against the specific product variety and its packaging. Albert Heijn describes its AH Chips paprika as vegan and gluten-free, while SPAR’s product information for Smiths Chips Paprika lists milk ingredients. Neither description automatically applies to other paprika snacks.