Parents organising a school treat
You’ll want to check in advance whether almonds are suitable given any allergies and the class’s rules for treats. Stichting Voedselallergie lists almonds as a tree nut, so first check which treats are allowed.
Who should consider almonds as a party-bag treat?
Parents of young partygoers
For young children, the form of the food is an important consideration. Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter instead of whole nuts for children under 4. Older children should also eat slowly and under supervision.
Parents keeping an eye on protein and portions
You’ll want to know how much protein is in the amount you’re actually handing out, without assuming it offers any benefits for sport or recovery. To work this out, compare the nutritional information for the exact product with the portion size.
What should you look out for when putting almonds in party bags?
Start with the group’s rules and the children’s ages, then decide on the portion size and product type.
Unsalted, roasted almonds
Choose this option: if almonds are allowed, the children can safely eat whole nuts and you want to portion out unsalted almonds yourself.
Bear in mind: unsalted does not always mean the product contains only almonds; check the ingredients list.
Savoury or salted almonds
Choose this option: only if you specifically want a savoury flavour and it fits the rules for the treat.
Bear in mind: roasted without added fat does not automatically mean unsalted; check the exact ingredients and nutritional information.
Don’t hand out almonds
Choose this option: if the school does not allow almonds or the treat is unsuitable because of a relevant allergy. For children under 4, don’t choose a bag of whole nuts either.
Bear in mind: choosing another brand or preparation does not remove an almond allergy; nut butter is not an allergy-safe alternative.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it’s most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergies and rules | Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, and check with the school or childcare setting. | Before taking a treat into the classroom, I want to know whether almonds are allowed. Around 28% of consumers put allergies and group rules first. |
| Age and form of food | Check whether the product contains whole nuts and whether children can eat slowly under supervision. | If young children will be eating, I want a form of food that’s suitable for their age. Age, form of food and supervision are the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
| Protein per portion | Compare the protein per 100 g with the amount you’ll actually put in each bag. Distinguish nutritional information from claims about health benefits. | If you want to know how much protein is in a small bag, the amount per portion is more useful than a promise about sport. Around 22% of consumers prioritise verifiable protein information. |
| Portioning and storage | Divide the net contents by the amount you want in each bag, and check whether a multipack contains separate retail packs or actual individual portions. | When putting together several party bags, I want to know there’s enough and how much work it’ll take to portion everything out. Around 17% of consumers put this first. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Read the full ingredients list and compare the salt content of the exact product type. | If I’m looking for a particular flavour or a simple ingredient list, I want to check the product itself rather than rely on the brand name alone. Around 11% of consumers put flavour and ingredients first. |
Common mistakes when giving almonds as a treat
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Assuming another type of almond is suitable for a nut allergy
Almonds are tree nuts, whatever the brand or preparation. Choosing another type won’t make a treat suitable if almonds need to be avoided.
Choose a treat that meets the group’s allergy requirements and rules. Don’t choose an almond product if almonds need to be avoided.
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Treating a retail pack as a child-sized portion
A standard retail pack isn’t automatically divided into suitable portions for children. Voedingscentrum recommends small portions for treats.
First decide how much you want to put in each bag, then work out how many packs you’ll need.
Weighing and packing the almonds yourself takes extra time and materials; a larger pack may also leave you with leftovers.
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Confusing ‘no added fat’ with ‘unsalted’
The Duyvis oven-roasted variety reviewed is described as roasted without added oil or fat, but the Joybuy product information also lists salt and flavourings.
Check the ingredients and salt content of the exact product, and assess these separately.
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Assuming a multipack contains ready-made party bags
According to Albert Heijn, the AH 6-pack contains six separate 190 g retail packs, not six small bags for handing out.
Check both the number of inner packs and the contents of each one before assuming they’ll be easy to portion out.
You’ll need to portion the almonds yourself and pack them into individual bags.
Brands to compare
Duyvis
Duyvis offers, among other products, an Unsalted Almonds variety and a savoury Almonds Original variety.
- Duyvis describes Unsalted Almonds as unsalted, and Almonds Original as oven-roasted without added oil or fat.
- These descriptions apply to the varieties mentioned. They don’t prove that the products are suitable for children’s treats or offer any benefits for sport or recovery.
Albert Heijn
AH Unsalted Almonds 190 g is a variety whose product information lists almonds as the only ingredient.
- Albert Heijn lists 27 g of protein and 0 g of salt per 100 g.
- The pack isn’t an individual portion for a child. The product information warns about choking and the possible presence of other nuts and peanuts.
Jumbo
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds 140 g may be worth considering if you want to portion out a smaller retail pack yourself.
- Jumbo lists 99% almonds and sunflower oil as ingredients, with 21 g of protein per 100 g.
- Here, unsalted doesn’t mean the product contains only almonds; the pack isn’t divided into party bags in advance.
PLUS
PLUS Unsalted Almonds 150 g is a roasted variety with listed ingredients and nutritional information.
- PLUS lists 98% almonds, sunflower oil and 23 g of protein per 100 g.
- Check the warnings on the pack; the product information mentions choking and the possible presence of other nuts and peanuts.
Lidl
Lidl provides information about a variety of unsalted almonds, as well as a separate Alesto page for Spanish almonds in different varieties.
- The Alesto page lists a 200 g pack.
- The two listings don’t necessarily refer to the same product; don’t assume that the ingredients or nutritional information on one page apply to the other.
ALDI
ALDI’s Dutch page describes Trader Joe’s almonds in roasted salted and smoky-flavour varieties.
- For the pack described, ALDI lists a 200 g size and a resealable pack.
- The varieties mentioned are salted or smoky-flavoured; this information doesn’t support an unsalted or protein claim for other varieties.
Almond products on Joybuy
The Joybuy options shown are packs of almonds for you to portion out yourself. Before using them, check the group’s allergy requirements, the children’s ages and the portion size.
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Anatolia Badem Natural (almond) 500 gr
This pack may be suitable if you want to weigh out small portions yourself. Use it only if almonds meet the group’s allergy requirements and are suitable for the children’s ages.
The product information lists 100% almonds, 21 g of protein per 100 g and 0 g of salt per 100 g.
This product contains almonds. Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter instead of whole nuts for children under 4; older children should eat slowly and under supervision.
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g'woon Almonds Raw & Unsalted - 200g
These raw, unsalted almonds are an option to portion out yourself if the group’s rules allow almonds.
The product information lists 24 g of protein and 0.03 g of salt per 100 g.
Check the allergen information on the pack and check with the school or childcare setting; almonds are tree nuts. Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter instead of whole nuts for children under 4.
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Jia Zhou Yuan Ye Original almond kernels 160 g
This pack may be a good option if you want to portion out almond kernels yourself and their form is suitable for the group.
The product information lists 100% almond kernels, 21.5 g of protein and 0.028 g of salt per 100 g.
The description specifies whole almond kernels. Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter instead of whole nuts for children under 4; older children should eat slowly and under supervision.
Frequently asked questions about almonds as a treat
How do you work out the amount for each party bag?
First decide on an amount that fits the rules for the treat, then work out the nutritional value of that portion. As a calculation example, 10 g of AH Unsalted Almonds provides 2.7 g of protein. A 190 g pack can therefore be divided into nineteen 10 g portions. This is a calculation for portioning, not a recommended portion size for children.
Can you give whole almonds to children under 4?
The guidance from Amsterdam UMC consulted for this article recommends nut butter instead of whole nuts for children under 4 because of the risk of choking. Older children can choke too, so make sure they eat slowly and stay with them. Nut butter is not suitable for anyone who needs to avoid almonds.
What should you look for in allergen information?
The NVWA explains that allergens must be clearly and correctly identified on food labels. If you portion treats out yourself, keep the original packaging and check with the school and parents concerned how the information will remain available. This practical advice does not mean that the same labelling requirements apply to every private birthday treat.
Are almonds a proven recovery treat for children after sport?
The protein figure on a label does not prove any special recovery benefits. The NVWA explains that health claims must meet European requirements, so choose a treat based on its ingredients, portion size and the group’s rules.
How should you store leftover almonds?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. Albert Heijn advises storing its unsalted almonds in a cool, dark and dry place and closing the pack tightly after use. Jumbo advises storing its almonds in a dry, dark place.