Who is this guide for?

Calorie-conscious cocktail nut shoppers

You want to keep buying cocktail nuts and compare the energy in equal quantities, without relying on a flavour name or claim as proof.

Snackers who want to portion out their snacks

You’re looking for a pack and portion that suit how much you want to eat. A small bag doesn’t automatically contain a small number of calories.

Shoppers who consider ingredients too

As well as kcal, you want to know which allergens are present and how much salt the exact variant contains. If you have a food allergy, check the information for the specific product.

What should you look for when choosing?

First compare kcal per 100 g for the exact variant, then work out the figures for your portion, and finally check the ingredients, allergens and flavour.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Energy in equal quantities Compare kcal per 100 g for the same flavour and pack. Then calculate kcal per portion using kcal per 100 g × portion weight ÷ 100. If I want to see which equal quantity contains less energy, I compare the exact variants on the same basis. Around 39% of consumers make energy per equal quantity their top purchasing priority.
Measuring out a portion Check the weight in grams per bag and the number of portions. Also consider how much you actually serve yourself. What matters to me is how much I eat at each snack break, not just how many bags are in a pack. Around 39% of consumers put portion control first.
Ingredients and nutritional profile Read the ingredients, allergen information and warnings for the exact variant. Compare salt and fibre per 100 g. If I have an allergy, I check the specific pack; a lower kcal figure says nothing about whether it’s suitable for me. Around 15% of consumers prioritise ingredients and nutritional profile.
Flavour Choose the flavour you want, then check the label for that variant; don’t use nutritional values from a different flavour. If I want a particular cocktail nut flavour, I check the nutritional information for that exact variant. Around 7% of consumers say flavour is their top priority when choosing.

Pitfalls when buying cocktail nuts

  • Confusing fewer kcal within the category with being low in calories

    The Jumbo Cocktail, PLUS Mild and AH Cocktail variants compared list 527–532 kcal per 100 g. That’s not the same as meeting the ‘low energy’ claim: the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for solid foods.

    Compare kcal per 100 g for the exact variants, and don’t treat a relatively lower figure as proof that a product is low in calories.

  • Assuming an individual bag is automatically a small portion

    Albert Heijn lists 45 g bags in its Duyvis Provencale multipack, with 542 kcal per 100 g. A whole bag therefore works out at 243.9 kcal.

    Check the weight in grams per bag and calculate the amount you plan to eat.

  • Using one flavour to judge an entire brand

    Nutritional values, ingredients and portion sizes apply to specific variants. Flavours such as Cocktail, Mild and Provençale shouldn’t be treated as equivalent without checking first.

    Use the nutritional information and allergen details for the exact flavour and pack, and compare products on the same basis.

Brands to compare

Duyvis

Duyvis describes Provencale as having an onion and garlic flavour. Albert Heijn also lists a multipack containing individual 45 g bags.

  • The flavour description and bag weight give you specific points to consider when choosing a variant and portion.
  • An individual bag isn’t automatically low in calories; compare its weight and nutritional information.

Albert Heijn

The 300 g pack of AH Cocktail Coated Peanuts lists nutritional values and portion information on its product page.

  • For this variant, Albert Heijn lists 532 kcal and 5.3 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The product information lists milk, peanuts and wheat as allergens. Its fibre content isn’t proof of weight loss.

Jumbo

Jumbo Cocktail Coated Peanuts 300 g lists nutritional values per 100 g and per portion.

  • Jumbo lists 527 kcal per 100 g and 132 kcal per 25 g portion.
  • The portion figure is for 25 g; adjust your calculation to the amount you actually have.

Lidl

Lidl Netherlands stocks cocktail nuts and uses Alesto as its own brand for nuts and snacks.

  • The product range gives you the option to compare the exact pack with other cocktail nuts.
  • Use the nutritional information for the specific flavour and pack; a brand name isn’t a nutritional claim.

ALDI

ALDI lists TRADER JOE'S Cocktail Nuts in a 300 g pack, with Oriental, Provençale and Cocktail flavours available.

  • The different flavours let you check the label for the variant you want.
  • Don’t use nutritional values from another flavour; the flavour name alone says nothing about the energy per 100 g.

PLUS

PLUS Mild Cocktail Nuts 300 g is a variant described as having a mild flavour.

  • For this variant, PLUS lists 528 kcal and 1.438 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The product information lists milk and celery as allergens. ‘Mild’ refers to the flavour, not a lower energy content.

Joybuy product pick for this situation

This Joybuy pick is a Duyvis Provençal variant for anyone who wants to keep eating cocktail nuts and check the nutritional value per equal quantity and their own portion.

Duyvis Provençal Cocktail Nuts, 275 g

Duyvis Provençal Cocktail Nuts 275 g

This 275 g pack is a good option if you want to keep eating cocktail nuts and measure out your own portion.

Check the kcal per 100 g and allergen information for this variant before calculating the energy in your portion.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

When can a product be described as low in calories in the Netherlands?

According to the European Commission, solid foods can contain no more than 40 kcal per 100 g to qualify for the ‘low energy’ claim. This claim applies to the product, not the size of a portion you choose for yourself.

Does ‘light’ always mean fewer calories?

No. The Voedingscentrum explains that ‘light’, for example, can refer to 30% less sugar. So check which property has been reduced and look at the energy per 100 g separately.

How do I calculate the energy in my own portion?

Multiply the kcal per 100 g by the number of grams in your portion, then divide by 100. For AH Cocktail Coated Peanuts at 532 kcal per 100 g, 20 g works out at 106.4 kcal and 25 g at 133 kcal; these are examples, not recommended portion sizes.

Which of the variants compared lists the fewest kcal per 100 g?

The product information lists Jumbo Cocktail Coated Peanuts at 527 kcal, PLUS Mild Cocktail Nuts at 528 kcal and AH Cocktail Coated Peanuts at 532 kcal per 100 g, according to Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn respectively. This compares these three variants; the small differences aren’t proof of a weight-management benefit.

What should I check if I have a food allergy?

Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour and pack, including any warnings. The NVWA explains the mandatory allergen labelling requirements; the variants checked, for example, differ in whether milk and celery are listed.