Mindful snackers around a bike ride
You want to keep eating cocktail nuts while limiting the energy in your snack. Compare kcal per 100 g, then decide how many grams you want in your portion.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Cyclists planning long rides
You’re looking for food to have around an endurance ride lasting more than an hour. Distinguish between a tasty snack and food that can contribute to your carbohydrate needs during exercise.
Snackers with allergen requirements
Your choice of product depends on its ingredients and allergens. Check the information on the exact pack, as ingredients and warnings can differ between variants.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide whether you want to eat cocktail nuts as a snack off the bike or during a longer effort. Then compare like for like, taking the ingredients, flavour and packaging into account.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g, then weigh out the same portion size of your choice; serving sizes on labels can vary. | If I want to keep eating cocktail nuts but take in less energy per snack, I weigh out my portion. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the energy in a portion when making this choice. |
| Food during the ride | Decide whether you’ll eat the snack on the go and check the nutritional values for the amount you’ll actually eat. Don’t assume cocktail nuts are a substitute for sports nutrition without evidence. | For a long bike ride, I want to know in advance what I’ll eat on the way and whether it fits my nutrition plan. Around 29% of consumers prioritise food for around the ride. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, and distinguish between ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’. | If ingredients or possible traces affect my choice, I check the specific variant before buying. Around 21% of consumers prioritise these requirements. |
| Flavour and storage | Choose the flavour separately from the calorie comparison, and follow the storage instructions on the pack once opened. | If I’m after a particular flavour and want to store an opened bag conveniently, I look at the flavour variant and pack size. Around 14% of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a lower figure per portion means a less energy-dense product
The labels checked for Jumbo use a 25 g portion; Duyvis Provencale 125 g lists a 30 g portion. This means the figures per portion aren’t directly comparable.
Compare per 100 g first, then calculate for the same amount.
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Treating a multipack as one snack portion
The amount in a bag and the amount you eat at one snack time are two different things.
Weigh out your portion in advance and follow the storage instructions for the rest of the pack.
You’ll need to portion out the rest yourself and store it appropriately.
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Focusing only on calorie restriction for a long bike ride
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, extra carbohydrate intake can be useful during endurance exercise lasting more than an hour. Cutting energy from snacks and planning food for your ride are two separate choices.
Decide in advance which eating occasion you want the cocktail nuts for, and plan your food for a long ride separately.
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Assuming allergen information is the same for another flavour
Ingredients and warnings can vary between flavours and pack types. AH Cocktail and PLUS Ham Kaas list milk; Duyvis Provencale 125 g states that it may contain milk.
Check ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the exact pack, and don’t choose based on the brand name alone.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
A brand to explore for different flavours of coated nuts, including Provencale.
- Jumbo’s product page lists 542 kcal per 100 g for Duyvis Provencale 125 g. Duyvis describes the flavour as onion and garlic.
- That product description makes no claims about being low in calories or suitable as sports nutrition.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket and own-brand option, including the AH Borrelnoten cocktail variant checked.
- Albert Heijn’s product page lists 532 kcal and 1,68 g of salt per 100 g for this variant.
- The same product page lists milk, lactose, peanuts and wheat as allergens; this information doesn’t automatically apply to other AH variants.
Jumbo
A supermarket and own-brand option, with checked Cocktail cocktail nuts available in different pack sizes.
- The product pages list 524 kcal per 100 g for the 500 g multipack and 527 kcal per 100 g for the 300 g pack.
- The labels use a 25 g portion. The small differences in energy values don’t make either variant low in calories.
Lidl
A supermarket option among the listed retailers for cocktail nuts.
- Lidl Nederland lists cocktail nuts as a product category.
- The category name alone says nothing about calorie benefits or nutritional equivalence with other variants.
ALDI
A supermarket option with Trader Joe’s cocktail nuts in different flavours.
- ALDI lists flavours such as bacon and cheese, poesta and paprika, and a 300 g pack.
- Flavour and pack information don’t tell you whether a product offers calorie benefits; check the nutritional values on the pack.
PLUS
A supermarket and own-brand option, including the checked 300 g Borrelnoten Ham Kaas.
- PLUS’s product page lists 534 kcal, 33,3 g of fat and 1,725 g of salt per 100 g.
- The variant lists peanuts, wheat, milk and lactose; check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
Cocktail nuts at Joybuy
A Joybuy product option for anyone looking for Duyvis Provencale. Compare the nutritional information on the pack and weigh out your own portion.
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Duyvis Bran Nuts Provencale, 125 g
For anyone looking for Duyvis Provencale and wanting to weigh out their own portion; compare the nutritional value per 100 g on the pack.
The product information lists peanuts and wheat, and says it may contain milk, nuts, soya and mustard. Check the pack for allergen information for this variant.
Frequently asked questions
Can you call regular cocktail nuts low in calories if you eat a small portion?
No. For the ‘low energy’ claim on solid foods, the European Commission sets a threshold of no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g. A smaller portion doesn’t change the energy value per 100 g. The variants checked, at 524–542 kcal per 100 g, don’t meet the requirements for this claim.
Does ‘reduced energy’ mean the same as ‘low in calories’?
No. The European Commission sets a different condition for ‘reduced energy’: at least 30% less energy, with the feature responsible for the reduction stated. This isn’t the same as the separate threshold for ‘low energy’; the values checked don’t support such a claim.
Do you need sports bars or gels for every bike ride?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says sports bars and gels aren’t necessary when you exercise for less than an hour. For endurance activities such as cycling that last more than an hour, taking in carbohydrates during exercise can be beneficial. That doesn’t automatically make cocktail nuts an equivalent alternative to sports bars or gels.
Are cocktail nuts suitable if you need to avoid peanuts or wheat?
The Jumbo Cocktail, AH Cocktail, PLUS Ham Kaas and Duyvis Provencale 125 g variants checked contain peanuts and wheat. Don’t choose these variants if you need to avoid these ingredients, and always check the pack for the exact flavour. The NVWA explains allergen labelling; information for another variant is no substitute for the label on the product you buy.
How should you store the rest of an opened bag of cocktail nuts?
Follow the instructions on the pack for your variant. For Duyvis Provencale 125 g, the advice is to store the cocktail nuts in a cool, dry place and put an opened bag in a light- and airtight container. Jumbo Cocktail says to store in a cool, dry and dark place.