Parents who occasionally pack crisps
A single bag can be an extra treat in a lunchbox. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that lunch consists mainly of foods from the Wheel of Five.
Who might find a multipack useful?
Families who portion snacks in advance
Individual bags make it easy to spread snacks across several lunches. Compare the weight per bag: the total weight of a box won’t tell you how much goes into one lunchbox.
Shoppers considering flavours and allergens
With a box of assorted snacks, the flavour mix and ingredients matter. If you have a food allergy, check the allergen information on the packaging you’re buying.
What should you look for?
First decide what role the bag will play in lunch and how much will fit in the lunchbox. Then compare the contents of the box with what your household will actually eat.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should bear this in mind? |
|---|---|---|
| The whole lunch | Check the nutritional information per 100 g and per bag, including energy, fat and salt. | If I pack crisps, I want them to remain an extra treat rather than replace lunch. Around 33% of consumers put this consideration first. |
| Portion per bag | Check the number of grams per bag and whether all the bags are the same size. | I want one bag to fit in my lunchbox and contain an amount I can choose in advance. This portion size matters most to around 27% of consumers. |
| Stock for several lunches | Count the individual bags and see how many you can use for the lunches you have planned. | When I’m packing for several school days or children, I want enough suitable bags at home. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Flavour and allergens | Read which snacks and flavours are in the box, and check the current ingredients and allergen information. | I don’t want to be left with flavours my child won’t eat; if there’s an allergy, I also need to be able to check every relevant pack. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this. |
Common mistakes
-
Thinking a small bag can be the main part of lunch
A smaller bag limits the amount of crisps, but it doesn’t change what the product adds to lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that children’s lunches consist mainly of foods from the Wheel of Five.
Think of crisps as an optional extra and compare the nutritional information for the amount you’ll actually pack.
-
Choosing a mixed box without checking what’s inside
A snack box may combine potato crisps with other snacks. Flavours and allergens can vary between products and variants.
Check the contents and allergen information on the pack you’re buying, especially if someone has a food allergy.
Bags in flavours no one at home eats may go to waste.
-
Comparing only the number of bags
Multipacks with the same number of items can contain different amounts in each bag. For example, the Jumbo sharing bag lists 15 bags of 25 g, while the bags in the Lay's Family Box vary in weight according to Albert Heijn.
Compare the number of items with the weight per bag, then choose the combination that suits your lunchbox and how you plan to use it.
Brands to compare
Lay's
Lay's offers individual bags and mixed snack boxes. A mix like this is a good option if you’re happy to have a range of flavours.
- The Family Box at Albert Heijn contains several types of snacks and bags in different sizes.
- Check which snacks and allergens are in each box; a mixed box doesn’t contain potato crisps exclusively.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers a sharing bag with ready salted and paprika crisps if you want to portion out two familiar flavours.
- The product page lists 15 individual bags of 25 g.
- There are only two flavours to choose from. The listed sharing bag contains milk, an allergen.
Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s own brand of savoury snacks, with several flavours of crisps in its range.
- You can check in store which flavours are available in a suitable pack at the time.
- Assess a multipack by its own label: for a lunchbox, the number of bags, weight per bag and ingredients are particularly important.
Crisps and snack boxes on Joybuy
These products are individually packed crisps or mixed snack boxes. Choose a single flavour if you want predictable contents; for a mix, check which different snacks are in the box.
No image available
Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 items
A mixed box of individual snacks to spread across several lunches.
The pack contains 20 items, combining Lay's, Cheetos and Doritos. Check the portion size, nutritional information and allergens for each snack; the box doesn’t contain potato crisps exclusively.
No image available
Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chili, 10 × 40 g
A single-flavour option if you want to choose one individual bag in advance for each lunch.
The multipack contains 10 bags of 40 g. Consider whether that amount suits the lunch portion you have in mind, and check the current label if you have a wheat or soya allergy.
No image available
Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce Potato Chips, 12 × 40 g
These individual packs are a good fit if you want to spread one familiar flavour across several lunches.
The multipack contains 12 packs of 40 g. Check whether a tube fits in your lunchbox, and read the current label if you have a wheat or mustard allergy.
No image available
Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 12 items
A mixed box if you’d like to pack different snacks rather than the same crisps every time.
The pack contains 12 items. Check the current box to see which snacks are included, and check the weight per bag, nutritional information and allergens.
No image available
Lay's Family Box, 15 items
This box is designed for anyone who wants to choose individual snacks from an assortment.
The pack contains 15 items. Check the flavour mix, weight per bag and ingredients of this variant before deciding which bags are suitable for the lunchbox.
Frequently asked questions
Are crisps in a small bag a suitable main part of a school lunch?
No. A small bag doesn’t make crisps a suitable main part of lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that children’s lunches consist mainly of foods from the Wheel of Five; crisps can only be an extra alongside lunch.
How do I compare two multipacks with bags of different weights?
Look at both the weight per bag and the nutritional information per 100 g. This lets you compare products on the same basis, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, and then see what one bag adds.
What should I check in a mixed snack box if someone has a food allergy?
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for that specific box. Don’t rely on the details for another mix or variant, even if it has the same brand name.
How should I store bags for later lunches?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Jumbo recommends keeping its sharing bag in a cool, dry place; check the instructions again if you choose a different product.