Lunch packers comparing calories
If you pack one sealed bag, its calories per bag tell you more about that lunch portion than its calories per 100g alone.
Who is choosing crisps for a packed lunch?
Shoppers choosing a set portion
Individual bags make the portion clear when you are choosing between a multipack and a larger bag. Check the weight of each bag, as multipacks do not all use the same size.
Shoppers checking allergens
Check the ingredient and allergen declaration for the exact flavour you will pack, particularly when a multipack contains several flavours.
What should you compare?
Start with the calories and weight of one bag. Then compare salt and ingredients for the flavours you would actually put in your lunch.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Portion calories | Read kcal and weight per sealed bag. Seabrook Crisps lists 82 kcal per 18g Sea Salted Crunchies bag; Walkers UK lists 96 kcal per 22g Oven Baked Cheese & Onion bag. | I want to know what one bag adds to my lunch, rather than compare two differently sized bags as if they were equal portions. |
| Salt | Check salt per bag and per 100g. The NHS describes more than 1.5g salt per 100g as high; Seabrook Sea Salted Crunchies list 0.3g per 18g bag and 1.69g per 100g. | Calories matter to me, but I do not want to assume the bag with fewer calories also has less salt. |
| Allergens | Read the exact flavour’s ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statement. Check each flavour separately in a mixed multipack. | If an ingredient affects what I can eat, I need the declaration for the bag going into my lunch. |
| Crisp type | Compare like-sized portions before deciding on a format. Tyrrells lists 141 kcal for a 30g Sour Cream & Onion lentil-crisp serving; Kettle Chips lists 516 kcal per 100g for KETTLE Lightly Salted, so check the bag weight before calculating a lunch portion. | I may prefer lentil or hand-cooked crisps, but the type of crisp alone does not tell me the calories in the bag. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming ‘baked’ or ‘lower fat’ means fewer calories per bag
Fat and calories answer different questions. Tyrrells lists 141 kcal for a 30g Sour Cream & Onion lentil-crisp serving, compared with Walkers UK’s 96 kcal for a 22g Oven Baked Cheese & Onion bag.
Use the kcal figure for the portion you will pack; compare fat separately if it matters to your choice.
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Comparing only the per-100g figures
A per-100g label helps compare products on the same weight basis, but office-lunch bags can contain different amounts.
Check the weight and calories of one sealed bag before choosing your lunch portion.
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Treating fewer calories as a sign of less salt
Seabrook Sea Salted Crunchies list 82 kcal and 0.3g salt per 18g bag, alongside 1.69g salt per 100g. The NHS describes food with more than 1.5g salt per 100g as high in salt.
Read both salt figures if you are comparing products with different bag sizes.
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Checking only the multipack name for allergens
The Walkers Oven Baked variety pack contains different flavours, so one flavour’s ingredient declaration does not describe every bag.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on each flavour you intend to pack.
Brand and product-line references
These labelled examples show how portions and nutrition differ across crisp types; a brand name alone does not establish the figures for every flavour or bag size.
Walkers
Walkers UK lists a 22g Oven Baked Cheese & Onion bag at 96 kcal, compared with 128 kcal for its 25g regular Cheese & Onion bag.
- The Oven Baked Cheese & Onion bag lists 2.8g fat and 0.20g salt.
- That flavour contains milk; check the declaration for other allergens and for each flavour in a variety pack.
Seabrook
Seabrook Crisps lists 82 kcal for an 18g Sea Salted Crunchies bag.
- The sealed 18g bag provides a clearly labelled lunch portion.
- Sea Salted Crunchies list 1.69g salt per 100g; check salt and allergen information for the exact product.
Tyrrells
Tyrrells lists 141 kcal for a 30g serving of Sour Cream & Onion lentil crisps.
- That serving lists 6.0g fat and 3.9g protein.
- Its 0.60g salt and 141 kcal are worth comparing with the actual portions of other products, not just their per-100g values.
Kettle Chips
Kettle Chips lists 516 kcal and 29.5g fat per 100g for KETTLE Lightly Salted.
- Kettle Chips describes this product as gluten-free and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
- Check the weight of the bag you intend to pack to establish its calories per portion.
McCoy's
McCoy's lists 533 kcal per 100g for its Salted crisps.
- The Salted product’s per-100g label gives a basis for comparing it with other crisp types at the same weight.
- It also lists 32g fat per 100g; check the bag weight for the portion you would pack.
Real Crisps
REAL Hand Cooked Crisps lists 515 kcal per 100g for REAL Sea Salt.
- REAL states that its range is vegetarian and gluten-free.
- The Sea Salt product lists 30.0g fat per 100g; use the weight of an individual bag to compare lunch portions.
Joybuy packed-lunch options
These multipacks offer individual bags for an office lunch. They include crisps and other savoury snacks, so compare the label for each flavour and bag rather than assuming they have the same nutrition.
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PopChips Sour Cream & Onion 5 x 17g
The five 17g bags let you pack one sealed portion. Check the label for that bag’s calories, salt and allergens.
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Walkers Oven Baked Variety Pack Crisps 6 x 22g
Six individual 22g bags offer a choice of Sea Salt, Cheese & Onion and Salt & Malt Vinegar for packed lunches. Check calories and allergens for each flavour separately.
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Walkers Oven Baked Cheese & Onion Crisps 6 x 22g
For a single-flavour lunch multipack, Walkers UK lists 96 kcal, 2.8g fat and 0.20g salt per 22g Cheese & Onion bag. This flavour contains milk; read its full allergen declaration before buying.
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Smiths Frazzles Crispy Bacon Flavour 6 x 20g
The six 20g bags provide individual packed-lunch portions. Compare the calories and salt on the label for one bag before choosing it over a different-sized snack.
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Wheat Crunchies Crispy Bacon 6 x 20g
This multipack contains six 20g bags. Check calories and salt for a single bag, and read the ingredient declaration if you need to avoid particular allergens.
Common questions
Which crisp bags have fewer calories in these examples?
Seabrook Crisps lists 82 kcal for an 18g Sea Salted Crunchies bag, while Walkers UK lists 96 kcal for a 22g Oven Baked Cheese & Onion bag and 128 kcal for a 25g regular Cheese & Onion bag. These are different portion sizes, so check both weight and calories when choosing one for lunch.
Are crisps with fewer calories also lower in salt?
Not necessarily. Seabrook Sea Salted Crunchies list 82 kcal and 0.3g salt per 18g bag, but 1.69g salt per 100g. The NHS describes more than 1.5g salt per 100g as high, so read both salt figures when comparing bag sizes.
Should I compare calories per bag or per 100g?
Use calories per bag to see what the portion you will pack contains. Use the per-100g figure as a second comparison when products have different bag weights; it does not replace the portion figure.
Is a vegetarian or gluten-free description enough if I have an allergy?
Check the ingredient and allergen declaration for the exact product and flavour as well. Walkers Oven Baked Cheese & Onion contains milk, and flavours within a variety pack can have different ingredients and allergen information.