For a more mindful snack at a festival campsite, weighing out your portion in advance is a more practical choice than looking for tortilla chips labelled ‘low calorie’. According to the European Commission, this claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g; the products reviewed with known energy values are well above this. So compare the energy per 100 g with the amount you plan to eat, and check the packaging, allergens and storage advice too.
You want to take tortilla chips with you and know how much energy your chosen portion contains. Compare the values per 100 g and weigh out the amount you plan to eat. As a general example, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 62 kcal for a 13 g handful of plain tortilla chips; check the packaging for the specific product.
You’re looking for a snack you can store somewhere dry and keep well sealed, without relying on a chilled dip. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing crisps in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed pack; perishable accompaniments need to be stored differently.
You’re buying for several people and want to check the pack size, portions and allergens in advance. Keep the packaging so others can check the ingredients and warnings; the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains which allergens must be listed on labels.
Start with the amount you plan to eat, then compare the nutritional values per 100 g, the packaging and the information your fellow snackers may need.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy in your portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and calculate based on your own portion: kcal per 100 g × portion weight in grams ÷ 100. | I want to know in advance how much energy my portion contains, so I can weigh it out. Around 42% of consumers prioritise the calories in the portion they eat. |
| Storage at the campsite | Follow the storage advice for the crisps and check separately whether a dip needs to be kept chilled. | If I don’t have reliable refrigeration, I want to be able to store crisps without relying on a chilled dip. Around 25% of consumers prioritise storage without reliable refrigeration. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Check the ingredients, allergens present and warnings on the packaging for your chosen flavour. | When I’m sharing with others, I want to check in advance whether the ingredients suit their dietary requirements. Around 17% of consumers prioritise information about allergens and ingredients. |
| Pack size and sharing | Choose a net weight that suits the number of people and snack occasions; reseal the pack well after opening. | I want to choose a pack that suits the group and the amount we plan to eat. Around 16% of consumers prioritise pack size and sharing with the group. |
A lower figure per portion may simply be because the stated portion is smaller. Albert Heijn lists a 25 g portion for AH Tortilla chips naturel; PepsiCo lists 30 g for Doritos Naturel.
Compare the values per 100 g first, then calculate for the same amount of crisps.
Crisps and a perishable dip need to be stored differently. A dip that needs to stay chilled requires suitable refrigeration.
Check the dip’s label and only take it with you if you can follow the recommended storage instructions.
The net weight of a pack isn’t automatically the amount you’ll want to eat in one sitting. Even a 60 g bag may contain more than your chosen snack portion.
Decide on your portion in advance and reseal the rest well after opening.
Plain and seasoned tortilla chips for snacking or enjoying with a dip; check the flavour and pack you choose.
AH Tortilla chips naturel is a plain variety in a 200 g pack.
Jumbo Tortilla Chips Naturel 300 g is a larger pack that you can divide between several snack occasions.
Lidl describes Tortilla chips sweet paprika in a 60 g pack.
ALDI Nederland lists SUN SNACKS Tortillachips, including a blue corn variety.
Mission Foods Europe describes tortilla chips in round and triangular shapes, with a range of pack options.
These Joybuy products are tortilla chips with a stated energy value per 100 g that can help you calculate the portion you want to take with you.
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This plain variety may suit you if you want to weigh out your portion in advance and calculate its energy content.
Stated nutritional value: 470 kcal per 100 g. Store in a dry place in a sealed pack.
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This sweet chilli variety may suit you if you fancy a seasoned flavour and want to calculate the energy in your weighed-out portion.
Stated nutritional value: 456 kcal per 100 g. Store in a cool, dry place.
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This sweet chilli variety may suit you if you want to share the pack with others and choose your own portion size.
Stated nutritional value: 477 kcal per 100 g. Reseal the pack after opening.
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These plain nacho tortilla chips may suit you if you’re looking for a larger pack for several snack occasions.
Stated nutritional value: 472 kcal per 100 g. Reseal the pack after opening.
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This smaller pack may suit you if you want to take less than you would in a larger bag; decide on your snack portion separately.
Stated nutritional value: 474 kcal per 100 g. Store in a dry place and reseal the pack after opening.
No. Under the European Commission’s rules, the ‘low calorie’ claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. A small portion may contain fewer calories without the product meeting this requirement.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g by the number of grams you plan to eat, then divide by 100. For example, at 470 kcal per 100 g, a 25 g portion contains 117.5 kcal; this is calculated from the stated nutritional value.
The general advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre is to store crisps in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed pack; refrigeration isn’t the standard recommendation. Follow any specific instructions on the packaging too.
Follow the storage advice on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises throwing away food that spoils quickly if it has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours; this advice isn’t the storage time for dry crisps.
No. Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety. Doritos Naturel 170 g lists possible traces of soya and wheat/gluten; according to PepsiCo, Doritos Cool American 170 g contains milk. The NVWA explains which allergens must be listed on food labels.
