Shopping for a shared snack
You’re buying crisps for several people and want to know how much is in the pack before choosing between a sharing bag and smaller packs.
Which option is right for you?
Looking for ready-to-hand-out portions
You want to hand out crisps after school without having to scoop them from an open bag each time. In that case, the stated portion size and whether the packs are individually wrapped are worth checking.
Checking the label
You compare ingredients, nutritional information or allergens for the specific flavour and pack you want to buy.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many people will be sharing and whether you want to portion the crisps out yourself. Then check the nutritional information for the option you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity to share | Net weight and the stated number of portions. | If several people are sharing one pack, I want to know whether there’s enough for our snack break. Around 36% of consumers prioritise having enough to share. |
| Individual portions | Portion size and whether the pack contains individual bags or tubes. | I want to give everyone their own portion without opening and dividing up a sharing bag first. This is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information and ingredients | Nutritional values per 100 g and per portion; ingredients and allergens on the packaging. | If ingredients or nutritional values affect my choice, I want to read the label for that exact product. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Flavour and shape | The flavour you’ve chosen and the difference between a bag, a mix or a tube. | For our snack break, a particular flavour or crisp shape matters more than how they’re portioned out. Around 14% of consumers choose based on this first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a sharing bag contains pre-measured portions
A portion count on the packaging won’t divide an opened bag for you. Jumbo and Albert Heijn each list ten 25 g portions for their 250 g plain crisps.
Decide before opening whether you’ll serve the crisps in bowls. If everyone needs their own pack, check that the multipack really does contain individual bags.
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Relying on the flavour name when checking allergens
“Plain” doesn’t tell you which ingredients are used in every type of crisp. Pringles lists wheat flour and may contain milk and soya for Original.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for your chosen flavour and size, even if you’ve bought the brand before.
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Using a packaging description to compare nutritional values
A description of how a product is made or what it tastes like won’t tell you how the nutritional values of two specific products compare.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and, if you’re comparing portions, per stated portion too.
Brands compared
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand plain crisps come in a 250 g sharing bag.
- Jumbo lists ten portions for its 250 g Chips Naturel on the product page.
- If you want ready-to-hand-out portions, you’ll need to portion out the sharing bag yourself.
Albert Heijn
AH Chips naturel is an own-brand option for anyone looking for a bag to share.
- Albert Heijn lists ten 25 g portions for its 250 g bag.
- Check the label of your chosen product before buying, as product information can change.
Snack Day (Lidl)
Snack Day is Lidl’s own brand, with options including plain and paprika crisps.
- The flavours mentioned give you a choice of plain or paprika.
- If you’re buying for several people, check the quantity and portion information on each pack.
Lay's
Lay's offers classic crisps, ridged varieties and multipacks with small bags.
- Lay's says the small bags in its multipacks are designed for sharing.
- Check the quantity and nutritional information for the specific option you’re buying; the different product ranges aren’t interchangeable.
Pringles
Pringles Original offers stacked crisps in a tube, in several pack sizes.
- Pringles lists Original tubes in 40 g, 70 g and 165 g sizes.
- Pringles lists wheat flour and may contain milk and soya for Original. If you have allergies, check the label on the tube you’ve chosen.
Crisps and snacks for different portions
These Joybuy products come in a range of packs for an after-school snack: individual tubes, a mix to share, bags and a box of assorted snacks. Compare the quantities and check how the portions are packaged for each option.
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Pringles Original Crisps, 12 × 40 g
The individual tubes are handy when you want to hand out pre-packed portions.
The pack contains 12 tubes of 40 g. If you have allergies, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
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Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
This mix is a good option if you want to put out a selection of flavours to share.
The net weight is 180 g. If you want to hand out individual portions straight away, check the pack’s contents and how it’s divided up.
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Lay's Mama Mia's Paprika Cheese Crisps 125 g
This bag is ideal if you’re after the paprika cheese flavour in particular and want to portion it out yourself.
The net weight is 125 g. If you want to hand out individual portions, check whether the pack contains separate portions, and read the current label if you have allergies.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box Multipack Crisps, 20 pieces
This box is a good choice when you want to hand out a selection of different snacks.
The product name states that it contains 20 pieces. Check which varieties are included, how many grams are in each bag and which allergens apply to each variety.
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Lay's Original Spiral Potato Crisps 100 g
This bag is a good choice if you’re looking for a smaller pack with a distinctive spiral shape.
The net weight is 100 g. If you’re sharing the bag, check the portion information and ingredients on the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are crisps an obvious snack for every school day?
No. Don’t automatically make crisps the regular after-school snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that snacks can be high in salt or saturated fat, so check the nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen and consider what else is eaten during the day.
How many crisps are in one portion from a 250 g own-brand bag?
Jumbo lists ten portions for its 250 g Chips Naturel, while Albert Heijn lists ten 25 g portions for its 250 g AH Chips naturel. These are portion sizes stated for these products, not a general recommendation for every child or every bag.
Are small bags more convenient than a sharing bag?
Small bags are handy if you want to give everyone their own pack; a sharing bag works if you’d rather portion the crisps out yourself. For a multipack, check how many bags it contains and how many grams are in each one.
What should I check if I have allergies?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for the exact option you’ve chosen. For example, Pringles lists wheat flour and may contain milk and soya for Original. Don’t assume the same applies to other crisps or flavours.