Parents handing out treats to a group
For a class, after-school club or children’s party, you’ll want to bring enough individual bags. Remember to count any extra recipients before deciding whether you need spares.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents taking flavour preferences into account
A mixed box gives children more choice, but check how many bags of each type it actually contains and read the ingredients for every variety.
Parents taking venue rules into account
Check the school or after-school club’s treat policy before you buy. If crisps aren’t allowed, you can choose a different treat.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by counting the recipients. Then compare the flavour mix and the weight per bag, and check that the treat meets the group’s rules and takes any allergies into account.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of bags | Count everyone who’ll receive a treat and compare the total with the number of individual bags in the box. | If I’m treating a whole group, I want a bag for everyone without having lots left over. For around 36% of consumers, having enough bags for the group comes first. |
| Flavour mix | Check which varieties are in the box and how many bags of each it contains. | When people have different flavour preferences, I want to give children a choice. Around 29% of consumers say that variety is their top priority. |
| Rules and portion sizes | Check the school or after-school club’s rules, then compare the weight per bag and the nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen. | For a school treat, I want to know whether crisps are allowed and what size portion I’ll be handing out. This is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Ask about any known allergies and read the ingredients on the current pack, including for each variety in a mixed box. | If children with a known allergy are taking part, I want to be able to check every variety on offer. This comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Only looking at the front of a mixed box
Different snacks in the same box may have different ingredients. For example, Jumbo’s description of Lay’s Party Mix also mentions Bugles Nacho Cheese bags.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy for each variety you plan to hand out.
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Choosing a box before you know how many people will receive a treat
If you have exactly as many bags as children, you won’t have a spare for an extra recipient. A larger box may leave you with bags left over.
Count everyone who’ll get a bag first, then decide whether you want to bring spares.
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Assuming crisps are allowed under the treat policy
Schools and after-school clubs may have their own rules about treats. The Voedingscentrum recommends checking in advance what’s allowed and keeping portions small.
Check the rules before choosing a multipack; if necessary, take a different treat.
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Assuming old product information is still accurate
The contents of the box you buy determine what you’ll be handing out.
Check the flavours, ingredients and allergens on the current pack, even if you’ve already read an online product description.
Brands and retailers to consider
Lay's
Lay’s Benelux describes a Family Box containing 15 bags and a Celebration Box containing 30; Albert Heijn also lists a Mega Box with 20 items.
- The different box sizes offer options for groups of various sizes.
- The mixes may also contain snacks other than crisps. Check the contents and ingredients of each box.
Pringles
Albert Heijn lists an Original 12-pack of 12 × 40 g. This quantity is only suitable if 12 portions are enough.
- A single-flavour pack makes it easy to see what flavour you’re choosing.
- At 40 g, each portion is larger than the 25 g and 27.5 g treat bags mentioned. Joybuy’s product information for Pringles Original lists wheat and gluten and warns that it may contain traces of milk and soya.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes a treat pack containing 15 bags of 25 g: eight plain and seven paprika.
- The number of bags of each flavour helps you decide whether the mix will suit the group.
- With 15 bags, there are no spares if all 15 children are getting one. Also check the label for allergens.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s treat-bag category includes boxes of 20 or 30 items, as well as Pringles 12-packs.
- You can compare the listed sizes side by side by quantity and portion size.
- Check the full product information and label for the box you choose; a category overview won’t show every detail for each variety.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands describes a multipack containing 15 bags of different varieties and says it is sold in store.
- A pack of 15 gives you a clear starting point for a smaller group.
- Before choosing it for a group, check the flavours and ingredients listed on the pack in store.
Crisps multipacks for a treat on Joybuy
These multipacks mainly differ in the number of items listed: from 12 to two packs of 15. Compare the quantity with the size of your group. For a mixed box, also check whether the items can be handed out individually and what varieties it contains.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 2 × 15-pack
This size may suit a larger group. The product name lists two packs of 15; check the flavour mix and ingredients of the box you choose.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 15-pack
This quantity may suit a group of up to 15 recipients if you don’t need any spares. Check which varieties are in the mix and read the allergen information on the pack.
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Lay's Family Box, 15 items
For a smaller group, compare the 15 bags with the number of recipients. Lay’s Benelux describes the Family Box as a snack mix; check the portions and ingredients of each variety on the pack.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 items
A box of 20 items may suit a group of around 20. The product name lists Lay’s, Cheetos and Doritos; before buying, check that all the items can be handed out individually and read the ingredients for each variety.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 12 items
Twelve items may be enough for a smaller group. Check how many bags you can hand out individually, and look at the pack for the weight, flavours and allergens in each variety.
Frequently asked questions
Can you hand out crisps as a school treat?
Check the school or after-school club’s policy first; rules can vary from one place to another. The Voedingscentrum recommends finding out in advance what’s allowed as a treat.
Where can you check the allergens in a mixed box of crisps?
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy for every variety you plan to hand out. Also ask in advance about any known allergies in the group; don’t rely on the name of the mix alone.
Should you choose 25 g, 27.5 g or 40 g bags for a treat?
Choose a portion size only after checking the rules at the venue where you’ll be handing them out. Jumbo lists 25 g treat bags and a Lay’s Party Mix with 27.5 g per bag; Albert Heijn lists a Pringles 12-pack with 40 g per portion. The Voedingscentrum recommends small portions for treats.
How should you store a crisps multipack until you hand it out?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. Also check the ‘best before’ date before handing out the bags.