If you want to snack mindfully while preparing for a marathon, you can compare plain tortilla chips per 100 g and weigh your portion. According to their product information, the plain varieties from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Doritos contain 470–481 kcal per 100 g. This means they do not meet the European Commission’s requirement for a ‘low energy’ claim: no more than 40 kcal per 100 g of solid food. If you’re looking for fuel for a long run, consider carbohydrates, timing and how well you tolerate the food. A weighed snack isn’t automatically a suitable sports nutrition plan.
You want to enjoy tortilla chips now and then while preparing for a marathon, while keeping a close eye on your snack portion. Compare the same weight, rather than just the different serving sizes shown on the labels. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Flink Nederland shows why this comparison matters.
You’re looking for food to eat during long training sessions and want to know whether chips are a suitable choice. In that case, carbohydrates and enough energy matter more than simply choosing something that looks low in calories. The Voedingscentrum provides separate advice on carbohydrates during endurance exercise.
You’d rather not eat a large portion that feels heavy just before a run. Pay attention to portion size, fat, fibre and when you eat. The Voedingscentrum advises against eating a large portion just before exercise.
When to choose this: when you want to eat chips and keep your portion under control.
The trade-off: A 30 g portion works out at 141 kcal for AH and Doritos, and 144.3 kcal for Jumbo, based on the product tables from Albert Heijn, Flink Nederland and Jumbo. This small difference alone isn’t a reason to choose one variety over another.
When to choose this: when you’re buying food to plan your nutrition during exercise, rather than simply to limit your snack portion.
The trade-off: The Voedingscentrum recommends 30–60 g of easily absorbed carbohydrates per hour for endurance exercise lasting 1 to 2.5 hours. This advice doesn’t necessarily apply to every runner or a full marathon.
When to choose this: when you’re about to go running and want to think carefully about how much you snack and when.
The trade-off: The Voedingscentrum advises against eating a large portion or foods high in fat, protein or fibre just before exercise. A calorie count doesn’t tell you whether a food will sit well at that time.
Compare nutritional values per 100 g, then work out how they relate to the amount you actually eat. The percentages in the table refer to consumers considering tortilla chips while preparing for a marathon.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who should give this more weight? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g, then weigh out the same amount of each variety you’re comparing. | When I have chips outside training, I want to weigh my portion without losing sight of my training nutrition; around 36% of consumers put portion control first. |
| Carbohydrates for training | Check the carbohydrates in the portion you’ll actually eat and factor them into your nutrition plan for the duration of your exercise. The Voedingscentrum’s advice applies to endurance exercise lasting 1 to 2.5 hours. | When I’m planning food for a long run, I look at the carbohydrates in my portion; around 36% of consumers make training fuel their top priority. |
| Timing and tolerance | Just before running, consider portion size and the amount of fat, protein and fibre. The Voedingscentrum advises against eating a large portion at this point. | Just before a run, I want to choose something that suits me in terms of portion size and timing; around 18% of consumers put tolerance first. |
| Claims and allergens | Check the information on the exact packaging. According to the European Commission, the ‘low energy’ claim is limited to a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g of solid food. | If a nutrition claim or allergen information affects my choice, I want to check the right packaging; around 10% of consumers make reliable label information their top priority. |
A low-calorie snack doesn’t tell you how much fuel is right for your training load. The International Olympic Committee explains that a prolonged mismatch between energy intake and energy expenditure can harm health and performance.
Treat choosing a snack and planning food for a training session as separate decisions. Don’t use calorie restriction as a measure of suitable fuel for a long run.
Albert Heijn lists a 25 g serving, while Jumbo lists a 30 g serving. This means the kcal per serving aren’t directly comparable, even if the figures on the labels differ.
First compare the values per 100 g, then weigh out the same amount of each product.
Mission Foods Malaysia’s claim of 30% less oil is a comparison with regular potato crisps. It doesn’t compare the energy value of a Dutch tortilla chip variety.
Base your comparison on the Dutch variety, its nutrition table and a suitable basis for comparison.
Plain tortilla chips for snacking and dipping; the Dutch product listing is for a 185 g pack.
AH Plain Tortilla Chips is an own-brand variety with a stated serving size of 25 g.
Jumbo Plain Tortilla Chips 300 g are salted corn chips; the product information lists ten 30 g servings.
Lidl lists Snack Day Sea Salt Tortilla Chips as one of its product varieties.
ALDI lists SUN SNACKS Blue Corn Tortilla Chips on its Dutch website.
Mission Foods Europe describes tortilla chips in a range of shapes and flavours.
No, not as a ‘low energy’ claim. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. An ‘energy-reduced’ claim requires an energy reduction of at least 30% compared with similar products, and the characteristic responsible for the reduction must be stated.
Albert Heijn lists a 25 g serving, while Jumbo lists a 30 g serving. At 470 kcal per 100 g, 25 g of AH chips contains 117.5 kcal; at 481 kcal per 100 g, 30 g of Jumbo chips contains 144.3 kcal. So compare the products per 100 g first, or calculate the values for the same weight.
That depends on your nutrition plan and the exercise; the product information alone doesn’t show that chips are suitable fuel for a long run. The Voedingscentrum recommends 30–60 g of easily absorbed carbohydrates per hour for endurance exercise lasting 1 to 2.5 hours. Don’t automatically apply this guideline to every runner or a full marathon.
The Voedingscentrum advises against eating a large portion or foods high in fat, protein or fibre just before exercise. It recommends having a meal around 2–3 hours before exercise, where possible. Also take into account what you personally tolerate.
No, check the information for the exact variety. PepsiCo states that Doritos Plain 185 g may contain soya and wheat, including gluten. Albert Heijn describes the plain variety reviewed as gluten-free and also lists the possible presence of soya.
