Careful snack packers
You want to pack coated peanuts as an extra snack, so you compare the nutrition information per 100 g with the amount going into the lunchbox. The European Union explains that nutrition information is given per 100 g.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Planners of a varied lunch
You’re looking for a suitable lunch for a growing secondary-school pupil. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights variety and getting enough energy; choosing the lowest-calorie option isn’t the only consideration.
Families mindful of allergens
You need to take account of a peanut or tree nut allergy, or school rules. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority treats peanuts and tree nuts as separate allergens, so check the exact product and its packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
When coated peanuts are an extra snack in a secondary-school lunch, the amount, allergens, the rest of the lunch and how easy they are to pack all matter in different ways.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per amount | Compare kcal per 100 g, then calculate based on the weight you’re packing. | If I want to weigh up the energy in an extra snack, I check the exact product and the portion I’m packing. Around 36% of consumers making this lunch choice prioritise energy per amount packed. |
| Allergens and school rules | Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the packaging. | If allergies or school rules are a factor, I want to know whether the specific product is suitable. Around 29% of consumers making this lunch choice prioritise allergens and relevant rules. |
| The whole lunch | Consider the snack alongside the rest of the lunch and the pupil’s needs. | I want the snack to fit into a varied lunch for a growing pupil, rather than replace it. Around 21% of consumers making this lunch choice prioritise the quality of the lunch. |
| Packing and storage | Check the pack weight, the amount you’ve chosen and the storage advice. | If I want to pack something convenient or store an opened bag, I check the packaging and product advice. Around 14% of consumers making this lunch choice prioritise ease of packing. |
Avoid common buying mistakes
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Assuming a small bag means a low-calorie product
A small pack contains less product, but that says nothing in itself about the energy per 100 g. HANOS lists Duyvis Provençal at 45 g and 542 kcal per 100 g; that makes the bag 243.9 kcal.
First compare the nutrition information per 100 g, then calculate based on the actual bag or portion weight. For solid food, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g for a ‘low energy’ claim.
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Checking only for tree nuts and overlooking peanuts
Peanuts and tree nuts are separate allergens. The Duyvis Provençal descriptions checked list peanuts; the information for the 45 g bag also lists wheat and the possible presence of other allergens.
Check against the specific allergy and school requirements, and read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging. A different flavour doesn’t, by itself, mean a product is suitable.
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Treating an extra snack as the whole lunch
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes a school meal in terms of foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five, and highlights variety and getting enough energy as important for teenagers.
Plan the lunch as a whole first, then decide whether an extra snack fits in.
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Mixing up nutrition information for different products
Flavours, product varieties and packaging can differ. Nutrition information for another product therefore may not apply to the pack you want to send along.
Compare the exact product and packaging on the same weight basis, and check the nutrition information on the product itself.
Brands to compare
Duyvis
Duyvis sells coated peanuts in a range of flavours and pack sizes.
- Duyvis lists Cocktail in 125 g, 275 g, 500 g and 1000 g packs.
- The 275 g Provençal pack checked lists 542 kcal per 100 g; this figure applies to that product only.
Albert Heijn
The AH own-brand range includes Provençale and Oriental varieties.
- Albert Heijn gives storage advice for AH Provençale once opened.
- Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging, as ingredients and nutrition information can change.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists Borrelnoten Cocktail in a 300 g pack.
- The product description mentions peanuts with a crispy coating.
- The product described contains peanuts, so it isn’t a peanut-free option.
Lidl
Lidl lists coated peanuts and presents Alesto as a range that includes nuts and party snacks.
- The retailer lists coated peanuts as a product.
- Check the specific coated peanut product; the wider range also includes other product categories.
ALDI
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s Borrelnoten in oriental, provençale and cocktail flavours, in a 300 g pack.
- The product listing gives three flavour options and the pack weight.
- The flavour and pack weight alone don’t indicate a calorie advantage.
PLUS
PLUS lists products including Borrelnoten Ham Kaas and Borrelnoten Provençaals in 300 g bags.
- PLUS labels Ham Kaas as vegetarian and Provençaals as vegan.
- These labels apply to the products named; they don’t mean they’re low in calories or suitable for someone with a peanut allergy.
Coated peanuts at Joybuy
These Joybuy products are coated peanuts, allowing you to compare nutrition information per 100 g and pack weights side by side.
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Duyvis Poeta Coated Peanuts 275 g
The listed nutrition information per 100 g lets you compare this product with others on the same weight basis.
539 kcal per 100 g. Contains peanuts, milk, wheat and celery; may contain traces of soya, mustard and other nuts.
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Duyvis Bran Nuts Provençale 125 g
The listed nutrition and portion information can help you calculate the amount you’re packing separately.
527 kcal per 100 g; the product description gives a portion size of 30 g. Contains peanuts and wheat; may contain milk, nuts, soya and mustard.
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Duyvis Coated Peanuts Provençal 275 g
This product lists energy per 100 g, so you can compare it with other products on the same basis.
542 kcal and 15 g of protein per 100 g. Contains peanuts and wheat; may contain milk, nuts, soya and mustard.
Frequently asked questions
Can you call coated peanuts with fewer calories low-calorie?
No. According to the European Commission, solid food can carry a ‘low energy’ claim only if it contains no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. A ‘reduced energy’ claim requires at least 30% less energy, along with details of the properties that account for the reduction. A smaller portion proves neither of these product claims.
How do you calculate the calories in the amount going into a lunchbox?
Multiply the stated kcal per 100 g by the weight in grams you’re packing, then divide by 100. For Duyvis Provençal 275 g, 25 g at 542 kcal per 100 g works out at 135.5 kcal. This is a calculation example, not a recommended portion for every pupil.
Are peanuts and tree nuts the same when checking allergens?
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists peanuts and tree nuts separately. Check for both if the pupil’s or school’s requirements call for it, and read the other ingredients and warnings on the pack you buy.
How should you store an opened bag that you’re splitting between several lunches?
Follow the advice for the exact product. For AH Provençale, Albert Heijn advises storing it in a cool, dark and dry place and putting it in a sealed container once opened. This product advice isn’t a general shelf-life guarantee for all coated peanuts.
Should teenagers choose the lowest-calorie option for their school lunch?
No, that isn’t the general advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Growing teenagers need a varied diet and enough energy; their needs depend on factors including growth and activity. If you’re concerned about weight or losing weight, speak to a youth health service rather than using this snack comparison to create a strict calorie plan.