Choose a multipack of tortilla chips if you want individually portioned snacks for your lunchbox; don’t automatically treat one of these bags as your main fuel during a long run. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre bases its advice on exercise on factors such as duration and the amount of fast-absorbing carbohydrates, while a bag of crisps also contains fat. So compare the weight of each bag, the ingredients and what you personally tolerate around a run.
You’re training for a marathon and want to know whether a savoury bag of crisps works as something to eat during a long training session. Keep a lunchbox snack separate from your choice of fuel on the go. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides general information about eating and drinking for endurance sports.
You want to take a portioned snack with you without having to divide up a large bag each time. Check that the pack really contains individual bags and see how much each one weighs. Foods & Goods describes the Doritos Nacho cheese 20-pack as twenty 44 g bags.
You can weigh out your own portions at home and decide how much to have. In that case, check the total pack size and follow the storage advice once the pack is open; Albert Heijn recommends sealing the plain variety reviewed here properly after use.
First decide whether you’re looking for chips for your lunchbox or something to eat while running. Then compare the packaging, the label and your own preferences around the time you run.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel on the go | Calculate the carbohydrates for the weight of one bag. Albert Heijn lists 61 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for Doritos Nacho cheese; a 44 g bag contains 26.8 g. | If I want something to eat during a long training session, I want to know how many carbohydrates one bag provides. Around 33% of consumers prioritise fuel value. |
| Individual bags | Check how many sealed bags there are and how much each one weighs. A large bag with several calculated portions doesn’t mean those portions are individually wrapped. | If I want to put a snack straight into my lunchbox, I don’t want to weigh it out at home. Around 27% of consumers prioritise convenience when taking snacks with them. |
| Stomach comfort and timing | Check the fat and fibre on the label and consider when you’ll be eating. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against having a large meal high in fat, protein or dietary fibre just before exercise. | If I eat around a training session, I want to consider what I tolerate well and when I eat it. Around 20% of consumers prioritise stomach comfort. |
| Portion size and storage | Weigh your own portion and follow the pack’s storage instructions. Albert Heijn lists the plain bag reviewed here as 200 g; Jumbo lists its plain bag as 300 g. | If I want to decide how much to have, I want to be able to divide up a large bag and store it properly. Around 13% of consumers prioritise this flexibility. |
| Ingredients and dietary requirements | Check the ingredients and any allergen warning for the exact flavour. The Doritos Nacho cheese variety reviewed here contains milk. | If an allergy or dietary choice limits my options, I need to rely on the label for the specific variety. Around 7% of consumers prioritise suitability for their diet. |
A bag also provides energy from fat, so the calorie count doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates it contains.
Base your choice of fuel on the go on the amount of carbohydrates, the length of your training session and what you can tolerate. Assess a lunchbox snack separately.
A pack with several calculated portions doesn’t necessarily contain separate inner bags. A mixed box of crisps may also include potato crisps.
Check how many individual bags there are, how much they weigh and the full ingredients list.
If you portion the snack yourself, you’ll need to weigh it out and pack it suitably for your lunchbox.
A ready-portioned pack and weighing out your own both give you different ways to control how much you have.
Compare packs containing the same amount and decide whether the convenience of individual bags is worth more to you than portioning the snack yourself.
Ingredients and allergen information vary by flavour and variety. The Doritos Nacho cheese product reviewed here contains milk.
If you have an allergy, read the information on the exact pack; don’t assume what it contains based on the category or brand name.
The Nacho cheese 20-pack reviewed here is designed for individual snack portions.
The AH plain tortilla chips reviewed here come in a 200 g bag for portioning yourself.
The plain tortilla chips reviewed here come in a 300 g bag.
Lidl Netherlands lists Snack Day tortilla chips with nacho cheese in a 300 g bag.
ALDI Netherlands lists SUN SNACKS blue corn tortilla chips.
Mission Foods Europe lists various tortilla chip varieties in box configurations containing large bags.
These tortilla chips come in larger bags that you can weigh out yourself; they aren’t multipacks with individual lunchbox bags.
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A good choice if you want to weigh out portions at home; the bag takes a little extra preparation if you want separate lunchbox portions.
Pack size: 475 g.
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A good choice if you want to divide a bag of tortilla chips into lunchbox portions yourself.
Pack size: 185 g. The bag doesn’t contain individual lunchbox portions.
Multiply the value per 100 g by the weight of the bag, then divide by 100. For the Doritos Nacho cheese variety reviewed here, 61 g of carbohydrates per 100 g works out at around 26.8 g for a 44 g bag. Always check the label on the variety you have.
Don’t use a bag as a replacement for your usual meals. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses that nutrition during marathon training isn’t just about carbohydrates, so consider a snack alongside your usual diet.
No, training doesn’t automatically mean you need to. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, everyday food can provide enough energy and fluid; sports nutrition products can be useful during prolonged, intensive exercise when eating on the go is difficult.
Follow the advice on the specific pack. Albert Heijn recommends sealing the plain bag reviewed here properly after use; Jumbo recommends storing the bag reviewed here in a cool, dry place. These instructions don’t specify a fixed storage period for a portion you’ve repacked yourself.
Read the ingredients and any warnings on the exact flavour. The Doritos Nacho cheese 20-pack reviewed here contains milk; dietary information for a different variety or brand doesn’t automatically apply to this pack.
