Calorie-conscious training snackers
You’d like to enjoy potato crisps now and then while training for a marathon, and compare their energy values per 100 g with the amount you actually eat.
Who should consider their choice carefully?
Runners with a planned fuelling strategy
You want to keep an everyday snack separate from the fuel you need for long runs. The German Nutrition Society identifies carbohydrates as an important part of fuelling for sport; what you eat and drink during exercise needs its own plan.
People who check ingredients and labelling
As well as kcal, you compare fat, salt and ingredients, and check any allergen and precautionary ‘may contain’ information on the pack of the variety you choose.
What should you look for when buying?
For the occasional potato crisp snack, start by comparing the nutrition information per 100 g, then decide on a portion. Whether and what you eat during long runs is a separate decision.
| Criterion | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy and portion size | Compare kcal per 100 g and take account of the energy in the amount you actually eat. The stated 30 g portion of funny-frisch Ofen Chips Paprika contains 122 kcal. | If I want to snack on crisps occasionally, I want to choose a variety and portion that suit the way I compare calories. Around 36% of consumers put this first. |
| Snack or running fuel | Consider the snack separately from your planned carbohydrate and fluid intake; try foods intended for longer runs in training first. | For long runs, I don’t want to rely on a potato crisp snack to cover my fuelling needs. Around 29% of consumers put this distinction first. |
| Salt and ingredients | Check salt and fat per 100 g, as well as the ingredients, declared allergens and any precautionary ‘may contain’ information on the specific pack. | If ingredients or allergen information are key to my choice, checking calories alone isn’t enough. This is a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Flavour and texture | If you prefer classic potato crisps, check their nutrition information per 100 g and the portion size you have in mind. | I prefer the taste of classic crisps and want to know what energy values come with that choice. Around 14% of consumers put this preference first. |
Which common mistakes can you avoid?
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Assuming less fat means proportionally fewer calories
The North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre points out that a lower fat content doesn’t automatically mean a similarly low energy value. Lorenz Snacks states that Naturals Leicht fein gesalzen contains 475 kcal and 23 g of fat per 100 g.
Compare kcal, fat and salt per 100 g rather than choosing based only on a ‘lower fat’ claim.
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Confusing a stated portion with the energy density
A stated portion makes the calculations easier, but it may not reflect how much you actually eat. For 30 g, funny-frisch gives 122 kcal for Ofen Chips Paprika, while Chio gives 159 kcal for Chips Red Paprika.
Decide how much you want before you start eating, and also use the kcal per 100 g to compare different varieties.
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Relying on potato crisps as complete marathon fuelling
The German Nutrition Society and RUNNER’S WORLD Deutschland highlight the role of carbohydrates in endurance exercise. The nutrition information for a potato crisp snack doesn’t mean it can replace a plan for carbohydrates and fluids during a long run.
Think of crisps as a possible everyday snack, and test your planned running fuel separately during training.
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Assuming a variety’s labelling will never change
The information on the pack you actually buy is what matters for nutrition values, ingredients and possible traces. This is particularly important when switching between flavours.
If salt, ingredients or allergens are important to your choice, check the details for the specific variety again before buying.
Brands and varieties to compare
The examples below can help you compare specific varieties; mentioning a brand doesn’t mean the same applies to all its products.
funny-frisch
For Ofen Chips Paprika, funny-frisch states 405 kcal and 9.2 g of fat per 100 g. These values apply to the variety named, not to other Ofen Chips varieties.
- The stated 30 g portion of Ofen Chips Paprika contains 122 kcal.
- According to funny-frisch, this variety contains 1.6 g of salt per 100 g; the brand also mentions possible traces of sesame, milk and wheat.
Lorenz
Lorenz Snacks states that Naturals Leicht fein gesalzen contains 475 kcal and 23 g of fat per 100 g, while Crunchips Salted contains 542 kcal and 35 g of fat per 100 g.
- You can compare the two varieties directly using the manufacturers’ figures per 100 g.
- According to Lorenz, Naturals Leicht fein gesalzen contains 2.3 g of salt per 100 g, while Crunchips Salted contains 1.3 g. Check the labelling on the pack you buy.
Chio
Chio lists 530 kcal per 100 g for Chips Red Paprika and 539 kcal per 100 g for Chips Ready Salted.
- Nutrition information and portion details are available for the varieties mentioned.
- If you’re looking for the lowest energy value among the varieties listed here, compare these figures with the information for the specific oven-baked crisp variety.
REWE Beste Wahl
REWE states that Beste Wahl Kesselchips BBQ contains 488 kcal, 25 g of fat and 1.4 g of salt per 100 g.
- This information lets you compare energy, fat and salt with other potato crisp varieties.
- At 488 kcal per 100 g, this is higher than the stated value for funny-frisch Ofen Chips Paprika; flavour and portion size remain separate factors in your choice.
EDEKA
EDEKA24 stocks potato crisps and other snacks from various brands.
- For listed products, pack size and nutrition information can help you make comparisons.
- Gut & Günstig Tortilla Chips are corn chips, so they aren’t a direct substitute when comparing potato crisps.
Lidl / Snackday
Lidl stocks Snackday in its snacks range.
- For a specific variety, check whether it’s made from potatoes, then compare its nutrition information on the pack.
Potato crisps at Joybuy
This selection features an oven-baked crisp variety for the occasional snack. Its exact flavour matters when comparing nutrition: you can’t assume that the information for funny-frisch Ofen Chips Paprika also applies to Paprika Smoky BBQ.
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funny-frisch Ofen Chips Paprika Smoky BBQ, 115 g
A potato crisp variety for the occasional snack. When comparing it with other varieties, use the nutrition information for Paprika Smoky BBQ on the pack.
Pack size: 115 g. Check the energy and salt per 100 g, as well as how much you plan to eat. A potato crisp snack isn’t a substitute for a tried-and-tested carbohydrate and hydration strategy for long runs.
Frequently asked questions
Are crisps with less fat automatically lower in calories?
Not in the same proportion: according to the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre, less fat doesn’t automatically mean a similarly large reduction in energy value. Compare the kcal per 100 g for the specific varieties, then take account of your portion size.
Are potato crisps suitable as fuel during a marathon?
Potato crisps aren’t automatically a substitute for a planned running fuelling strategy. The German Nutrition Society and RUNNER’S WORLD Deutschland describe carbohydrates as important for endurance exercise. For long runs, plan your carbohydrate and fluid intake separately from an occasional snack, and test your strategy during training.
What should I check on a packet of crisps if I have allergies?
Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any precautionary ‘may contain’ information on the specific pack. The German Food Federation explains the labelling of the main allergens. For example, the manufacturer lists possible traces of sesame, milk and wheat for funny-frisch Ofen Chips Paprika. This information doesn’t automatically apply to other flavours.
How do I compare portion information for different potato crisps?
First, use kcal per 100 g as a common basis for comparison, then work out the figures for the amount you actually want to eat. According to the respective product information, 30 g of funny-frisch Ofen Chips Paprika contains 122 kcal, while Chio states that 30 g of Chips Red Paprika contains 159 kcal. For other varieties, check their own nutrition information.