A crisp multipack can provide a convenient portion after training, but do not rely on crisps alone if you want a snack containing both carbohydrate and protein. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes exercise snacks that include both; for example, Walkers lists 1.3g protein in a 22g bag of Oven Baked Sea Salt. For a larger pack, check the number and weight of individual bags, then read the nutrition information for the flavours you will eat.
An individual bag is easy to carry to the gym or keep at a desk. If you want a snack with both carbohydrate and protein, plan what you will have alongside the crisps; University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes both nutrients in its exercise-snack guidance.
Check how many bags the pack contains and their individual weights. A 20-bag box and a five-bag multipack serve different storage and sharing needs even when both are sold as multipacks.
Compare the figures for the portion you expect to eat, rather than treating every flavour in a variety pack as identical. The Walkers Oven Baked Sea Salt and KETTLE Chips Lightly Salted labels, for instance, state their values for different bag sizes.
Start with the number of portions you need, then check what each bag contains and what else you intend to have after training.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Snack composition | Read carbohydrate and protein per bag. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes exercise snacks containing both; Walkers lists 16g carbohydrate and 1.3g protein per 22g Oven Baked Sea Salt bag. | I want crisps as part of my after-training snack, rather than assuming a bag supplies everything I want from it. |
| Pack size | Check bag count, weight per bag and total pack weight. ASDA lists the Seabrook Classic Variety Box as 20 x 25g; Tesco lists McCoy's Classic Variety as 12 x 25g. | For a shared cupboard, I need enough separate bags. For a gym bag, a smaller multipack may be enough. |
| Salt and fat | Compare values using the same basis, such as per bag or per 100g. Walkers lists 0.19g salt and 2.8g fat per 22g Oven Baked Sea Salt bag; Sainsbury's lists 0.2g salt and 7.4g fat per 25g KETTLE Chips Lightly Salted serving. | If crisps are a regular snack for me, I want to know the figures for the flavour and portion I actually choose. |
| Flavour labels | Read the nutrition and allergen information for each flavour in a variety pack, including any recipe information on the current packets. | A mixed box gives me a choice of flavours, but I still need to check the particular bag I will eat. |
| Fluids | Keep a drink available after activity, particularly if you have been sweating. NHS guidance advises extra fluids after sweating from physical activity. | I need to plan a drink separately; choosing a savoury snack does not take its place. |
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes exercise snacks containing carbohydrate and protein. Walkers Oven Baked Sea Salt lists 1.3g protein per 22g bag, so that packet alone is not a way to include much protein.
If you want both nutrients in your snack, choose what to have alongside the crisps rather than judging the multipack in isolation.
A single mixed box can contain different flavours, so one bag's nutrition information may not describe another.
Read the panel on each flavour you plan to eat, particularly when comparing salt or checking ingredients and allergens.
NHS guidance advises extra fluids after sweating from physical activity. A packet of crisps does not provide that drink.
Take water or another suitable drink with your snack when you expect to need one.
These examples illustrate different portion formats and label details; a figure for one product should not be applied to every flavour a brand makes.
Walkers lists Oven Baked Sea Salt as a 22g bag, while Tesco identifies a six-bag Sea Salt multipack.
Tyrrells makes lentil crisps as well as potato crisps; an ASDA listing identifies an 80g Sweet Chilli & Red Pepper lentil sharing bag.
Sainsbury's lists KETTLE Chips Lightly Salted as a five-pack of 25g bags.
ASDA lists the Seabrook Classic Variety Box as 20 separate 25g bags.
Tesco lists a McCoy's Classic Variety Multipack containing 12 x 25g bags.
The REAL direct shop lists a mixed case of 24 x 35g bags.
These individually bagged multipacks include smaller packs for carrying a snack and a 20-bag variety pack for keeping more portions at home. Check the current flavour labels when choosing what to eat after training.
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Five individual 17g bags make this a smaller pack for taking a savoury snack with you. Check the packet's nutrition information if you are choosing what else to have after training.
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This six-bag variety pack offers separate 22g portions for carrying or storing. Check each included flavour's label rather than using the nutrition figures for Walkers Oven Baked Sea Salt to describe the whole pack.
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Six individual 23g bags suit someone looking for a portioned cheese-and-onion savoury snack. Read the current packet for its ingredients, allergens and nutrition before including it in an after-training snack.
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With 20 separate 25g bags, this format suits a cupboard shared by several snackers or stocked for repeated use. Check the label for each flavour, particularly if salt or allergens affect your choice.
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This mild cheese-and-onion multipack contains six individual 25g bags. If salt is a deciding factor, read its per-bag figure on the current label rather than relying on the product name alone.
If you want a snack containing both carbohydrate and protein, check what you will eat alongside the crisps. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes snacks containing both for exercise; Walkers Oven Baked Sea Salt, for example, lists 16g carbohydrate but 1.3g protein per 22g bag.
Compare the number of bags, weight per bag and total weight to see how many ready-to-carry portions you are getting. ASDA lists the Seabrook Classic Variety Box as 20 x 25g, while Tesco lists the McCoy's Classic Variety Multipack as 12 x 25g.
Check the salt figure for the particular bag, especially if crisps are a frequent snack. Walkers lists 0.19g per 22g Oven Baked Sea Salt bag, while Sainsbury's lists 0.2g per 25g KETTLE Chips Lightly Salted serving. Separately, NHS guidance advises extra fluids after sweating from physical activity.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on each current flavour packet, not just the name of the mixed box. A statement about one flavour or another product in the range does not describe every bag in the pack.
Choose a multipack if you want a separate bag ready to carry; choose a sharing bag if you are happy to serve out the amount you want yourself. The Tyrrells lentil crisps identified in the ASDA listing come in an 80g sharing bag, rather than individually wrapped portions.