If you’re looking for an everyday snack for a toddler, tortilla chips aren’t an obvious choice: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables, fruit and some wholemeal bread, among other things, as snacks for babies and toddlers. If you do offer crisps occasionally, compare the nutritional values for the amount you actually serve and check the current packaging for salt and allergens. A lower number of kcal per 100 g doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether a crisp is suitable for your situation.
For a regular snack, the question isn’t just how many kcal a crisp contains, but also whether crisps are a good fit for an everyday choice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables and some wholemeal bread, among other things, as snacks for babies and toddlers.
For an occasional portion, you’ll want to compare the amount, energy and salt content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 62 kcal and 0.09 g of salt for a 13 g handful of plain tortilla chips; the values for a particular bag may differ.
If your child has an allergy, or the crisps need to go to school or childcare, check the label on the exact product and the local rules. A corn crisp isn’t automatically gluten-free; warnings about possible allergens vary by product.
First decide whether you’re looking for an everyday snack or want to offer crisps occasionally. For a specific bag, check the portion size and, where relevant, the allergens and school or childcare rules.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable for everyday eating | Decide whether you’re looking for a regular snack or only want to offer crisps occasionally. For everyday choices, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables, fruit and some wholemeal bread, among other things. | For a regular snack, I want to choose something that fits my toddler’s usual diet, not just a crisp with fewer kcal. Around 42% of consumers put suitability for everyday eating first. |
| Portion and nutritional value | Compare kcal and salt on the same per-gram basis, and consider how much you’ll actually serve. For seasoned varieties, check the sugars too. | If I offer crisps occasionally, I want to match the amount to what my child actually eats and keep an eye on energy and salt. For around 33% of consumers, choosing the portion is the main concern. |
| Allergens and packing rules | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact packaging. Before packing the crisps, ask about the rules at the relevant school or childcare setting. | If the crisps need to go to school or childcare, I want to know whether that particular bag meets the allergy requirements and local policy. This check comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
Having fewer kcal than another crisp doesn’t change the place tortilla chips have in an everyday diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five as snacks for babies and toddlers.
If you’re looking for something for every day, start with options such as vegetables, fruit or some wholemeal bread. Save crisps for an occasional treat.
The amount you serve makes a difference: Jumbo states that Tortilla Naturel contains 120 kcal per 25 g portion, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 62 kcal for a 13 g handful of plain tortilla chips. These are different portion sizes and come from different sources, so they aren’t a direct product comparison.
Compare products per 100 g, and also check the nutritional values for the number of grams you plan to serve. Include salt and, for flavoured varieties, sugars in your comparison.
Doritos Dippers Naturel states that the product may contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. A warning about possible allergens isn’t the same as stating that those ingredients are in the product.
Read the allergen information on the exact bag, even if another tortilla crisp is labelled gluten-free. Check the school or childcare rules before packing it.
If a child chokes, you can’t respond straight away if you’re not nearby. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises staying with your child while they eat.
Make sure your child sits calmly while eating, and stay close by.
The details below apply to the products or ranges mentioned, not necessarily to every tortilla crisp from the same brand. Always compare the nutritional information and allergens on the specific packaging when you buy.
Doritos Dippers Naturel is a salted corn crisp for snacking or dipping.
AH Biologisch Tortilla chips naturel is a supermarket own-brand variety that Albert Heijn labels as gluten-free.
Jumbo Tortilla Naturel is a plain own-brand variety made with corn, sunflower oil and salt.
ALDI lists plain, cheese and sweet chilli flavours for SUN SNACKS tortilla chips.
Snack Day is the brand Lidl uses for a range of crisps and snacks.
Mission Foods describes its Rounds Tortilla Chips as containing ingredients including corn flour, water, vegetable oil and sea salt.
Tortilla chips aren’t an obvious choice for a toddler’s everyday snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables, fruit and some wholemeal bread, among other things, as snacks for babies and toddlers. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 13 g handful of plain tortilla chips contains an average of 62 kcal; if you’re serving them occasionally, compare the values for the product you’re offering.
Use the weight and nutritional values on the label to work out what the amount you plan to serve contains, rather than automatically sticking to the stated product portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 62 kcal for 13 g of plain tortilla chips; Jumbo states that its Tortilla Naturel contains 120 kcal in a stated 25 g portion. These amounts aren’t directly comparable.
No. Corn as an ingredient doesn’t prove that a particular crisp is gluten-free. Doritos Dippers Naturel lists possible cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. Albert Heijn labels AH Biologisch Tortilla chips naturel as gluten-free, but it may contain soya; always read the allergen information on the packaging you’re buying.
First check whether the school or childcare setting allows this snack and what rules apply to food and allergens. Also read the current label on the bag you plan to pack; being made with corn doesn’t rule out warnings about other allergens.
Make sure your child sits calmly while eating, and stay close by. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises supervising children while they eat so you can respond if they choke; also make sure your child can chew the pieces you offer.
