If you’re mainly looking for protein for a school-holiday lunch, don’t automatically reach for regular tortilla chips: Albert Heijn and Jumbo list 6.4–7.7 g of protein per 100 g for the chip varieties discussed here. Chips are better suited as a crunchy extra; for lunch, you could pair a wrap or another base with a filling whose nutritional information you’ve checked. Also consider allergens, portion size and storage instructions when making your choice.
You want to know how much protein the tortilla option actually provides, without treating chips and wraps as the same product. Compare the nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen and the amount you eat.
You’re looking for something the children will enjoy, but you don’t want to base their lunch on a bag of crisps. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s school lunch list includes options such as egg, fish and bean spread as part of a varied lunch.
You’re mainly after a crunchy snack to share or dip. In that case, the flavour, portion size, salt and allergens are more relevant to your purchase than the idea that chips will provide the protein for lunch.
First decide whether you’re putting together a lunch or simply looking for something crunchy. Then compare the nutritional information for the same type of product: tortilla chips aren’t the same as soft tortillas or wraps.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein at lunchtime | Compare protein per 100 g and per portion; if you’re choosing a wrap, check the filling too. | If I’m having lunch after a workout, I want to know how much protein my whole meal contains. Protein is the most important factor in this choice for around 38% of consumers. |
| A varied lunch for children | Think about the lunch base and filling you’re choosing, and whether you can serve it with vegetables or fruit. | For a child, I want to put together something more than just a snack, even if we’re having chips too. Around 37% of consumers prioritise what makes up the lunch. |
| Snack and dip | Check the portion size, salt per 100 g and allergens for the exact flavour variety. | If I mainly want something crunchy to share, flavour and how well it works for dipping come first. For around 25% of consumers, this snack preference takes priority. |
They’re different types of product. Albert Heijn lists 18 g of protein per 100 g for AH Tortilla proteïne wraps naturel medium and 6.6 g per 100 g for AH Tortilla chips naturel.
If you’re looking for a lunch base, compare wraps with wraps. If you want a crunchy snack, compare chips with chips.
A name that includes ‘protein’ doesn’t tell you how much protein is in your portion or your whole lunch. The amount per 100 g and the portion size answer different questions.
Read the nutritional information on the pack you’ve chosen, and take the filling and other parts of your lunch into account too.
Chips can add a bit of crunch, but on their own they don’t make a varied lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s school lunch list includes a range of lunch options, including fillings such as egg, fish and bean spread.
Put the meal together with a suitable base and filling, and serve chips on the side if you like.
Ingredients, nutritional values and allergens vary by product and variety. If you’re choosing a product for its protein content or because of an allergen, the exact pack matters.
Check the label on the flavour and pack you’re buying. For Lidl tortilla chips, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack, as Lidl Netherlands advises.
AH Tortilla chips naturel and AH Tortilla proteïne wraps naturel medium are different types of product, suited to different parts of a lunch.
Jumbo Tortilla Chips Naturel are chips; Jumbo’s High Proteïne Tortilla Large are soft wheat tortillas, not chips.
Doritos Sweet Chilli Pepper is a seasoned tortilla chip variety for snacking or dipping.
Lidl sells a Sweet Paprika variety of tortilla chips as a snack.
The regular chips discussed here aren’t automatically a good source of protein for a lunch. Albert Heijn lists 6.6 g of protein per 100 g for AH Tortilla chips naturel; Jumbo lists 7.7 g for Jumbo Tortilla Chips Naturel, 6.4 g for Doritos Sweet Chilli Pepper and 6.6 g for Santa Maria Giant Tortilla Chips Salsa. For lunch, consider your portion size and the other foods you’re eating too.
Tortilla chips are a crunchy snack; a soft wrap can be used as the base for a lunch with a filling. Albert Heijn lists 18 g of protein per 100 g for AH Tortilla proteïne wraps naturel medium. These wraps contain wheat and gluten and, according to Albert Heijn, should be kept refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C once opened.
No, not always. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who exercise don’t need special protein shakes or bars if they eat a healthy, varied diet. So consider any snack in the context of what else you eat, rather than relying on the word ‘protein’ alone.
Consider how soon you’ll be exercising and how large your portion is. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against having a large portion or foods high in fat, protein or fibre just before exercise, as they can stay in your stomach for longer and cause discomfort while you’re working out.
Read the allergen information on the pack for the exact variety you’re buying. Lidl Netherlands directs customers to the product packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values; if you have a question about a specific product, you can contact customer services with the barcode details.
