Who is this choice for?

Protein-focused afternoon snackers

If protein is the reason for your purchase, the grams in one tea-break portion matter more than the snack’s tortilla-style shape.

Shoppers comparing portion sizes

A single bag and a sharing bag can show different serving sizes. Compare what you intend to eat alongside the energy, fat and salt shown for that amount.

Allergen-aware shoppers

Some of the checked pulse- and soya-based snacks carry soya, milk or sesame-related information. Check the label for the exact product and flavour before choosing.

What should you compare?

Start with protein on a common per-100g basis, then return to the portion you would actually have with tea. Check the other nutrition figures and ingredients before deciding whether a protein-led snack fits.

Priority What to check Your needs
Protein in your portion Compare protein per 100g, then the amount in your intended serving. Waitrose & Partners lists 10g in a 48g Doritos Protein bag and 6.6g in a 30g serving of its own-label popped tortillas. I want to know how much protein my actual tea-break portion provides, rather than judging bags of different sizes by a front-of-pack claim.
Other nutrition details Read energy, fat and salt for the portion you plan to eat, using per-100g figures when comparing products. Check the fibre declaration if it matters to your choice. Protein is one consideration, but I also want to see the other figures for the amount I would eat.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current ingredients, highlighted allergens and any “may contain” or suitability statement for the exact flavour. The checked protein-led snacks include soya-containing products and products with sesame-related warnings. Before switching from plain maize chips to a pulse-based snack, I need to check whether its ingredients and allergen warnings work for me.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming all tortilla chips are high in protein

    The regular Sainsbury’s tortilla chips checked here list 5.3g protein per 100g; four protein-led products listed by Waitrose & Partners and Marks & Spencer show 21g–30g per 100g.

    If protein drives the purchase, compare the declared grams per 100g and in the portion you expect to eat.

  • Comparing bags as though they were the same size

    Waitrose & Partners lists 10g protein in the 48g Doritos Protein bag, while its own-label popped tortillas list 6.6g in a 30g serving. Those figures describe different amounts of food.

    Use per-100g figures for a common comparison, then check the serving or full-bag figure that matches your plans.

  • Overlooking the allergen statement

    The checked protein-led products include soya-containing options. The Curators Tangy Cheese product also contains milk and whey, while the M&S red-lentil product carries soya and sesame allergy warnings.

    Read the current pack for the exact product and flavour, including its ingredients and suitability statements.

  • Letting the protein figure decide everything

    A protein figure does not describe the rest of a snack’s nutrition. For example, the checked Waitrose popped tortillas list 1.03g salt per 100g, while the checked M&S red-lentil tortillas list 0.75g per 100g, according to their retailer product information.

    Compare energy, fat and salt alongside protein, using the portion you are likely to eat.

Relevant brand and own-label examples

These examples describe particular products, not every snack sold under each name.

The Curators

The Tangy Cheese Protein Chips are a protein-led option for comparing protein per 100g and per pack.

  • Waitrose & Partners lists 30g protein per 100g and 25g per 85g pack.
  • The checked product contains soya, milk and whey; read the current pack if allergens affect your choice.

M&S

Its checked Smoked Paprika Popped Red Lentil Tortillas offer a lentil-based tortilla-style option.

  • Marks & Spencer lists 24.8g protein and 6.5g fibre per 100g for this product.
  • The product information says it is not suitable for people with sesame or soya allergy.

Waitrose

Its checked High Protein Paprika Popped Tortillas come in an 80g bag with a stated 30g serving.

  • Waitrose & Partners lists 22g protein per 100g and 6.6g per 30g serving.
  • The checked product contains soya, may contain sesame and lists 1.03g salt per 100g.

Doritos

The checked Protein Sizzling Steak product is a single 48g bag rather than a sharing-size pack.

  • Waitrose & Partners lists 10g protein per bag and 21g per 100g.
  • The product contains soya; check the current label for the exact pack.

Sainsbury’s

Its checked regular tortilla chips provide a maize-chip reference for shoppers who want a conventional dipping snack.

  • The checked product uses a maize, oil and salt ingredient list.
  • Sainsbury’s lists 5.3g protein per 100g and 1.6g per 30g serving, rather than the figures shown for the protein-led examples above.

Joybuy snack options

These Joybuy options are lentil- and chickpea-based crisps for a savoury tea break, not the tortilla chips compared above. If protein is your main reason for shopping, compare each current pack’s nutrition panel with the tortilla-style products discussed in this article.

Eat Real Sea Salt Lentil Chips 95g

Eat Real Sea Salt Lentil Chips 95g

A lentil-chip alternative if you want a savoury snack alongside tea. Compare the pack’s protein and salt figures for the amount you plan to eat, and check its soya and celery allergen warning.

View on Joybuy
Eat Real Tomato & Basil Hummus Chips 110g

Eat Real Tomato & Basil Hummus Chips 110g

A chickpea-based crisp to consider when you are comparing savoury options rather than looking only for tortilla chips. Check the protein in your intended portion and read the pack’s celery allergen warning.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are regular tortilla chips a protein-led tea-break choice?

Not in the checked example: Sainsbury’s lists 1.6g protein per 30g serving of its regular tortilla chips, while the protein-led products checked at Waitrose & Partners and Marks & Spencer list 21g–30g per 100g. Compare the serving you would eat before deciding.

Should I compare protein per bag, serving or 100g?

Use per 100g to compare products on the same basis, then check the serving or full bag that matches your tea break. Waitrose & Partners lists 10g protein in a 48g Doritos Protein bag and 6.6g in a 30g serving of its own-label popped tortillas; those are not equal portions.

Does “popped” tell me how much protein a snack contains?

No. Check the nutrition panel for the exact product: the popped Waitrose paprika tortillas list 22g protein per 100g, while the popped M&S smoked-paprika red-lentil tortillas list 24.8g per 100g, according to their respective product information.

Which allergens should I check on protein-led tortilla snacks?

Read the current pack’s ingredients and allergen statements for the exact flavour. The checked options include products containing soya or milk and products with sesame-related warnings, so a pulse-based ingredient alone does not establish suitability.