For a post-gym snack, choose tortilla chips by the role they will play: plain maize chips can accompany another food, while lentil tortillas are worth comparing when protein from the chips themselves matters. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes carbohydrate-and-protein snacks as commonly used before and after exercise; the M&S and Waitrose product labels show why checking protein per serving, portion size and allergens matters here.
If you want something crunchy after exercise, consider whether the chips are the whole snack or an accompaniment. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes carbohydrate-and-protein snacks as commonly used before and after exercise.
Plain tortilla chips can sit alongside a protein-containing dip or meal. Check the chips’ serving size and nutrition panel rather than assuming the bag alone fits your intended snack.
Check the exact flavour and current pack. M&S marks its Salt and Black Pepper Popped Red Lentil Tortillas as unsuitable for people with sesame or soya allergy.
Decide whether the chips need to contribute protein or will accompany another food, then compare realistic servings and the exact pack label.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | Compare protein per 100g and per stated serving. M&S lists 25.2g per 100g and 6g per serving for its Salt and Black Pepper lentil tortillas; Waitrose lists 1.4g per 25g serving for Essential Salted. | I want to know whether the chips themselves contribute protein or whether I will serve them with another protein-containing food. |
| Portion | Check the pack size against the stated serving. Waitrose lists 16.1g carbohydrate and 5.5g fat per 25g serving of Essential Salted. | If I am opening a sharing bag, I want to relate the amount I eat to the figures on the label. |
| Fat and salt | Compare products on the same per-100g basis. M&S lists 13.3g fat and 0.63g salt for its Salt and Black Pepper lentil tortillas, against 20.3g fat and 1.10g salt for its Cantina Tortilla Chips. | I want the nutrition comparison to reflect the particular products and portions I am considering. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredients, dietary-suitability statements and allergen warnings for the exact flavour. M&S flags sesame and soya exclusions for its Salt and Black Pepper lentil tortillas. | My choice needs to fit the dietary restrictions or allergies relevant to the person eating the chips. |
A 200g bag of Waitrose Essential Salted contains several 25g servings, so the per-serving figures do not describe the whole bag.
Choose the amount you intend to eat, then use the label’s serving figures to assess it.
Waitrose lists 1.4g protein per 25g serving for its Essential Salted maize chips. M&S lists 6g per serving for its Salt and Black Pepper popped red-lentil tortillas; serving sizes should be checked before comparing them directly.
Compare protein on a matching per-100g basis as well as for the portion you plan to eat.
A lentil or maize base does not describe every ingredient or warning. M&S marks its Salt and Black Pepper lentil tortillas as unsuitable for people with sesame or soya allergy.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack of the exact product.
Its tortilla range includes popped red-lentil products and conventional corn chips, making the nutrition panels useful to compare on the same per-100g basis.
The Salted Tortilla Chips are a plain maize option marked suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Tesco lists Doritos in sharing-bag formats, including a 230g Original Salt product and several 180g flavours.
Its tortilla-chip category lists branded products alongside Tesco Finest options.
This lentil-based chip is an option to consider if you want a crunchy alternative to maize tortilla chips. Check its pack label when comparing it with the tortilla products discussed above.
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Sea-salt lentil chips for a crunchy snack or accompaniment. Check the current pack’s protein per serving, ingredients and allergen information against your needs.
Check what the portion contributes and what else you are eating. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes carbohydrate-and-protein snacks as commonly used before and after exercise; Waitrose Essential Salted Tortilla Chips list 16.1g carbohydrate and 1.4g protein per 25g serving.
Compare the protein figures for the exact products and your intended serving. M&S lists 6g protein per serving and 25.2g per 100g for its Salt and Black Pepper Popped Red Lentil Tortillas; check the current pack and its sesame and soya warnings before choosing it.
Use the per-100g nutrition figures for a like-for-like product comparison, then look at the amount you expect to eat. A 200g sharing bag and a 90g bag are not single equivalent servings.
No: check the current ingredients, dietary statements and allergen warnings for the exact flavour. Waitrose marks Essential Salted Tortilla Chips suitable for vegans, while M&S marks its Salt and Black Pepper Popped Red Lentil Tortillas unsuitable for people with sesame or soya allergy.