Families planning lunchboxes
Individual bags are easy to divide between several lunchboxes or days out during the holidays. Work out in advance how many portions you need.
Who are multipacks useful for?
Groups with different flavour preferences
A box containing several varieties can work well if everyone doesn’t want the same crisps. Check how many bags of each variety are included, though, so the popular flavours don’t run out too quickly.
Shoppers checking ingredients
Allergies or intolerances may be a consideration when buying snacks for children or guests. If you’re buying a mixed box, check the current packaging for every variety you plan to hand out.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many individual portions you need. Then compare the contents of each bag and check that the flavours and ingredients are suitable for everyone sharing them.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Count the individual bags and check the weight of each one. | If I’m packing for several lunchboxes and days out, I want to know in advance how many bags I can divide up. Around 42% of consumers prioritise planning portions. |
| A suitable amount | Compare the total weight with the number of planned snack breaks and check the best-before date. | A large box isn’t much use to me if lots of bags are left over after the holidays. Around 33% of consumers mainly look for an amount that suits how they’ll use it. |
| Flavours and ingredients | Check the mix of varieties and read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | When several people are sharing a box, I want to know which varieties they can eat and would like to have. Checking flavours and labels is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing only the number of bags
Twelve 40 g portions and fifteen 25 g portions differ in both portion size and total contents. So the number of bags doesn’t tell you how many crisps you’re getting.
Check the weight per bag and the total contents as well as the number of packs.
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Treating a mixed box as a single product
Potato crisps, corn snacks and other savoury snacks in the same box may contain different ingredients and allergens. For example, Jumbo lists milk in the allergen information for its multipack bags of ready salted and paprika crisps.
Read the current packaging for each variety before sharing the bags with a group.
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Putting crisps in every lunchbox
Individual bags make it easy to pack the same snack each time, even if you’re looking to offer some variety.
Plan crisps as a holiday snack alongside other options. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends options such as vegetables and fruit for children aged 4 to 12.
Relevant brands to compare
Lay's
Lay's Netherlands describes multipacks containing small bags. There are also boxes that combine Lay's with Cheetos and Doritos varieties.
- A mixed box offers several varieties to share among a group.
- Check the contents of each variety: a mix may contain ingredients such as milk and soya.
Pringles
Pringles Original is available, among other formats, as a multipack of 12 40 g packs in a single flavour.
- A single flavour makes it easy to decide on everyone’s choice in advance.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this Original variety contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk and soya.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers multipack bags of ready salted and paprika crisps as an alternative to a box containing a wider range of snacks.
- Jumbo lists 15 bags of 25 g in this pack: eight ready salted and seven paprika.
- Jumbo lists milk as an allergen for this product; check the current packaging before use.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s multipack category features a range of formats, including mixed boxes and single-flavour packs.
- You can compare the number of bags and portion sizes across different products.
- Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging, as ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information may change.
Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s snack brand and includes a range of crisp flavours.
- The range of flavours is useful when comparing snack options in store.
- For a specific pack, check the number of bags and the ingredients yourself before choosing it for lunchboxes.
Crisp multipacks at Joybuy
These products offer individually packed snacks for days out during the autumn half-term: mixed boxes, a multipack in a single flavour and a smaller mix. Pay particular attention to the pack size if the bags need to fit in lunchboxes.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 pieces
A mixed box for anyone looking to spread a range of snacks across several occasions.
Joybuy describes this as a 20-piece pack containing potato crisps and corn snacks. Check the mix of varieties and the current ingredients and allergen information before choosing the box for a group.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 2 x 15-pack
An option if you’re planning for lots of individual snack breaks and want a range of flavours.
The product name lists two packs of 15. Check the mix of flavours and the current ingredients and allergen information if you plan to allocate the bags in advance.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 15-pack
This pack suits plans with fewer snack breaks than the Fun Mix Box 2 x 15.
The product name lists a 15-pack. Check the contents of each variety and read the current packaging if flavour preferences or allergens are a consideration.
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Pringles Original Crisps, 12 x 40 g
A single-flavour multipack for a group that has chosen Original in advance.
This pack contains twelve individual 40 g containers. They’re tubes rather than bags, so check that they’ll fit in the lunchbox. The product information lists wheat and gluten and states that milk and soya may be present. Supervise young children while they’re eating to reduce the risk of choking.
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Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g
A smaller mix to consider if you don’t need a large box for the whole holiday.
The product name lists 180 g. Before planning portions, check the packaging for the number of individual bags, the mix of flavours and the current ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags do I need for the autumn half-term?
Count the planned snack breaks when you want to take crisps, and the number of people who’ll have a bag each. Then check both the number of individual packs and the contents of each one: a box of 12 x 40 g is divided up differently from a box containing 30 smaller bags.
Should I check every variety in a mixed crisp box for allergens?
Yes. Check the current packaging for every variety you plan to hand out. The multipacks described here list milk, soya, wheat and gluten among the allergens or substances that may be present. Don’t assume that one ingredients list applies to every variety.
Are bags of crisps an obvious choice for every lunchbox?
No. Individual bags are easy to share out, but you don’t need to fill every snack break with crisps. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends vegetables and fruit as snacks; choose what suits the child’s age and the situation.
How should I store bags left over after the holidays?
Follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the packaging of the product you choose. Check this information when you buy it if you don’t expect to finish the box during the holidays.