Parents packing school lunches
An individual packet makes the portion clear. Compare its calories with the amount you intend to pack, and check salt and allergens rather than relying on “baked” wording.
Who is this for?
Students choosing a lunchbox snack
If you will eat the whole bag, start with the calories per bag. When packets differ in weight, use the per 100 g figures to compare the crisps themselves.
Shoppers who prefer conventional crisps
A small bag of sliced or crinkle-cut crisps may suit that texture preference. Check its stated portion and flavour-specific label rather than assuming it matches a baked snack nutritionally.
What should you compare?
Start with the packet you plan to put in the lunchbox; use the per 100 g figures when packet sizes differ. Manufacturer figures below refer to the named flavours and pack sizes.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-packet calories | Check both packet weight and energy for the full packet. Walkers lists 96 kcal per 22 g Oven Baked pack; Seabrook lists 126 kcal per 25 g Canadian Ham bag. | I’m packing one unopened bag and want to know the calories in that whole portion, not just in a suggested serving. |
| Energy per 100 g | Compare the same weight when bags differ in size. Walkers lists 437 kcal per 100 g for Oven Baked Cheese & Onion and 438 kcal for Sea Salt; Seabrook lists 505 kcal for Canadian Ham. | A smaller bag might have fewer calories simply because it contains less. I want to see the per 100 g figure too. |
| Fat and salt | Read the flavour’s nutrition panel. Walkers lists 13 g fat per 100 g and 0.19 g salt per 22 g Oven Baked Sea Salt pack; Seabrook lists 28.7 g fat per 100 g and 0.4 g salt per 25 g Canadian Ham bag. | Calories are one part of my comparison; I also want to compare fat and salt on the packets I’m considering. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current declaration for the exact flavour. Walkers lists milk ingredients in Oven Baked Cheese & Onion and a may-contain statement covering several allergens for Oven Baked Sea Salt. | If a child needs to avoid an ingredient, a plain-sounding flavour or a baked recipe is not enough information. |
Common buying mistakes
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Calling a smaller-calorie packet a low-calorie crisp
A lower total for one bag does not describe its energy per 100 g. Walkers lists 437–438 kcal per 100 g for its Oven Baked Cheese & Onion and Sea Salt flavours.
Describe the 96 kcal, 22 g bag as a smaller-calorie portion, and read its per 100 g figure separately.
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Comparing packet calories without checking weight
The cited individual packs range from 22 g for Walkers Oven Baked to 40 g for Tyrrells Lightly Sea Salted. Different weights affect the calories in a whole bag.
Use whole-packet calories for the lunch you are packing, then compare kcal per 100 g if you want to compare the products at equal weight.
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Treating a sharing bag as one lunchbox portion
Tyrrells lists five 30 g servings for its 150 g Lightly Sea Salted pack, whereas its 40 g pack is listed as one serving.
Check the serving information and portion a sharing bag before packing it, or choose an individually packed bag.
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Assuming baked or plain-sounding flavours are allergen-free
Walkers Oven Baked Cheese & Onion lists milk-derived ingredients. Its Sea Salt flavour carries a may-contain statement for milk, wheat, gluten, barley, soya, celery and mustard.
Read the ingredient and allergen declaration on the exact packet when an allergy or dietary restriction matters.
Brand references for this choice
Walkers
The Oven Baked Sea Salt and Cheese & Onion products each list 96 kcal per 22 g pack, according to Walkers’ product pages.
- Walkers states that its Oven Baked range has 50% less fat than regular potato crisps.
- Check each flavour’s ingredients: Cheese & Onion contains milk ingredients, while Sea Salt has a may-contain allergen statement.
Seabrook
For a conventional small bag, Seabrook lists 126 kcal per 25 g Canadian Ham pack; its 31.8 g Sea Salted bag lists 164 kcal.
- The stated bag weights and calories allow a whole-packet comparison.
- The two flavours have different pack sizes, so check which bag you are buying.
Tyrrells
Tyrrells Lightly Sea Salted is listed in a 40 g pack containing 208 kcal and a 150 g pack labelled as five 30 g servings.
- The range offers individual and sharing formats.
- The 150 g format needs portioning if only one serving is being packed.
KETTLE Chips
KETTLE lists 516 kcal and 29.5 g fat per 100 g for its Lightly Salted product.
- KETTLE describes this product as gluten-free and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
- Use the packet weight and serving information to work out the portion being packed.
Pipers
Pipers describes its crisps as potato crisps seasoned with distinctive flavourings.
- The flavour range offers another option when taste is the main selection factor.
- For a lunchbox calorie comparison, use the nutrition and weight declarations on the specific pack.
REAL Hand Cooked Crisps
REAL describes its range as vegetarian and gluten-free, with no added MSG.
- Its product information includes flavour-specific ingredients and allergen details.
- Check the exact packet’s energy and serving information before comparing it with a lunchbox-sized bag.
Joybuy product options
These multipacks offer individual bags for school lunches, including popped or baked potato snacks and conventional Hula Hoops. Check each pack’s nutrition and allergen label before choosing a flavour.
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PopChips Sour Cream & Onion 5 x 17 g
The 17 g individual bags provide a defined portion for a lunchbox. This is a popped potato snack rather than a conventional sliced crisp; check the packet’s nutrition and allergen declaration for this flavour.
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Walkers Oven Baked Variety Pack Crisps 6 x 22 g
The multipack provides separate 22 g bags when different flavours are wanted across school lunches. Walkers lists 96 kcal per 22 g pack for its Sea Salt and Cheese & Onion products; check the label of each flavour in this variety pack for its own nutrition and allergen information.
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Walkers Oven Baked Cheese & Onion Crisps 6 x 22 g
Each individual bag is a defined 22 g lunchbox portion. Walkers lists 96 kcal per 22 g and 437 kcal per 100 g for Oven Baked Cheese & Onion; its ingredients include milk-derived components.
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Hula Hoops Cheese & Onion Crisps 6 x 24 g
The 24 g individual bags offer a defined portion if Hula Hoops are preferred to a baked potato snack. Compare the current packet’s calories per bag and per 100 g with the baked options, and check its allergen declaration.
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Hula Hoops Variety Multipack Crisps 12 x 24 g
This variety multipack contains separate 24 g bags for lunches where a choice of flavours matters. Read the nutrition and allergen details on the particular flavour being packed rather than applying one flavour’s label to the whole assortment.
Questions about lunchbox crisps
How do I compare crisps sold in different packet sizes?
Use calories for the whole packet you intend to pack, then compare kcal per 100 g to account for the weight difference. Walkers lists 96 kcal for a 22 g Oven Baked pack, Seabrook lists 126 kcal for a 25 g Canadian Ham bag, and Tyrrells lists 208 kcal for a 40 g Lightly Sea Salted pack.
Does “50% less fat” mean an Oven Baked pack is low in calories?
No: the statement compares fat, not calories. Walkers says its Oven Baked range has 50% less fat than regular potato crisps, while its Sea Salt product lists 96 kcal per 22 g pack and 438 kcal per 100 g.
Are the 96 kcal Walkers packs low in energy per 100 g?
Their whole-packet totals are smaller than those of the named conventional packs, but Walkers lists 437 kcal per 100 g for Oven Baked Cheese & Onion and 438 kcal per 100 g for Sea Salt. Check both figures rather than treating a small packet as a low-energy product.
Which allergen details should I check before packing crisps?
Read the current label for the exact flavour. Walkers lists milk-derived ingredients for Oven Baked Cheese & Onion, while its Oven Baked Sea Salt page carries a may-contain statement for milk, wheat, gluten, barley, soya, celery and mustard.