Lunchbox packers who keep an eye on protein
You want to know how much protein a measured portion of cashew nuts adds to your lunch. So compare the energy per portion too, not just the protein per 100 g.
Who is this relevant to?
Those who portion ahead
You prepare several lunches and are choosing between individual packs and weighing out portions yourself from a larger bag.
Households and shared snack times
You’re buying for several people and want to match the quantity, flavour, ingredients and storage to how you’ll share them.
What should you look for when choosing?
Choose according to the portion you’ll actually eat and the pack that suits how you’ll use it; calculate the nutritional values for that portion.
Bundle of three packs
A good fit if: you want to keep several packs of unsalted cashew nuts without opening them all at once. Albert Heijn describes this as three separate 170 g packs.
Bear in mind: each pack contains several portions, so you’ll need to weigh out a portion yourself for a lunchbox.
Box of ten bags
A good fit if: you want to use the bags at different times or share them with several people. The Duyvis boxes we looked at contain ten 125 g bags.
Bear in mind: a 125 g bag isn’t a small lunch portion; also check the salt content of your chosen variety on the pack.
One large value pack
A good fit if: you regularly weigh out portions at home or share the contents with others. Jumbo offers a 500 g pack of unsalted cashew nuts.
Bear in mind: the contents aren’t divided into individual portions, so you’ll need to portion and store them yourself.
Single smaller pack
A good fit if: you want to portion out a single bag. PLUS lists a 200 g bag, while ALDI offers a 250 g pack of roasted, unsalted cashew nuts.
Bear in mind: even a smaller bag isn’t automatically divided into lunch portions; the pack size alone tells you nothing about the protein content.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein and energy per portion | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and calculate them for your measured portion. | If you want to know what your lunch portion contributes, check both protein and energy per portion. Around 29% of consumers prioritise protein content. |
| Portioning for a lunchbox | Check the number of packs, the amount in each pack and how much you want to take with you. | If you want to take a predictable amount without using a whole bag, what matters most is how much you’ll need to weigh out yourself. Around 29% of consumers prioritise lunchbox portioning. |
| Sharing and storage | Check how the product is packed, how quickly you’ll use it and the storage advice on the label. | When sharing, you’ll want to know how many packs need to be opened at once and how to store the rest. Around 24% of consumers prioritise sharing and managing their supplies. |
| Salt, ingredients and suitability | Read the nutritional information, ingredients and allergen details for the exact variety. | If the ingredients or suitability for the people eating them is the priority, check the pack for the variety you’ve chosen. Around 18% of consumers prioritise ingredients and suitability. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a multipack for small lunch portions
A bundle or bag can contain several portions; the number of packs isn’t the same as the number of lunch portions.
Check the number of units and the weight per unit before choosing.
You may need to weigh out a portion yourself to get the amount you want.
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Looking only at the protein in the whole bag
The protein amount on a pack applies to the stated serving basis, but you may only eat part of the bag. Check the energy for the same portion too.
Compare protein and energy for the same measured amount.
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Assuming ‘unsalted’ always means the same recipe
Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties. For example, Jumbo lists cashew nuts and sunflower oil, while PLUS lists cashew nuts and warns that the product may contain peanuts.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack for the exact variety.
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Mistaking a large value pack for a multipack
A 500 g bag isn’t packed in the same way as a bundle of individual packs.
Choose the format that suits how quickly you’ll use the contents and follow the storage advice.
A large single bag means you’ll need to portion it yourself and store it properly once opened.
Brands and relevant pack formats
Duyvis
The multipacks we looked at include boxes of ten 125 g bags, including Dry Roasted and Sea Salt.
- The retail labels for the two varieties list their nutritional values and salt content separately; compare the version you’ve chosen.
- Duyvis describes Cashews Original as oven-roasted with no added oil. This doesn’t necessarily apply to every multipack variety.
Albert Heijn
According to Albert Heijn, the unsalted 3-pack consists of three separate 170 g packs.
- The individual packs can be opened separately.
- The contents of each pack aren’t divided into small lunch portions, so you’ll still need to portion them yourself.
Jumbo
The 500 g value pack of unsalted cashew nuts is an option if you want to portion them yourself at home.
- For this specific product, Jumbo lists 21 g of protein per 100 g and cashew nuts with sunflower oil as the ingredients.
- The pack isn’t divided into individual portions.
PLUS
The 200 g bag of unroasted, unsalted cashew nuts is a single pack that you can portion yourself.
- PLUS lists 18.5 g of protein per 100 g for this product.
- The product information says it may contain peanuts; check the label if this is relevant to the people eating them.
ALDI
ALDI lists 250 g of roasted, unsalted cashew nuts under the Trader Joe’s brand.
- The product description confirms the pack size and that the cashews are unsalted.
- This isn’t a multipack of individual portions; refer to the pack you’ve chosen for ingredients and allergen information.
Lidl
Lidl lists unsalted cashew nuts as a product option among the supermarket chains mentioned.
- The product listing identifies the variety as unsalted cashew nuts.
- Check the current pack for information about the quantity and ingredients of your chosen product.
Cashew nuts at Joybuy
These products are single bags of cashew nuts that you can portion yourself; they aren’t multipacks.
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Duyvis Dry Roasted Cashews, 125 g
A single bag that you can weigh out for a lunch portion; the product description says each bag contains 4–5 portions.
Per 100 g: 18 g protein, 586 kcal and 0.92 g salt. The description lists cashew, wheat and peanuts as allergens.
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Verse Klassenoten Salted Cashew Nuts, 150 g
A single bag of roasted, salted cashew nuts that you can portion yourself.
Per 100 g, the product description lists 21.0 g of protein and 1.0 g of salt.
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g'woon roasted, unsalted cashew nuts, 200 g
A single bag of unsalted cashew nuts that you can weigh out for the amount you want to eat.
Per 100 g, the product description lists 18.67 g of protein, 596 kcal and 0.067 g of salt.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the protein in your snack portion?
Multiply the protein value per 100 g by the weight of your portion, then divide by 100. For AH Unsalted Cashew Nuts, that’s 4.75 g of protein for a 25 g portion, based on 19 g of protein per 100 g. Use the same calculation for the energy per 100 g.
How should you store an opened pack of cashew nuts?
Follow the storage advice on the pack for the variety you’ve chosen. For its unsalted cashew nuts, Albert Heijn advises storing them in a cool, dark, dry place and closing the pack securely after use.
Can you give loose cashew nuts to any child?
Not to children under four: the MDL Fonds warns that loose nuts can cause choking. For other children, consider whether they’re suitable, any allergies and the school’s rules.
What allergen information must be shown on a pre-packed variety?
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be shown on the label of pre-packed foods. The NVWA also states that, since 1 January 2026, rules have applied to warnings about unintended cross-contamination: such a warning must not be used if the applicable reference values are not exceeded. Always check the information on the exact pack.
Is choosing foods for their protein content the same as making a permitted ‘high protein’ claim?
No. You can compare products by their protein content without establishing that the ‘high protein’ claim is permitted on the label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers to the legal requirements for nutrition claims in Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.