Which Crisps Are Lowest in Calories? Your Guide to Healthy Snacking

October 22, 2025 •

4 min read

Some crisps can contain as few as 63 calories per bag, roughly the same as a small apple, proving that mindful snacking is possible. If you're wondering which crisps are lowest in calories while still delivering on taste and crunch, this guide provides all the answers you need to make smarter dietary choices.

Quick Summary

This guide compares popular crisp brands to identify the lowest-calorie options, detailing the processing methods and ingredients that reduce their energy density. It also provides tips for navigating nutrition labels and suggests healthier alternatives for satisfying crunchy cravings without derailing your diet.

Key Points

Look for Baked, Popped, or Puffed: These processing methods use less oil than traditional deep-frying, resulting in a lower calorie count.
Skips, French Fries, and Pom-Bears Are Low-Cal Winners: Popular snack-sized bags of these brands consistently fall under 80 calories, making them among the lowest-calorie options available.
Portion Control is Key: Many low-calorie crisps come in single-serving bags, which helps prevent overconsumption and makes calorie counting easier.
Examine the Whole Label: Don't be fooled by marketing slogans like 'vegetable crisps'; always check the ingredients, fat, and salt content to ensure a healthier choice.
Explore Nutritious Alternatives: For added fiber and nutrients, consider snacking on roasted chickpeas, air-popped popcorn, or baked vegetable chips instead of traditional crisps.
Homemade Offers Control: Making your own baked potato or kale chips at home allows you to control ingredients and seasoning for a truly low-calorie and wholesome snack.

A crucial part of any weight management or healthy eating plan is understanding the calorie content of your favorite snacks. Crisps, known for their high fat and salt content, often seem off-limits. However, with the rise of baked, puffed, and 'lighter' versions, finding a low-calorie option is more achievable than ever. By exploring different brands and production methods, you can enjoy a satisfying snack without the guilt.

Understanding Calorie Content in Crisps

The primary factors influencing the calorie count of a bag of crisps are the fat content and the portion size. Traditional crisps are typically deep-fried in oil, which significantly increases their fat and, therefore, their calorie load. Lighter options, by contrast, use alternative cooking methods and ingredients.

Baking vs. Frying: Baked crisps use hot air to achieve a crunchy texture, which requires less oil than deep-frying. This simple switch can substantially lower both the fat and calorie count, as seen in brands like Walkers Baked.
Popping: Brands like Popchips use a unique popping process that cooks the chips in a pressurized container, eliminating the need for added oil during the cooking phase. This results in a much lighter, airy texture and lower calorie density.
Puffing: Crisps made from extruded potato or other starches are puffed up, creating a larger volume for a smaller weight. This technique, used for brands like Quavers and Wotsits, makes them feel substantial while keeping the calories surprisingly low per bag.
Alternative Ingredients: Some low-calorie snacks are made from healthier, naturally lower-calorie bases. Examples include lentil chips (like Properchips), vegetable chips (often baked), and rice cakes.

Top Contenders: Which Crisps are Lowest in Calories?

For those seeking the absolute lowest-calorie crisps, several specific brands and varieties consistently come out on top. These are often found in multipacks and are designed for controlled snacking.

The Under 100 Calorie Club

Several popular brands offer snacks with fewer than 100 calories per bag, making them excellent choices for portion-controlled indulgence. These include:

Skips (Prawn Cocktail): Among the lowest-calorie options available, a bag contains just 78 calories.
Quavers (Cheese): Another low-cal classic, with a bag typically containing around 86 calories.
French Fries (Ready Salted): These retro favorites pack in just 78 calories per bag.
Pom-Bears (Original): Small bags of these potato-based snacks contain only 66 calories.
Wotsits (Really Cheesy): A slightly higher but still very low-calorie option at 82 calories per bag.
Popchips (various flavors): These popped crisps generally come in at under 100 calories per serving.
Hula Hoops Puft (Salted): The puffed version of Hula Hoops offers a significantly lower calorie count, with a bag containing approximately 72 calories.

The Low-Calorie Crisp Comparison Table

To help you make an informed decision, here is a comparison of some popular crisp options, focusing on their typical values per standard multipack bag.


Brand	Type	Calories (per bag)	Fat (g)	Sat. Fat (g)	Key Ingredients/Method
Skips	Puffed	78	4.6	0.4	Potato starch, popped
Pom-Bears	Puffed	66	N/A	0.3	Potato starch, popped
Quavers	Puffed	86	4.9	0.4	Potato starch, puffed
French Fries	Baked	78	3.4	0.3	Potato, baked
Hula Hoops Puft	Puffed	72	N/A	N/A	Potato and corn, puffed
Walkers Oven Baked	Baked	96	3.4	0.3	Potato, baked
Popchips	Popped	95	N/A	N/A	Potato, popped

Navigating Labels for a Healthier Choice

While calorie count is a good indicator, it's not the only factor to consider. Smart consumers should look beyond the headline number to make truly healthier choices. Here's how to navigate the nutritional information on packaging:

Check Portion Sizes: Always compare the calorie count per serving size. Some 'low-calorie' snacks might have an unusually small portion size, making the total calorie saving less significant than it appears. Multipacks are usually the most reliable for calorie-controlled portions.
Look at the Ingredients List: The simpler the ingredients list, the better. Opt for crisps made from whole ingredients like potatoes, lentils, or peas, with minimal added flavorings and additives.
Be Wary of 'Healthy' Marketing: Terms like 'vegetable crisps' or 'natural' don't automatically mean low-calorie. Many vegetable crisps are still deep-fried in oil and can be just as high in fat and salt as regular potato crisps. Always check the nutrition panel.
Balance Fat, Salt, and Sugar: Some low-fat options compensate by adding more sugar or salt for flavor. Use the 'traffic light' system on packaging to compare products easily and aim for more green and amber lights than red.

Beyond Crisps: Alternative Low-Calorie Snacks

For variety and additional nutritional benefits, consider these alternatives to crisps when a crunchy craving hits:

Air-Popped Popcorn: A whole-grain snack that's naturally low in calories and high in fiber. Add a little seasoning for flavor.
Roasted Chickpeas: Roasting chickpeas with spices creates a satisfyingly crunchy and protein-rich snack.
Kale Chips: Homemade kale chips are packed with vitamins A and C and are surprisingly delicious.
Apple Chips: Thinly sliced and baked apple crisps provide a sweet and crunchy alternative.
Rice Cakes: A simple, low-calorie base for toppings like hummus or sliced avocado.

Conclusion: Making Informed Snack Decisions

While the goal isn't to demonize crisps entirely, choosing lower-calorie options like Skips, French Fries, or Pom-Bears can make a difference in your overall diet. The key takeaway is to prioritize portion control and processing methods—opting for baked, popped, or puffed alternatives. Moreover, broadening your snack repertoire to include alternatives like roasted chickpeas and air-popped popcorn can provide different nutritional benefits while satisfying your craving for crunch. By combining informed choices with moderation, you can enjoy snacking as part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

For more information on making healthier food choices, you can explore resources from the British Heart Foundation, a great source for nutrition advice: Healthy eating basics.

Frequently Asked Questions

While baked crisps generally contain fewer calories and less fat than their deep-fried counterparts, you should still check the full nutrition label. Some baked versions may contain higher levels of sodium or added sugars to enhance flavor.

Among commonly available brands in the UK, Pom-Bears Original are one of the lowest, with a small bag containing just 66 calories. Skips and French Fries also have very low-calorie options per bag.

Not necessarily. Many store-bought vegetable crisps are deep-fried, making their fat and calorie content comparable to regular potato crisps. It's important to read the label and compare the fat, salt, and calorie content carefully.

Lighter or puffed crisps often have lower calories per gram due to their airy texture and less fat, but they don't necessarily provide significant nutritional value beyond carbohydrates. Options made from lentils or chickpeas may offer slightly more fiber and protein.

Yes, it's very easy to make low-calorie crisps at home by thinly slicing potatoes or vegetables, lightly seasoning them, and baking or microwaving them until crispy. This method allows you to control the oil and salt content.

There are many healthy alternatives for a crunchy snack, including air-popped popcorn, roasted chickpeas, carrot or cucumber sticks with hummus, or homemade kale chips.

For calorie control, choosing low-calorie multipack bags is generally better. The pre-portioned serving sizes help manage your intake, whereas with a larger sharing bag, it's very easy to overeat.