Understanding Pom-Bear Crisps: What's Inside?
Pom-Bear crisps are a popular snack, particularly favoured by children due to their fun bear shape and light, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Often marketed as gluten-free and free from artificial colours or flavours, they appear to be a 'healthier' option. However, a closer look at the nutritional information and ingredients provides a more complete picture of their place in a balanced diet.
Unlike traditional crisps made from sliced potatoes, Pom-Bears are made from a mix of dried potato, potato starch, and maize starch. This composition contributes to their airy texture and lower-calorie count per individual bag, but also means they are essentially a processed snack. For example, the Ready Salted variety contains ingredients like sunflower oil, maize dextrin, sugar, and yeast extract, in addition to salt. While the absence of artificial colours and flavours is a plus, the overall ingredient list indicates a product that offers little in terms of essential vitamins, minerals, or fibre.
Nutritional Breakdown: Is Lower Calorie Better?
One of the main selling points for Pom-Bear crisps is their low-calorie count per multipack bag, with a 13g pack containing around 66 kcal. This can make them seem like a guilt-free snack. However, as nutritionists point out, these are often considered "empty calories" because they provide no substantial nutrition beyond energy. The total fat and salt content per 100g remains significant, and while individual portion sizes are small, larger bags or multiple packets can quickly add up.
Comparison Table: Pom-Bears vs. Other Common Crisps
| Feature | Pom-Bear (Original, 13g multipack) | Walkers Ready Salted (25g standard pack) | Propercorn (Lightly Sea Salted, 20g pack) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy (kcal) | 66 | ~132 | ~97 |
| Fat (g) | 3.4 | ~7.9 | ~3.3 |
| Saturates (g) | 0.3 | ~0.7 | ~0.3 |
| Salt (g) | 0.17 | ~0.34 | ~0.26 |
| Dietary Fibre | Low (0.7g) | Low (~1g) | Moderate (~2.7g) |
| Nutritional Value | Empty calories | Empty calories | Provides some fibre |
| Processing Level | Ultra-processed | Processed | Less processed than typical crisps |
| Kid-friendly | Yes (often marketed as such) | Yes (standard snack) | Yes (can be a healthier alternative) |
As the table illustrates, a smaller bag of Pom-Bears has fewer calories than a standard bag of Walkers. However, comparing them to a healthier alternative like Propercorn shows that Pom-Bears still offer less in terms of fibre and overall nutritional value. The primary benefit of Pom-Bears is their controlled portion size, but this doesn't change their fundamental nature as a high-fat, high-salt processed food.
Making Healthier Snacking Choices
If you're a parent or simply looking for healthier snack options, it's beneficial to consider alternatives that offer more nutritional benefits. Rather than relying on Pom-Bears as a regular go-to snack, incorporating snacks with higher fibre, vitamins, and minerals is a better long-term strategy.
For example, roasting chickpeas with a little olive oil and paprika provides a crunchy, savoury snack with higher fibre and protein content. Similarly, switching to a high-protein Greek yoghurt dip with vegetable sticks can help you feel more satisfied with a smaller portion. The key is to see snacks like Pom-Bears as an occasional treat rather than a staple. This approach helps manage overall intake of less-nutritious items while ensuring you get the essential nutrients your body needs.
Conclusion: The Final Verdict on Pom-Bears' Healthiness
While marketed with appealing features like low calories per bag, absence of gluten and artificial ingredients, Pom-Bear crisps are not a healthy snack option in the truest sense. They are a processed food high in salt and fat relative to their caloric content and provide minimal nutritional value. Their primary 'health' benefit is portion control provided by the multipack sizes, but this does not alter their status as an empty-calorie treat. Enjoyed in moderation as an occasional snack, they pose no significant health risk, but they should not be considered a regular part of a balanced diet, especially for children. For more sustained nutrition, consider whole food alternatives like fruits, nuts, or roasted vegetables. For a deeper understanding of food and nutrition, explore information from credible sources such as the NHS.
