Crisps are thin slices of potato fried until crunchy and salted or flavoured, sold in packets. They are safe to eat in pregnancy and work as an occasional treat; the salt and fat are the reasons to keep them to a small bag.
Why it's good in pregnancy
A salty, crunchy snack can be genuinely welcome when nausea makes sweet or rich food unappealing, and the potato base leaves a little potassium and fibre behind. A standard 25 g packet is a reasonable treat; it is the sharing bags and daily habit that tip the balance.
Key nutrients
PotassiumThe potato beneath the frying keeps a little potassium, which helps balance the sodium you take in with it.
FiberA small amount of fibre survives from the potato skin and flesh, though far less than a jacket potato.
Serving ideas
A small packet of lightly salted crisps with a sandwich
Baked crisps with a pot of pasteurised tzatziki
A handful alongside hummus and carrot sticks
Crushed over a bowl of chilli for crunch
Safety
Safe to eat; keep to a small packet and check the salt on the label.Watch flavourings if you have allergies; some use milk, wheat or celery.
Buy single-serve packets rather than sharing bags so a treat stays a treat; a 25 g bag is about 130 kcal and 0.4 g of salt, while a 150 g sharing bag eaten over an evening is six times that. Read the ingredients on flavoured varieties if you have a food allergy, as cheese, barbecue and chicken flavours often use milk powder, wheat or celery. Oven-baked or popped varieties cut the fat by roughly half with the same crunch. If swelling or blood pressure is being monitored, salty snacks are one of the easier things to trim.
Common questions
Is it OK to eat crisps while pregnant?Yes, crisps are safe; they are simply high in salt and fat, so keep to a small packet now and then rather than a daily sharing bag.
Why am I craving crisps in pregnancy?Salty, crunchy cravings are very common, especially in the first trimester when sweet or rich foods can turn your stomach; a small bag is fine, and salted nuts or popcorn give the same crunch with more nutrition.
Do crisps contain acrylamide and is that a worry?Fried and baked starchy foods, including crisps, contain some acrylamide; keeping fried snacks occasional, which is sensible anyway, is all the guidance asks.
Did you know?
In the UK 'crisps' are what Americans call potato chips, while British 'chips' are American fries.
A standard 25 g packet holds the equivalent of about half a small potato.
Scan any food. Know instantly.This page is one food — the Avo app has hundreds, plus a camera scanner.
