Hosts keeping an eye on calories
If you’d like to serve crisps with drinks while keeping portions in check, compare the calories per 100 g for specific products before filling the bowls.
Who are these options for?
For a birthday buffet, the right criterion depends on what you want to keep an eye on: the calories in the crisps you serve, their salt content or how they look on the table.
Guests watching their salt intake
A “no added salt” claim answers a different question from calories. Check the “salt”, “energy” and “fat” figures per 100 g separately.
Hosts planning a varied buffet
Sharing packs or vegetable crisps can add variety to your buffet. However, neither the packaging nor the product name is enough to establish its calorie content.
Which criteria should you prioritise?
Start with what matters most to you for your drinks and nibbles, then compare the nutritional values of the specific products you’re considering.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | The kcal per 100 g on the exact packet, followed by how much you put in the bowls. | If I want to offer crisps without leaving the serving size to chance, the product’s energy content comes first. Around 50% of consumers would make reducing calories their main priority. |
| Salt | The salt per 100 g, checked separately from energy and fat. | For a guest who wants to limit their salt intake, I look for a suitable salt content without assuming the product is lower in calories. This would be the priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Serving and variety | The net weight, the number of servings if stated, and the ingredients in the different options. | When putting together the buffet, I want to be able to portion out the crisps and vary how they’re presented without assuming the format offers a nutritional benefit. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise this aspect. |
Which misconceptions should you avoid?
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Assuming “no added salt” means fewer calories
E.Leclerc’s listing for Pom’Lisse crisps with no added salt shows 0.0 g of salt, but also 543 kcal and 34 g of fat per 100 g.
Decide whether salt or energy is your priority, then check both figures for the product you’re considering.
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Assuming vegetable crisps are low in calories
Auchan Collection vegetable crisps contain 489 kcal and 31 g of fat per 100 g. Their ingredients alone aren’t enough to classify them as one of the lower-calorie options.
Choose them to add variety to your buffet if that appeals to you; to compare calories, check their nutrition table against those of other packets.
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Relying solely on “oven-baked”
Lay’s says its Oven Baked Original crisps contain less fat. That claim alone doesn’t tell you their energy content per 100 g.
Check the kcal for the exact flavour and pack size before comparing them with other crisps.
Brands and retailers to know
These products illustrate different criteria. A feature noted for one product doesn’t necessarily apply to the whole brand or retailer.
Lay’s
The Oven Baked Original range may appeal to people comparing fat content.
- Lay’s says its oven-baked crisps contain less fat than its classic crisps and the market average.
- This claim doesn’t show how the product compares by kcal per 100 g; check the packet label.
Pringles
Pringles Original is available in several pack sizes, which may be useful when planning how to serve them.
- The French listing for Pringles Original shows 200 g, 70 g and 40 g pack sizes.
- The brand states that this product contains 528 kcal per 100 g: the size of the tube doesn’t change this basis for comparison.
Carrefour
Its product listings let you check the nutritional information for specific products, including Frit Ravich Light Crisps.
- The listing for Frit Ravich Light Crisps gives 451 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 g.
- Check whether this product is available and compare the label on any alternative, even if its name is similar.
E.Leclerc / Pom’Lisse
Pom’Lisse crisps with no added salt are an option for anyone whose main concern is salt.
- E.Leclerc’s listing gives 0.0 g of salt per 100 g for this product.
- It also states that the crisps contain 543 kcal and 34 g of fat per 100 g: “no added salt” doesn’t mean fewer calories.
Auchan Collection
Its vegetable crisps combine beetroot, carrot, sweet potato and parsnip to add variety to your buffet.
- The listing shows a 100 g packet described as containing three servings.
- It gives 489 kcal and 31 g of fat per 100 g; containing vegetables doesn’t guarantee a low calorie content.
Products to explore on Joybuy
For birthday-party nibbles, these three products come in different formats and categories: potato crisps, cassava crisps and bruschette. Compare the nutritional information on the packaging before choosing according to your priorities.
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Lay’s Texas BBQ, 70 g
A packet of crisps to consider if you want to plan a specific quantity for the buffet. Check the kcal per 100 g on the exact packaging before choosing it as a calorie-conscious option.
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SAMAI Cassava Chips, 57 g
This packet of cassava crisps adds another type of crisp to your buffet and lets you plan how much to serve. To compare it with potato crisps, check the per-100 g values and the ingredients for the exact product.
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Maretti Bruschette Sour Cream & Onion, 150 g
These bruschette offer a different option from potato crisps for a buffet to share. Consider the pack weight when planning portions, and check the nutritional information and ingredients before serving them to your guests.
Frequently asked questions
Are oven-baked crisps always lower in calories?
No. The cooking method alone isn’t enough to compare calorie content. Lay’s says its Oven Baked Original crisps contain less fat, but you’ll need to check the kcal per 100 g on the specific packet to compare them with another product.
Are vegetable crisps necessarily lower in calories?
No. Auchan Collection’s product listing gives 489 kcal per 100 g for its vegetable crisps. If calories guide your choice, compare this figure with those for other products rather than relying on the name “vegetable crisps”.
How do you compare two packets of different sizes?
Start by comparing their nutritional values per 100 g. This common basis lets you check energy, fat and salt without confusing the product’s composition with the packet size. Then decide how much you’ll serve.
Does “no added salt” mean “lower in calories”?
No. Pom’Lisse crisps with no added salt contain 0.0 g of salt but 543 kcal per 100 g, according to E.Leclerc. Choose according to what matters for your buffet, and check the salt and energy figures separately.