Choose individual bags if you want to portion out crisps in advance or take them with you after school. Compare the number of bags and the weight of each one. A variety box offers more choice of flavour, but you’ll also need to check the ingredients and allergens for each variety. For an everyday snack for children, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests options including fruit, vegetables, unsalted nuts and wholemeal bread.
Individual bags let you have a snack ready without having to portion it out from a large bag. Check the weight of each bag, though: the number of bags alone doesn’t tell you how many crisps are in each portion.
A variety box lets children choose from different options without opening several large bags. Check which flavours are included, and if anyone has an allergy, read the information for each variety.
Individual packs can be handy for a planned treat, but they don’t make crisps an everyday snack choice. For children’s snacks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests options such as fruit, vegetables, unsalted nuts and wholemeal bread.
First, decide whether you mainly want bags that are easy to hand out, a variety of flavours, or a chance to compare ingredients and nutritional information. Then check the packaging to see which option best suits your needs.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Check the number of individual bags and the weight of each one. | If I want to get something ready or take it along for school days, I want to know in advance how much is in each bag. Portion size is the most important factor for around 42% of consumers. |
| Variety of flavours | Check the varieties and how they’re split across the box, not just the total number of bags. | When people at home have different flavour preferences, I want a mix they’ll actually eat. This variety is the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Read the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens for the flavours you’re considering. | If I need to check ingredients, I want to know what’s in each type of bag. Around 25% of consumers put checking the label first. |
An individual bag makes it easier to portion out crisps, but it doesn’t change what they contain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many products sold as snacks can be high in salt or saturated fat.
Save crisps for an occasional treat. For everyday snacks, also consider the options the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests for children, such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread.
Ingredients can vary between varieties in a mixed box. The product information for the Lay's Celebration Box and Family Mix lists allergens that are relevant to some varieties.
If someone has an allergy or intolerance, check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific bag they’ll be eating, not just the front of the box.
Fifteen 25 g bags in the Jumbo sharing pack are different from the 30 bags in varying sizes in the Lay's Celebration Box. More bags don’t automatically mean the same portion size.
Compare both the number of bags and the weight of each one, and check that the flavours included suit the snack occasions you have in mind.
Lidl lists its multipack as an in-store item. Jumbo’s product page for Lay's Family Mix stated that the pack was no longer part of its online range.
If you’re looking for a particular mix, check the latest product page or the packaging in store shortly before you buy.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a variety box with individual bags and different savoury snacks.
An alternative type of packaging if you’d rather have an individual tube than a mixed box of bags.
A supermarket own-brand option if plain and paprika flavours offer enough variety.
Worth considering if you want to look at a multipack of mixed crisp bags in a Lidl store.
These packs contain individual bags or portion packs for planned snack occasions. The selection includes both single-flavour packs and variety boxes; if you choose a mix, check what’s included in each type.
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For anyone who wants individual bags to take along or spread across several snack occasions, all in one flavour.
The pack contains 10 bags, each weighing 40 g. There’s no variety of flavours, so check the label if you have an allergy or intolerance.
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For anyone looking for individual portion packs in one BBQ flavour rather than a variety box.
The pack contains 12 portions, each weighing 40 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the current label.
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For anyone who wants to hand out bags of different varieties across several snack occasions.
The box contains 15 bags with paprika, cheese and salted varieties. Check the weight and ingredients of each bag on the packaging before choosing a portion.
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For anyone who wants to hand out individual packs of different savoury snacks.
The box contains 15 packs with Lay's, Cheetos and Bugles. For the varieties you choose, check the weight of each pack and the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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For anyone who wants to combine individual bags and several flavours in one box.
The box contains 12 bags with four varieties of Lay's, Doritos and Sensations snacks. Check the weight, nutritional information and allergens for each variety on the packaging.
No. An individual bag mainly makes it easier to prepare a portion in advance; it doesn’t change what crisps contain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also suggests snacks for children such as vegetables, fruit, unsalted nuts and wholemeal bread.
Compare the number of bags and the weight of each one, as the amount can vary between packs and sometimes between flavours. With a variety box, also check that the included options suit the people you’re buying it for.
Yes. If an allergy or intolerance is a concern, check the information for the variety being eaten. Different flavours can contain different ingredients; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens are listed on the label as part of the ingredients list.
For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having no more than four eating or drinking occasions between meals. This is general guidance on snacking, not advice on how many crisps to have at a time.
