First choose an amount that fits your personal dietary plan, then compare the total carbohydrates in that amount; low sugar does not automatically mean low in carbohydrates. An individual bag is handy when you’re out and about, while weighing your own portion gives you more control over how much you take with you. The Diabetes Fund describes crisps as something to enjoy occasionally, rather than too often or in large amounts.
You want to enjoy tortilla chips occasionally and include the total carbohydrates in the amount you actually eat in your dietary plan. Diabetes.nl explains why it’s important to know how many carbohydrates you consume.
You’re looking for an individual bag to take with you, or you’d rather weigh out a portion at home. It comes down to convenience versus the freedom to decide for yourself how much to take. Makro Nederland describes Doritos Nacho Cheese as a box of individual 44 g bags.
You buy a larger bag for several snack occasions and want to know in advance how to divide it into portions and store the rest. Albert Heijn and Jumbo provide product and storage information for their larger bags.
A good fit if: you want to take a sealed bag with you when you’re out and about, without weighing a portion first.
Bear in mind: the bag size is determined by the packaging, and may not match the amount that fits your dietary plan.
A good fit if: you want to choose your own portion and can weigh it in advance.
Bear in mind: for a 25 g reference portion, Albert Heijn and Jumbo list 16 g and 14,90 g of carbohydrates respectively for the plain varieties reviewed. This portion is a basis for comparison, not personal advice.
Compare the carbohydrates for the same amount, and check the packaging too: a stated portion is not necessarily an individual bag.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Total carbohydrates | Check the carbohydrates per 100 g and calculate the amount for the weight you eat: carbohydrates per 100 g × grams eaten ÷ 100. | If you want to include the amount you eat in your dietary plan, look at total carbohydrates, not just sugars. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the carbohydrates in the amount they choose. |
| A portion for when you’re out and about | Check the weight of each bag and whether a multipack really contains individual packs. | If you want to take something with you without weighing it first, the convenience of an individual bag matters. Around 29% of consumers prioritise convenience on the go and portion control. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre, saturated fat, salt and energy per 100 g, then check the values for your portion. | If you want to look beyond carbohydrates at the wider nutritional information and enjoy crisps occasionally, compare these values on the same basis. Around 21% of consumers prioritise the overall nutritional composition. |
| Packaging and storage | Check the net weight, whether portions are individually wrapped and the storage advice after opening. | If you buy a larger bag for several occasions, you’ll want to divide the contents into practical portions and store the rest properly. Around 14% of consumers focus mainly on packaging and stocking up. |
Sugars are listed separately as part of the total carbohydrates. Comparing that figure alone won’t give you the full picture of the carbohydrates in the amount you eat.
Start with the total carbohydrates and calculate the amount for the weight you actually eat.
A factory-sealed bag is a packaging size, not personal dietary advice. Its weight may also differ from the amount you want to eat.
Compare the weight of the whole bag with the amount you actually want to have.
A larger bag may state a number of reference portions without the contents being divided into individual bags.
Check the net weight, how the product is packaged and the storage advice. Weighing your own portions takes preparation and care when storing what’s left.
A label such as ‘diabetic friendly’ does not prove that a product treats diabetes or produces a particular blood glucose response. The Diabetes Fund describes crisps as something to enjoy occasionally.
Check the exact nutritional information and the amount you eat; don’t treat a claim as a substitute for checking these details.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an individual bag: Makro Nederland describes Nacho Cheese as a box containing 20 bags of 44 g each.
AH Tortilla chips naturel comes in a larger 200 g bag for you to portion yourself.
Jumbo Tortilla Chips Naturel comes in a 300 g bag for several snack occasions, with portions weighed out by you.
Lidl’s Dutch product information lists Snack Day Tortillachips nacho cheese in a 300 g pack.
ALDI lists SUN SNACKS Tortillachips in a 300 g pack.
Mission Foods Europe describes tortilla chips in varieties such as Salted, Chilli and Cheese, with stated pack sizes of 500 g.
These tortilla chips come in larger bags for anyone who wants to weigh out their own portion. Check how the stated portions are divided for each pack.
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Could suit you if you want to use a larger bag to weigh out your own portion.
Pack size: 185 g.
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Could suit you if you’re looking for a supply for several snack occasions, with portions weighed out by you.
Pack size: 475 g. The 12 stated portions are not individual bags, so you’ll need to portion them yourself if you’re taking them with you.
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Could suit you if you want to use a bag of Nacho Cheese crisps to weigh out your own portion.
Pack size: 170 g. The stated 5–6 portions are not individual bags to take with you.
No. Sugars are listed separately as part of the total carbohydrates. For your calculation, use the total carbohydrates and the weight you actually eat, not just the ‘of which sugars’ line.
No. Use it as product information for a calculation, not as personal dietary advice. The amount that fits your dietary plan is personal; the product labels reviewed do not provide medical guidance on this.
Weigh out the amount in advance and check that the pack can be resealed properly after opening. Follow the storage advice on the label: Albert Heijn recommends closing the pack securely after use, while Jumbo and Doritos advise storing it in a cool, dry place.
Check the information on the current packaging for the exact variety. Doritos Nacho Cheese contains milk; for the AH plain variety reviewed, the product information states that the crisps may contain soya. The NVWA explains that sellers must provide allergen information.
No. The label does not prove that the product has a particular effect on blood glucose or provides a medical benefit. According to the NVWA, voluntary food information must not be misleading, confusing or ambiguous, and rules apply to nutrition and health claims. So check the nutritional information for the exact variety and the amount you eat.
