People who prioritise protein
If you’re looking for a small snack before an early appointment or while you’re out and about, you can compare the protein figures per 100 g and per portion. Salt, ingredients and pack size matter too.
Who might these snacks suit?
Fans of crunchy snacks who prefer plant-based options
Lentil and soya snacks are worth considering if you don’t need your crisps to be potato-based. A vegan label can help you choose, but if you have allergies, it’s no substitute for checking the pack.
People keeping an eye on salt or allergens
The headline protein figure isn’t the only thing to consider: the salt content, milk and soya ingredients, and any warnings about possible traces should all match the variety you’re actually buying.
What should you look for when buying?
When choosing a crisp snack for the morning or for when you’re out and about, start with the ingredients. Then check what the portion you’ll actually eat provides in terms of protein and other nutrients. The buying criteria below each relate to consumers’ main priorities.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Protein content | Compare protein in g per 100 g and per portion eaten; check the source of the protein. | If you mainly want to include protein while you’re out and about, you need to know how much is in the amount you’ll actually eat; this is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Other nutritional values | Check salt per 100 g and per portion, as well as fat and energy in the nutritional information. | With a savoury snack, salt and other nutritional values shouldn’t be overlooked in favour of the protein figure; this comparison takes priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Convenience and flavour | Check the pack size and ingredients: potato, lentil and soya snacks are different products. | If your snack needs to fit into a quick morning routine without any preparation, portion size and flavour matter too; around 21% of consumers give these the most weight. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, vegan label and information about milk and soya. | If you follow a vegan diet or need to avoid certain ingredients, the labelling on the pack will determine your choice; this is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions
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Assuming “Protein Chips” are potato crisps
The funny-frisch Protein Chips reviewed here are made with lentil flour, maize flour and pea protein isolate; the Layenberger varieties reviewed are soya protein snacks. If you’re expecting potato crisps, these have a different base ingredient.
Read the product name and ingredients list before buying, rather than assuming that “chips” means potatoes.
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Comparing only the protein figure on the front of the pack
A figure per 100 g doesn’t tell you how much protein is in the portion you’ll eat. funny-frisch lists 1,9 g of salt per 100 g for Protein Chips Paprika Style; REWE Deutschland lists 2,4 g per 100 g for the Layenberger varieties reviewed.
Compare protein and salt for the same portion size, and check the fat and energy figures in the nutritional information too.
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Taking protein claims as a promise of better recovery
The protein content of a crisp snack does not prove that it helps you recover after exercise. The German Journal of Sports Medicine says that a positive effect of protein on recovery after exercise has still not been scientifically established.
Choose your snack based on its ingredients and nutritional values, not on a general expectation that it will aid recovery.
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Assuming “vegan” means “free from traces of milk”
funny-frisch labels Protein Chips Paprika Style as vegan, but warns that the product may contain milk. The Layenberger Chips Sour Cream & Onion reviewed contain soya and milk ingredients.
If allergens are an important factor in your choice, check the ingredients and trace warnings on the pack you buy.
Brands to help you choose
funny-frisch
The Protein Chips Paprika Style reviewed here are a snack made with lentil flour, maize flour and pea protein isolate, rather than classic potato crisps.
- funny-frisch lists 21 g of protein per 100 g and 6,3 g per stated 30-g portion for this variety; it is labelled vegan.
- According to funny-frisch, the paprika variety contains 1,9 g of salt per 100 g and may contain milk. Figures for other varieties should be checked separately.
Layenberger
The LowCarb.one High Protein Chips reviewed here are soya protein snacks. Nutritional values vary by flavour.
- REWE Deutschland lists 43 g of protein and 12 g of fibre per 100 g for the Sour Cream & Onion variety.
- This variety contains soya and milk ingredients and, according to REWE Deutschland, 2,4 g of salt per 100 g.
Lorenz
Crunchips Cheese & Onion are included here as an example of classic potato crisps, for when having potato as the base ingredient matters more than choosing a protein-focused snack.
- Lorenz Snacks lists 5,9 g of protein per 100 g for this variety, making it possible to compare on the same weight basis.
- For the same variety, Lorenz Snacks lists 34 g of fat and 538 kcal per 100 g. It contains milk ingredients.
Crisp snack on Joybuy
This lentil snack could suit anyone looking for something crunchy to take with them instead of classic potato crisps. Check the nutritional values for the variety offered here on its own packaging; the figures for funny-frisch’s paprika variety do not automatically apply to Sour Cream & Onion.
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Funny-Frisch Sour Cream & Onion Lentil Chips, 90 g
A lentil snack to take with you when you’re not specifically looking for potato crisps.
90-g pack. Check the protein and salt for the portion you plan to eat, as well as the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
What does “high protein” mean on a food product?
Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, this claim is permitted only if at least 20% of the food’s energy value comes from protein. The number of grams of protein per 100 g or the word “protein” in a product name alone doesn’t answer this question.
Are protein crisps a proven recovery snack after exercise?
No. The protein figure for a crisp snack does not show that it improves recovery. The German Journal of Sports Medicine says that a positive effect of protein on recovery after exercise has still not been scientifically established.
Are protein crisps enough on their own for a quick breakfast?
A high protein figure doesn’t automatically make a crisp snack a complete meal. The Federal Centre for Nutrition notes that a balanced diet usually provides enough protein; if you eat crisps in the morning, don’t judge the rest of your meal on the basis of this one nutritional value alone.
What should I look out for with milk or soya?
It depends on the specific variety: funny-frisch Protein Chips Paprika Style are labelled vegan, but may contain milk; the Layenberger Chips Sour Cream & Onion reviewed contain soya and milk ingredients. Always check the ingredients list and trace warnings on the pack you’re actually buying.