Parents who prepare portions in advance
You want to be able to pack something quickly after school, so you portion out unsalted almonds ahead of time. The serving size on a pack isn’t automatically the right portion for a child.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Families with allergies or school rules to consider
First, check that almonds are suitable for the child and the place where they’ll be eating. Follow any relevant allergy guidance and check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging.
Families looking to use up a larger pack
You get several portions from one pack, so check the ingredients, whether it can be resealed and how to store the remainder.
What should you look for when buying?
First, decide whether almonds are suitable for the child and the rules at their place of eating. Then consider the type, portioning and storage.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| A small portion to take with you | Check the net weight and whether the pack contains individual sachets. If it doesn’t, measure out a portion yourself. | If you want to pack a measured amount for after school, it helps to distinguish the serving size on the label from the pack size. Around 31% of consumers prioritise convenient portioning. |
| Suitable for the child and the place they’ll be eating | Check the allergens on the label and ask the school or childcare setting about its rules. Bear in mind the age guidance for whole nuts. | If there’s an allergy or a rule at school or childcare, that should take priority over convenience. Around 25% of consumers prioritise safe suitability. |
| The unsalted variety | Check the exact variety and ingredients list. A savoury flavour or a claim about no added fat doesn’t mean a product is unsalted. | If you’re looking for unsalted almonds for an after-school snack, check the variety rather than relying on the brand name alone. Around 25% of consumers focus mainly on the ingredients. |
| Stocking up and storage | Choose an amount you’ll use and seal the remainder well. Also follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | If you’re getting several snacks from one bag, you’ll want to store the remainder carefully. Around 19% of consumers prioritise making the most of their supplies. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a small retail pack is one child-sized portion
The retail pack and the amount you give a child are two different things. Albert Heijn lists a serving size of 25 grams on the label for a 190 g pack; this isn’t personalised advice for a child.
Decide in advance how much you want to pack, and don’t treat the serving size on the label as tailored advice.
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Confusing ‘no added fat’ with unsalted
Duyvis Almonds Original contains salt in its savoury seasoning mix, even though the brand describes the variety as having no added oil or fat.
Check the exact variety and ingredients list. For an everyday snack, an unsalted variety is in line with the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice.
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Assuming a short ingredients list means it’s suitable for someone with an allergy
A product with almonds as its only ingredient isn’t suitable for someone with an almond allergy. Some packaging also warns that other nuts or peanuts may be present.
Read both the ingredients and allergen warnings, and follow the child’s allergy plan.
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Leaving a larger pack open
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a dry place in a well-sealed container. An open pack may therefore not be suitable for later use.
Seal the remainder carefully and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
AH Unsalted Almonds are a roasted variety in a 190 g pack, intended for portioning yourself.
- The official product information lists almonds as an ingredient and gives a serving size of 25 grams on the label.
- The pack isn’t individually portioned, and the serving size on the label isn’t personalised advice for a child.
PLUS
PLUS Raw, Unsalted Almonds are a 200 g raw variety to portion out yourself.
- The ingredients list names almonds, and the product information recommends storing them in a cool, dark place.
- The packaging warns that other nuts and peanuts may be present. A simple ingredients list doesn’t make the product suitable for every allergy.
Jumbo
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds come in a smaller 140 g retail pack to portion out yourself.
- The official product information lists 99% almonds and sunflower oil.
- The product information lists almonds and nuts as allergens and says peanuts may be present. The retail pack isn’t a child-sized portion.
ALDI
Trader Joe’s unroasted almonds, 200 g, are a variety to portion out at home.
- ALDI lists this unroasted variety as having resealable packaging.
- Don’t confuse this variety with the roasted, salted or smoky-flavoured versions. Resealable packaging says nothing about nutritional quality.
Lidl
Lidl lists a product variety called Unsalted Almonds.
- The product name makes it easy to identify the unsalted variety.
- Check the current packaging for the pack size, ingredients and any storage or allergen information.
Duyvis
Duyvis offers Unsalted Almonds as a separate variety from the savoury Almonds Original.
- The manufacturer describes Unsalted Almonds as coming in a 125 g pack.
- Original contains salt in its savoury seasoning mix. The 4 x 30 g multipack listed by Albert Heijn isn’t the same pack as the 125 g variety, and is marked as no longer available.
Almonds at Joybuy
These Joybuy products are almonds in larger packs, so you can measure out portions yourself. Check the variety: one product is salted, so it isn’t suitable if you’re looking for unsalted almonds. Almonds are an allergen. For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter instead of whole nuts.
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Jia Zhou Yuan Ye Original almond kernels 160 g
A pack to portion out yourself; the product information says it can be resealed after opening.
The ingredients are listed as 100% almond kernels.
Contains almonds and isn’t suitable for anyone with an almond allergy.
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g'woon raw, unsalted almonds 200 g
This raw, unsalted variety is intended for portioning yourself; the product information gives a pack size of 200 g.
Seal the pack well after opening. The product information also contains a conflicting allergen claim, so don’t treat it as proof that the product is allergen-free.
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Anatolia Badem Natural almonds 500 g
The product information lists almonds as the only ingredient, so you can measure out a portion yourself.
Pack size: 500 g. Seal the pack well after opening.
Contains almonds and isn’t suitable for anyone with an almond allergy.
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Anatolia roasted, salted almonds 500 g
You can portion out this roasted variety, but it contains added salt, so it isn’t unsalted.
Pack size: 500 g. Seal the pack well after opening.
Contains almonds and isn’t suitable for anyone with an almond allergy.
Frequently asked questions
Is 25 or 30 grams on the label automatically the right amount for my child?
No, the serving size on a label isn’t automatically personalised advice for a child. Albert Heijn lists a 25-gram serving for its almonds; the Duyvis multipack described here contains 30 g sachets. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests a handful of unsalted nuts as a possible snack for children aged 4 to 12.
Can children under 4 eat whole almonds?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts for children under 4, due to the risk of choking. This is nutritional and safety advice, not a legal minimum age for purchase.
Does roasting make almonds safe for someone with an almond allergy?
No, roasting doesn’t make almonds allergen-free. The Food Allergy Foundation says the allergen remains stable when heated. If an allergy has been diagnosed, follow the individual allergy plan.
How can I identify allergens on the label?
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that relevant allergens must be clearly distinguished from the rest of the ingredients list. Also check for any warnings that other allergens may be present and follow the guidance that applies to the child.
How should I store the almonds after preparing portions?
Store almonds in a dry place in a well-sealed container and follow the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing nuts in a dry place in a well-sealed container; PLUS and Jumbo advise storing them in a cool, dark place.