(crisps image from google)
Sharing this post by Dr Katharine Morrison seen on The Diabetes Diet Blog here
Which: Is there such a thing as a healthy crisp?
Adapted from Which Magazine July 2026
It is certainly debatable whether there is such a thing as a healthy crisp. We all know that crisps are bad for our waistlines and health. They can be very moreish and can be difficult to consume in small amounts. In recent times alternatives made from other vegetables such as lentils have hit the market. But are they any healthier at all?
Which scored 66 crisp products out of 100. The rating was based on how much fat, salt, sugar, fibre and protein was contained in the crisp, using the Nutrient Profiling Model and a University of Oxford equation. These systems are used by the government and various health groups. 63 or above was considered a pass and under this was considered a fail.
Brands often advertise using a single positive attribute that their product has or doesn’t have. They use this “halo effect” to urge you to buy their crisps. The trouble is that the single redemptive feature doesn’t usually make for an overall healthy product.
For instance, Mini Cheddars scored 20, the lowest of the series. These are baked rather than fried, but they still contain a lot of saturated fat. (Dr Morrisons comment: I’m not concerned by eating saturated fat but it is a metric used in the evaluation.)
Also scoring rather low at 36 was Proper Chips Barbecue Lentil Chips. A problem was that although lentils do have more fibre than potatoes in their natural state, the processing to make chips takes a lot of this out, and they still have high sugar and salt levels.
Fried crisps like Tyrrells score relatively highly because the manufacturers remove some of the oil.
Here were the best scoring items:-
Kettle Chips Lightly Salted 74
Holland and Barrett Carrot and Beetroot Lightly Sea Salted Crisps 72
Holland and Barrett Simply Roasted Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar Crisps 72
Tyrrells Sour Cream and Onion Lentil Crisps 72
Tyrrells Sweet Chilli and Red Pepper Lentil Crisps 72
These scores don’t appear on the packets, so keep your eyes open as to what you are buying and eating when you see crisps marketed as a healthy option.
It is certainly debatable whether there is such a thing as a healthy crisp. We all know that crisps are bad for our waistlines and health. They can be very moreish and can be difficult to consume in small amounts. In recent times alternatives made from other vegetables such as lentils have hit the market. But are they any healthier at all?
Which scored 66 crisp products out of 100. The rating was based on how much fat, salt, sugar, fibre and protein was contained in the crisp, using the Nutrient Profiling Model and a University of Oxford equation. These systems are used by the government and various health groups. 63 or above was considered a pass and under this was considered a fail.
Brands often advertise using a single positive attribute that their product has or doesn’t have. They use this “halo effect” to urge you to buy their crisps. The trouble is that the single redemptive feature doesn’t usually make for an overall healthy product.
For instance, Mini Cheddars scored 20, the lowest of the series. These are baked rather than fried, but they still contain a lot of saturated fat. (Dr Morrisons comment: I’m not concerned by eating saturated fat but it is a metric used in the evaluation.)
Also scoring rather low at 36 was Proper Chips Barbecue Lentil Chips. A problem was that although lentils do have more fibre than potatoes in their natural state, the processing to make chips takes a lot of this out, and they still have high sugar and salt levels.
Fried crisps like Tyrrells score relatively highly because the manufacturers remove some of the oil.
Here were the best scoring items:-
Kettle Chips Lightly Salted 74
Holland and Barrett Carrot and Beetroot Lightly Sea Salted Crisps 72
Holland and Barrett Simply Roasted Sea Salt and Cider Vinegar Crisps 72
Tyrrells Sour Cream and Onion Lentil Crisps 72
Tyrrells Sweet Chilli and Red Pepper Lentil Crisps 72
These scores don’t appear on the packets, so keep your eyes open as to what you are buying and eating when you see crisps marketed as a healthy option.
You can see the original Which Magazine article here
Alternative Lower Carb Crisp Ideas:-
Crunchy Kale Crisps - more details hereCrispy Parmesan Courgette/Zucchini Slices - more details here
If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.
All the best Jan
All the best Jan
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