Plain tortilla chips are not automatically a low-calorie snack: the varieties discussed from Albert Heijn, Doritos and Jumbo list 470 to 481 kcal per 100 g. If chips are on the menu occasionally after school, the amount you measure out is what determines how much energy the snack provides. Check the current packaging for allergen information, too. For a snack that features regularly, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists vegetables and fruit, among other options, for children aged 4 to 12.
If chips are eaten occasionally after school, the amount in the bowl helps you assess the energy in each snack. The plain varieties discussed from Albert Heijn, Doritos and Jumbo list 470 to 481 kcal per 100 g. A serving shown on the label is a unit for calculating nutritional values, not automatically the right amount for every child.
When packing food for school or after-school care (BSO), it’s important to check the current ingredients, allergen warnings and local policies. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Doritos Naturel may contain wheat and soya, while AH Tortilla Chips Naturel is labelled gluten-free but may contain soya.
If your child often has a snack after school, choosing the type of snack matters more than a small difference between brands of chips. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists vegetables and fruit, among other options, as snacks.
First decide whether you’re buying chips for an occasional treat or as a regular snack. If you choose chips, consider the portion you measure out and check the allergen information before packing them.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per snack portion | Compare kcal per 100 g with the amount you actually measure out; use the serving on the label as a unit for calculation. | If I occasionally pack chips, I want to know how much actually goes into the bowl. For around 42% of consumers, portion size is the most important factor. |
| Allergens and school policies | Read the allergen declaration and any warnings on the current packaging; check the school or after-school care policies, too. | When I pack something for school, I need to be able to check that it’s suitable for the relevant allergy and the policies there. For around 33% of consumers, this check takes priority. |
| A regular snack | Decide whether you’re looking for chips as an occasional snack or something your child will eat often after school. If it’s the latter, compare other types of snacks, too. | If I’m looking for something for most afternoons, the type of snack I choose is what matters most to me. Roughly 25% of consumers put this everyday choice first. |
The plain varieties discussed from Albert Heijn, Doritos and Jumbo list 470 to 481 kcal per 100 g. So, looking only at the main ingredient won’t tell you how much energy a measured portion of chips provides.
Check the kcal per 100 g, then weigh or portion out the amount you want to pack.
Allergen information varies by product. According to Albert Heijn, Doritos Naturel may contain wheat and soya; AH Tortilla Chips Naturel is labelled gluten-free but may contain soya. A cheese variety may also contain milk as an ingredient.
If your child has a relevant allergy or coeliac disease, check the current packaging and make sure what you pack complies with the school or after-school care policies.
A difference in kcal between varieties of chips doesn’t answer the question of what type of snack you want to give your child regularly. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists vegetables and fruit, among other options.
First decide whether chips are an occasional treat or a regular snack. If it’s the latter, look at snacks beyond the chips aisle, too.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the 185 g pack of Naturel has a serving size of 30 g on the label.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Tortilla Chips Naturel has a serving size of 25 g on the label.
According to Jumbo, Jumbo Tortilla Naturel comes in a 170 g bag, with a serving size of 25 g on the label.
The Nacho Chips Original and Tortilla Chips Cheese varieties discussed here show why it’s worth checking each flavour separately.
These plain tortilla chips are suitable for an occasional snack when you measure out the portion yourself. The nutritional information per 100 g helps you work out the figures, but without knowing how much you’ve chosen, it won’t tell you how much energy the snack provides.
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For an occasional snack when you want to measure out the amount in advance.
Joybuy lists 470 kcal per 100 g for Doritos Dippers Naturel; the bag contains 185 g.
The product information states that it may contain cereals containing gluten, wheat and soya. If your child has a relevant allergy, check the current packaging and, if you’re packing the chips, the school or after-school care policies.
The plain varieties discussed here aren’t automatically low in calories: product information from Albert Heijn, Doritos and Jumbo lists 470 to 481 kcal per 100 g. If your child has chips occasionally, you can measure out the amount in advance. For a regular snack, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists vegetables and fruit, among other options, for children aged 4 to 12.
Use the serving size on the label to calculate the nutritional values for a weighed amount; don’t assume it’s automatically the right portion for a child. AH Tortilla Chips Naturel and Jumbo Tortilla Naturel both list a 25 g serving; Jumbo lists 120 kcal for this amount.
No, product information varies by variety. Albert Heijn labels AH Tortilla Chips Naturel gluten-free, but states that it may contain soya; according to the product information, Doritos Naturel may contain wheat and soya. If your child has coeliac disease or a relevant allergy, always check the current packaging of the product you choose.
Yes. If the allergen mentioned is relevant to your child, check for that warning on the current packaging, too. When packing food for school or after-school care, also follow the local policies on allergens.
