Carbohydrate-conscious snackers
You have diabetes and want to know how many total carbohydrates your snack contains, even if the label shows little sugar. Diabetes.nl explains that carbohydrates affect blood glucose levels.
Who is this guide for?
Calorie-conscious portion planners
You’d like to enjoy tortilla chips occasionally without accidentally eating a large number of calories. The Diabetes Fonds advises limiting how often and how much you snack.
Label-conscious shoppers choosing plain varieties
You also want to consider fibre, salt and allergens, so you check the exact variety and packaging. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Pepsi Product Checker NL lists values for specific plain varieties.
What should you look for when choosing?
First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then work out what they mean for the amount you’ll actually eat.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Total carbohydrates | Check the total carbohydrates per 100 g and calculate the amount for the weight of your portion. | I want to know how many carbohydrates I’m actually eating, so I look beyond the sugar line. Around 34% of consumers prioritise total carbohydrates. |
| Calories per snacking occasion | Compare kcal per 100 g, then calculate the amount for your own portion. | I want to estimate my calorie intake for each snacking occasion, so I choose my portion mindfully. Around 33% of consumers give calories top priority. |
| Fibre and salt | Compare the fibre and salt values per 100 g for the exact variety. | As well as calories and carbohydrates, I want to consider fibre and salt without drawing conclusions about their effect on blood glucose. Around 20% of consumers prioritise these values. |
| Pack size and portioning | Check the net contents and stated portions; follow the storage instructions for an opened bag. | I want a pack that’s practical to divide across several occasions. Around 13% of consumers give pack size and portioning top priority. |
Common pitfalls
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Looking only at ‘of which sugars’
A low sugar value can go hand in hand with a higher amount of total carbohydrates. If you only read the sugar line, you may underestimate the carbohydrates in your snack.
Check the total carbohydrates and calculate the amount based on the weight you actually eat.
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Assuming a small bowl means the product is low in calories
A smaller portion contains fewer calories than a larger portion of the same product, but the value per 100 g stays the same. The checked plain varieties contain 470–481 kcal per 100 g.
Compare the values per 100 g, then weigh the amount you want to eat.
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Treating the whole bag as one portion
The contents of a bag aren’t the same as a serving. Albert Heijn lists eight 25 g portions per bag; Jumbo lists ten 30 g portions.
Weigh your portion in advance and follow the storage instructions for the remaining chips.
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Overlooking the exact variety or allergen warning
Nutritional values and allergen information apply to a specific variety. Corn as the main ingredient doesn’t rule out a warning about possible traces of other allergens.
Check the current packaging and warnings, especially if you have a food allergy or need to avoid gluten. The NVWA states that prepacked products must display allergen information on the label.
Brands to consider
These examples can help you assess product information. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for diabetes or available to buy.
Doritos
Published nutritional values and allergen information are available for the exact Dutch 185 g Naturel Tortilla Nacho Chips variety.
- Pepsi Product Checker NL lists 64 g of carbohydrates, 6.2 g of fibre and 0.71 g of salt per 100 g; Flink Nederland lists 470 kcal.
- The manufacturer warns that the product may contain traces of soya and wheat/gluten. These values can’t predict your individual blood glucose response.
Albert Heijn
AH Tortilla chips naturel 200 g is a supermarket own-brand variety with a Dutch nutritional table and a stated portion size.
- Albert Heijn lists 470 kcal and 64 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, and a portion size of 25 g.
- The claim of 0 g added sugars per 100 g doesn’t mean the product is low in total carbohydrates.
Jumbo
Jumbo Tortilla Chips Naturel 300 g lists nutritional values per 100 g and per stated portion.
- Jumbo lists 481 kcal, 59.6 g of carbohydrates, 5.9 g of fibre and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g. According to Jumbo, the bag contains ten 30 g portions.
- In this comparison, fewer carbohydrates per 100 g doesn’t mean fewer calories than in the checked AH and Doritos plain varieties.
Lidl
Lidl Nederland lists Snack Day Tortillachips sweet chili as a supermarket product in a 300 g pack.
- The Dutch product page confirms the product name and pack size.
- The flavour name isn’t a nutritional claim; check the values on the exact packaging.
ALDI
ALDI Nederland lists SUN SNACKS Tortillachips blauwe maïs as a product variety.
- The Dutch product page confirms the product identity and blue corn variety.
- The colour or type of corn alone doesn’t support a claim about calories, carbohydrates or suitability for people with diabetes.
Mission
Mission Foods Europe describes a range of tortilla chips in round and triangular shapes, with various flavours and pack sizes for retail and foodservice.
- The range information gives examples of shapes and flavours.
- European range information doesn’t confirm a specific variety sold in the Netherlands or its nutritional values.
Tortilla chips at Joybuy
These Joybuy products are tortilla chips and nacho chips with nutritional values you can use to compare calories, total carbohydrates, fibre and salt per 100 g.
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Doritos Dippers Naturel, 185 g
An option to compare if you want to take total carbohydrates, fibre and salt into account; the stated energy content means this isn’t a low-calorie product.
Product information lists 470 kcal, 64 g of carbohydrates, 6.2 g of fibre and 0.71 g of salt per 100 g.
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Santa Maria Nacho Chips Original, 475 g
An option to compare with other varieties if you want to check both calories and total carbohydrates per 100 g.
Product information lists 472 kcal, 64.4 g of carbohydrates, 4 g of fibre and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g.
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Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted, 475 g
An option if you also want to compare salt levels in tortilla chips; your own portion determines how much you eat.
Product information lists 472 kcal, 64 g of carbohydrates, 4 g of fibre and 1.2 g of salt per 100 g.
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Santa Maria Original Nacho Chips, 185 g
An option to compare if you want to use the nutritional values per 100 g to calculate the amount you eat.
Product information lists 474 kcal, 65 g of carbohydrates, 4.5 g of fibre and 0.9 g of salt per 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
Does low sugar mean tortilla chips are low in carbohydrates?
No. The sugar value alone doesn’t tell you how many total carbohydrates you’re eating. The checked Doritos Naturel variety lists 1.1 g of sugars and 64 g of total carbohydrates per 100 g. Check the total carbohydrates and calculate the amount for your portion.
How do I calculate the nutritional values for my portion?
Multiply the value per 100 g by the weight you’ve eaten, then divide by 100. As a calculation example, 20 g of the checked Doritos Naturel variety contains 94 kcal and 12.8 g of carbohydrates. This 20 g amount isn’t a personal portion recommendation.
Does a smaller portion make tortilla chips low in calories?
No. A smaller portion gives you fewer calories, but it doesn’t change the composition per 100 g. The checked plain varieties from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Doritos contain 470–481 kcal per 100 g.
Are corn chips automatically gluten-free?
No. Check the allergen information for the exact variety. The manufacturer states that Doritos Naturel Tortilla Nacho Chips 185 g may contain traces of wheat/gluten and soya. The NVWA says allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods.
How should I store an opened bag of tortilla chips?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Albert Heijn advises closing the pack securely after use; Jumbo says to store in a cool, dry place. Check the date and instructions on the pack you’ve bought.