Households that portion snacks every day
You regularly pack school lunches and want to match your stock to how much your household uses. The pack size and how you store your supplies may influence your choice.
Who is this relevant to?
Parents looking for a suitable lunchbox snack
You want to know whether almonds are allowed at school and whether your child can eat them safely. The packaging itself does not make a product suitable for someone with an allergy or for an unsuitable eating occasion.
Households with changing needs
You don’t pack almonds every school day and want to avoid keeping a large quantity open for a long time. A smaller or resealable pack may suit this kind of use.
What should you consider when choosing?
One large bag to portion at home
Suitable when: your household uses almonds regularly and you want to prepare portions yourself.
Bear in mind: once opened, the whole supply is exposed; you’ll need to portion it yourself and seal the bag well.
Multipack with individual packs
Suitable when: you want to stock up but prefer to open one pack at a time.
Bear in mind: individual packs are not automatically portioned for children; portioning each day is still a separate task.
Smaller pack
Suitable when: how much you use varies, or you want to work out how much your household gets through first.
Bear in mind: if you use almonds regularly, you may need to buy another pack more often.
Don’t pack almonds
Suitable when: school rules exclude nuts, your child has an almond allergy, or whole nuts aren’t suitable for the eating occasion.
Bear in mind: a different pack or ground almonds does not make the product nut-free.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Suitability and safe eating | Check the school rules, allergen information and whether the form of the product is suitable for the eating occasion. | If I pack something, I want to know first whether the school allows it and whether my child can eat it safely. Around 22% of consumers put suitability first. |
| Amount per purchase | Compare the net weight, the number of individual packs and how much your household actually uses. | I want enough in stock for our needs, but I don’t want to open more than we’ll use. Around 28% of consumers focus on choosing an amount that suits how much they use at home. |
| Ingredients and preparation method | Read the ingredients and check whether the variety is unsalted, unroasted or roasted. | If I’m looking for unsalted almonds, I also want to know which ingredients and preparation method apply to that variety. Around 22% of consumers prioritise these details. |
| Storage when usage varies | Check the closure and storage instructions; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping almonds in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place. | When we don’t use almonds every day, I want to be able to store the opened pack carefully. Around 17% of consumers prioritise keeping a smaller supply that’s easy to store properly. |
| Packing lunches each day | Check the weight of each individual pack and decide for yourself how much to pack; a product serving is not automatically a recommendation for children. | I want to be able to pack a lunch quickly in the morning without mistaking a multipack for a child-sized portion. Around 11% of consumers consider daily portioning the most important factor. |
Things to consider when buying
-
Assuming different packaging solves a nut allergy
Almonds are still almonds, whatever the size of the bag or the form you pack them in. Choosing different packaging is not an allergy safety measure.
Follow the relevant school rules and don’t pack almond products if your child has an almond allergy.
-
Looking only at the quantity
A large pack won’t necessarily suit how much your household uses. If you don’t store the contents carefully after opening or use them in time, their quality may deteriorate.
Choose an amount that matches how much you actually use, and don’t open all the packs in a multipack at once.
-
Assuming every variety has the same ingredients
The brand name alone won’t tell you whether the almonds are unsalted or what other ingredients have been used. For example, Jumbo lists 99% almonds and sunflower oil for its 140 g variety.
Check the full variety name and read the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack.
-
Mistaking a multipack for child-sized portions
The four packs in the AH 4-pack reviewed are individual stock packs of 190 g, not pre-portioned lunch servings.
Check the weight of each pack and choose an amount that suits your child’s lunch.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
The Unsalted Almonds range is worth considering if you’re specifically looking for unsalted Duyvis almonds.
- Duyvis describes this range as unsalted almonds.
- Check the full variety name and ingredients: other almond varieties from the same brand may have different ingredients.
Albert Heijn
AH Unsalted Almonds are available as an individual pack or a multipack.
- The product information describes the 4-pack as four individually supplied packs of 190 g.
- These are stock packs, not child-sized portions; the packaging doesn’t replace checking that the product is suitable and safe to eat.
Jumbo
Jumbo Unsalted Almonds come in a smaller 140 g pack.
- Jumbo lists 99% almonds, sunflower oil and storage in a dry, dark place.
- So almonds are not the only ingredient. Packed in a protective atmosphere doesn’t mean the pack can be resealed after opening.
Lidl
Lidl lists a product called Unsalted Almonds.
- The product page says it is available in store.
- Check the current packaging and product information when you buy it.
ALDI
Trader Joe's Unroasted Almonds 200 g is a product listed by ALDI.
- ALDI describes the almonds as untreated and the pack as resealable.
- Check the ingredients and storage instructions on the pack before use.
PLUS
PLUS lists both unroasted, unsalted almonds in a 200 g pack and a separate roasted, unsalted variety in a 150 g pack.
- The product pages distinguish between the varieties by preparation method and net weight.
- Treat them as separate products and check the information on the packaging.
Almonds at Joybuy
This selection of Joybuy products ranges from smaller packs to a larger bag for portioning at home. Check the product information and school rules for each pack.
Image unavailable
Jia Zhou Yuan Ye Original Almond Kernels 160 g
This smaller pack may suit you if you want to portion almonds at home; check whether the form is suitable for your child’s eating occasion and your school’s rules.
The product information lists 160 g of whole almond kernels in a resealable pack.
Contains almonds. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that whole nuts can cause choking.
Image unavailable
g'woon Almonds Raw & Unsalted 200 g
This 200 g pack may suit you if you’re looking for a smaller supply of raw, unsalted almonds.
The product title describes raw, unsalted almonds; follow the storage instructions on the pack.
Contains almonds. Check your school’s rules and whether the form is suitable for your child’s eating occasion.
Image unavailable
Anatolia Badem Natural (Almond) 500 g
This larger pack may suit you if your household uses almonds regularly and you want to prepare portions at home.
The product information lists 500 g and 100% almonds; it also states 0,00 g of salt per 100 g.
Contains almonds. Check your school’s rules and whether the form is suitable for your child’s eating occasion.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell whether a multipack contains lunch portions?
Check the weight of each individual pack; a multipack is not automatically a set of child-sized portions. Albert Heijn says its AH 4-pack contains four 190 g packs. The serving size shown on an individual product is not personalised advice for every child.
How should I store almonds after opening?
Store almonds in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place, and follow the instructions on the pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide gives six months in a kitchen cupboard and one year in the freezer as general guidelines for opened unsalted almonds. Check their quality too, and don’t eat almonds that are mouldy or rancid.
What should I check on the label for allergens?
Check the ingredients list and any allergen warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) says allergens must be clearly distinguishable from the rest of the ingredients list; a warning about possible cross-contamination is different from an ingredient that is present in the product.
What should I do if I have a question about a product or its packaging?
For questions about product information, contact the retailer’s or brand’s customer service team. Keep the packaging so you can provide the variety name and the information shown on the label.