When buying crisps for lunchboxes, base your choice on the number of individual bags and the weight of each bag, rather than the size of the box alone. Choose a mix of flavours to suit the people eating them; with a mixed box, you’ll also need to check the allergen information for each snack type.
With one individual bag for each lunchbox, you won’t need to open a large bag and divide it into portions every time. Compare both the number of bags and the weight of each one: Jumbo, for example, lists a multipack of 15 × 25 g, while other mixed boxes contain a different number of bags.
A mixed box offers a choice when not everyone wants the same snack. Check what’s inside, though: the Lay’s mixed boxes listed by Albert Heijn combine crisps with other snacks, and the selection varies from box to box.
Check the exact product variant rather than relying on the brand or the name of the mix. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information must be shown on the label of prepacked food; ingredients can vary between snack types in a mixed box.
First, work out how many individual snack occasions your supply needs to cover. Then check whether the bag size and mix of snack types suit the people you’re buying for.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Count the individual bags and check the weight of each one. Jumbo lists its salted and paprika mix as 15 × 25 g. | If I want to pack one bag in each lunchbox, I need enough individual portions in my supply. Around 42% of consumers prioritise planning portions this way. |
| Flavour selection | Check how many bags of each type are in the box and whether it contains crisps or other snacks too. | When several people are choosing from the same box, I want to avoid being left with the less popular options. Around 33% of consumers put this flavour selection first. |
| Usable supply | Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact mix, and make sure you can use the bags before the best-before date. | When stocking up, I want the contents to suit the people eating them and for the supply to get used up. This is the first consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Two boxes can contain the same number of bags but different amounts in each one. For example, Jumbo’s paprika and salted mix is listed as 15 × 25 g, so the number of bags alone doesn’t tell you how large each portion is.
Check the number of bags, the weight per bag and the total weight before deciding how many boxes you need.
A mix can contain crisps and other types of snacks. Jumbo lists milk as an allergen in Lay’s Party Mix and warns that it may contain, among other things, cereals containing gluten and soya.
If you have a relevant allergy, read the allergen information on the exact packaging before choosing a mixed box.
A large mixed box is less practical if you won’t use the contents before the best-before date or if opened packs are left for a long time.
Choose a number of bags that suits how often you use them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing crisps in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container.
An opened pack that isn’t sealed properly can lose its crunch, leaving bags unused.
Worth considering if you’re looking for individual snack bags or a mixed box for several people. Albert Heijn lists Lay’s mixed boxes with 20 and 30 pieces; Jumbo lists a Party Mix with 15 bags.
An alternative if you’d rather keep tubes of one flavour than a box of individual lunchbox bags. Pringles lists Original in 40 g, 70 g and 165 g sizes.
Jumbo’s own-brand paprika and salted mix contains 15 bags of 25 g. Jumbo lists eight salted bags and seven paprika bags.
Lidl lists a multipack of 15 bags of assorted crisps as a store product.
These packs are for anyone looking for individual bags and variety when stocking up for lunchboxes. As well as comparing the number of bags, check what’s in the mix; tubes and packs with just one flavour call for a different approach.
Image unavailable
For anyone looking to stock up on a variety of individual bags. According to the product name, the pack contains 2 × 15 pieces; check the allergen information for each snack type on the current packaging.
Image unavailable
For anyone looking for a smaller supply of individual bags with a variety of snack types. This variant is listed as containing 15 pieces; check the packaging to see what’s inside and which allergens are listed.
Image unavailable
For anyone who wants a supply with a variety of snack types. The product name lists 20 pieces and mentions Lay's, Cheetos and Doritos; check the weight and allergen information for each type before choosing this box for set lunchbox portions.
Image unavailable
For anyone looking to spread a mix of individual snacks across several occasions. The product name lists 2 × 12 pieces; check the current packaging for the weight per bag and the allergen information before choosing this variant.
Image unavailable
For anyone looking to stock up on 15 individual snacks and choose a mixed box to suit the people eating them. Before buying, check the range of snack types, the weight per pack and the allergen information on the packaging.
Count how many times you want to pack an individual bag and compare that with the number in the multipack. A box of 15 bags provides 15 snack occasions if you use one bag each time; also check the bag size, flavour selection and best-before date.
Only choose a mixed box after checking the allergen information for the exact variant. Jumbo lists milk in Lay’s Party Mix and warns that it may contain, among other things, cereals containing gluten and soya; don’t assume other mixes have the same ingredients.
Store unopened bags according to the instructions and best-before date on the packaging. Seal an opened bag properly and keep it in a cool, dry, dark place, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Don’t rely on a multipack of crisps as your only supply of snacks. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as suitable snacks for children, so make room for those when you’re shopping too.
