Are 'popped' crisps a healthier option? (2024)

My local supermarket has begun stocking ‘air-popped crisps’. Are these really better for me than normal crisps?

BHF dietitian Victoria Taylor says:

Savoury snacks like these or baked crisps are lower infat than standard crisps per 100g and are lower in calories, too. But you still need to keep an eye onnutrition labels and portion sizes.

A'healthier version' of a standard product doesn’t mean you can eat as much as you like. Just because the fat has been reduced, it doesn’t mean it is low in fat, salt or sugar, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the portion size.

While ‘healthier’ crisps might be better in comparison with the original product, it doesn’t mean they are the best choice in terms of nutrition and health. Rather than searching for a healthy crisp, enjoy the ones you like in small amounts less often and look for other snacks that will add variety and nutrients to your diet, as well as being low in saturated fat and salt.

Try plain popcorn, crunchy carrot sticks or unsalted nuts and seeds.

• What is worse for me: fat or sugar?