Shoppers balancing protein goals with savoury snacks
You want to know whether an individual packet contributes enough protein to serve that purpose, or whether to choose it for flavour alongside other foods instead.
Who is this for?
Households buying portioned snacks
You need to compare the number of packets, grams in each one and total pack weight so that a multipack fits how it will be used.
Shoppers checking allergens
You need the exact flavour and current pack to suit everyone who may eat it, particularly when buying several portions at once.
What should you check?
Decide whether the purchase is meant to provide protein or portioned savoury snacks. Then compare the amount in a portion you would actually eat, not just the figure per 100g.
Food chosen for protein
Choose when: Increasing protein is the reason for the purchase; Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust identifies eggs, dairy, pulses and tofu among protein-rich foods.
Trade-off: These foods serve a different purpose from a conventional crisp multipack, so compare their portions and storage needs separately.
Portioned savoury snacks
Choose when: You want the flavour and convenience of individual snack packets rather than a main protein choice.
Trade-off: The Quavers, Wotsits, Monster Munch and Skips portions compared here list only 0.4g to 1.2g protein each, according to Walkers and Tesco product information.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per portion | Read protein per inner pack or stated serving. Use protein per 100g to compare similar snacks, but check the portion size before drawing a conclusion. | I want to know what one packet contributes, rather than treating a larger per-100g figure as the amount I will eat. Walkers lists 1.2g protein per 20g Monster Munch Pickled Onion pack, despite its 6g-per-100g figure. |
| Multipack format | Check the packet count, grams per packet and total weight. Confirm whether the product is individually portioned or a single sharing bag. | Separate packets would suit our routine better than an open sharing bag, but I need to check how much is in each portion. |
| Salt per packet | Read the current flavour’s salt figure per packet and consider how many packets might be eaten. The NHS advises adults to have no more than 6g of salt a day in total. | If I have more than one packet, I want to account for both alongside the rest of the day’s food. Walkers lists 0.44g salt per 22.5g serving of Wotsits Cheese. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current pack’s ingredient list, highlighted allergens and any precautionary statements for the exact flavour. | Before buying several packets, I need to make sure the snack suits the people who will eat it; a familiar product name is not a substitute for its current label. |
Buying pitfalls
-
Treating a crisp multipack as the protein purchase
Walkers and Tesco list 0.4g to 1.2g protein per individual portion across the four snacks compared here. Eating several packets would also mean eating the salt in each one.
If protein is the purpose of the purchase, compare foods chosen for that role. Choose a crisp multipack for its flavour or portioned format, and read its protein per packet without assuming it meets the protein goal.
-
Judging a multipack by packet count alone
Six smaller packets and six larger packets provide different total amounts of food. Tesco lists its Skips Prawn Cocktail multipack as six 13.1g portions.
Compare both the number of inner packets and their individual and combined weights, then check protein per portion if that matters to your choice.
-
Reading “baked” or “vegetarian” as a protein claim
Those descriptions do not state how much protein is in a serving or whether its ingredients suit every shopper.
Check the nutrition panel and exact allergen statement separately, even when the product’s format or vegetarian suitability appeals to you.
-
Relying on a previous pack’s label
Ingredients and nutrition information can change when a product is reformulated, which matters particularly when a multipack is being bought for someone with an allergy.
Read the physical pack when it arrives or before putting it in your basket, and keep its packaging for reference.
Brand and retailer references
The figures below concern the named flavours and portions, not every product sold under each name.
Monster Munch
Walkers lists 6g protein per 100g for Monster Munch Pickled Onion and 1.2g in its 20g pack.
- The 20g inner pack makes the amount eaten straightforward to identify.
- Walkers lists 0.31g salt per pack; check the current ingredients and allergens as well as the protein figure.
Wotsits
Walkers lists 5.5g protein per 100g for Wotsits Cheese, but 1.2g per 22.5g serving.
- The serving figure allows a direct check against the portion you intend to eat.
- Walkers lists 0.44g salt per serving; check the current label for ingredients and allergens.
Skips
Tesco lists its Skips Prawn Cocktail multipack as six 13.1g packets, with 0.7g protein in each packet.
- The pack count and inner-pack weight make portion sizes clear.
- Tesco lists 0.29g salt per packet and advises checking the physical pack because product information can change.
Quavers
Quavers Cheese is included as a familiar comparison snack; Walkers lists 0.4g protein per 16g pack.
- Walkers also gives a per-100g protein figure of 2.5g, allowing a comparison on the same weight basis.
- The listed 16g pack contains 0.34g salt; check the exact pack’s allergen information.
Tesco
Tesco is a retailer reference for checking current multipack counts and weights, not a snack brand in this comparison.
- Its multipack listings show pack sizes that help shoppers compare how many portions they are buying.
- For ingredients, allergens and nutrition, check the physical product pack, particularly if a listing is older.
Joybuy product options
These options offer alternatives to conventional maize-snack multipacks when protein is part of the buying decision. They include bars, flapjacks and savoury snacks; some are single bags rather than individually portioned multipacks.
Image unavailable
Nature Valley Protein Peanut & Chocolate Bar 4x40g
Four 40g bars provide separate snack portions rather than a maize crisp multipack. Compare protein per bar on the current label and check whether the ingredients and allergens suit you.
Image unavailable
Trek Salted Caramel Protein Flapjacks 3 x 50g
This three-flapjack pack offers 50g portions as an alternative to savoury crisps. Read the current nutrition panel for protein per flapjack and check the allergen statement.
Image unavailable
Kallo Protein Packed Lentil Cakes 100g
This 100g pack is a lentil-cake option rather than a multipack of individually wrapped portions. Check the serving size and protein per serving instead of relying on the product name alone.
Image unavailable
Oishi Pea Snack 55g
This single 55g bag offers a savoury pea-snack alternative, but not the separate portions of a multipack. Check protein and salt for the amount you expect to eat, alongside the current allergen statement.
Image unavailable
That's Nuts Wotsits Really Cheesy 160g
This 160g sharing bag is a nut-based snack, not a multipack of individual Wotsits portions. Check the suggested serving, its protein figure and the current allergen statement before comparing it with portioned packs.
Frequently asked questions
Can a maize-snack multipack be my main protein snack?
Not on the basis of the portions compared here: Walkers and Tesco list 0.4g to 1.2g protein per packet for the named Quavers, Wotsits, Monster Munch and Skips products. If increasing protein is your reason for buying, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust identifies foods such as eggs, dairy, pulses and tofu as protein-rich alternatives.
Which of these snack examples lists the most protein?
Monster Munch Pickled Onion has the highest listed protein per 100g of the four examples, at 6g according to Walkers; Wotsits Cheese lists 5.5g, Tesco lists 5.2g for Skips Prawn Cocktail, and Walkers lists 2.5g for Quavers Cheese. A 20g Monster Munch packet still provides only 1.2g, so compare the individual portions too.
What should I compare between value packs?
Compare the number of inner packets, grams per packet and total weight before deciding whether the format meets your needs. If protein matters, use the current label’s protein per portion as well; a higher packet count does not tell you how much protein each snack provides.
Should I check allergens when rebuying a familiar snack?
Yes. The named snacks have different ingredient and allergen information, and Tesco advises that food product details can change. Check the physical pack for the exact flavour each time, particularly before buying for someone with an allergy.
How does salt per packet affect the choice?
Check the current label’s salt per packet and consider how many packets you are likely to eat. The NHS advises adults to have no more than 6g of salt a day in total, so a multipack’s portions need to be considered alongside the rest of the day’s food.