Parents who want to pack one bag
A sealed bag can go straight into a lunchbox. Jumbo lists a multipack with 25 g bags; Lay's Party Mix bags weigh 27.5 g.
Who are individual bags useful for?
Families who check the label for each flavour
Ingredients can vary between varieties in a mixed box. So check the allergen information for every flavour you plan to send to school.
Families looking for a stock-up option with variety
As well as the number of bags, check their weight and the mix of flavours. This will help you decide whether the contents will work for several lunches.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking whether each bag is individually wrapped and how much it contains. Then compare the labels and flavours with what works for lunch at home and at school.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Check the number of individually wrapped bags and the weight of each one. | If I want to put one sealed bag in a lunchbox, its size needs to suit the lunch. This need for an individual portion is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for every flavour, including in a mixed box. | When flavours contain different ingredients, I want to know which bag I can pack. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Nutrition information | Compare energy, fat, saturated fat and salt per portion and per 100 g. | I want to assess what’s in a bag as part of the whole lunch, rather than judging by pack size alone. This is the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Flavours and quantity | Check how many bags of each flavour are in the box and compare packs on a like-for-like basis. | If I’m buying for several school days, I want to know the flavours will actually be eaten. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this combination of quantity and variety. |
Common mistakes
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Treating a small bag as a complete lunch
An individual bag makes the portion size clear, but on its own it says nothing about the rest of the lunch.
Compare the nutrition information per bag and per 100 g. The Voedingscentrum describes crisps as a snack and gives nutrition values for plain crisps as a general reference, not as values for every multipack.
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Using the label for one flavour for the whole mix
A box may contain different types of crisps or snacks, each with its own ingredients list.
Check the label for every variety before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) notes that allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked foods.
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Assuming a tube is a box of lunch bags
A tube isn’t automatically divided into individually wrapped portions. Jumbo lists, among other products, 165 g Pringles tubes.
If you want to pack a portion without repacking it, look for the number of individual bags and their weight.
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Looking only at the number of bags
Fifteen bags don’t tell you how many crisps are in each one or which flavours the box contains.
Check the pack itself for the weight per bag, flavour mix, ingredients and nutrition information before comparing different multipacks.
Brands compared
These brands and retailer examples show different types of packaging. The brand alone doesn’t tell you whether a product contains individual portions for lunchboxes.
Lay's
Jumbo lists Lay's Party Mix as a box of 15 bags weighing 27.5 g each, split across three varieties.
- The individual bags and stated flavour mix make it clear what’s in the box before you buy.
- The mix also contains Bugles, a corn snack; check the ingredients and allergens for each variety.
Jumbo
According to Jumbo, its Jumbo Chips Paprika & Naturel multipack contains 15 bags weighing 25 g each.
- The pack states both the weight per bag and the split between plain and paprika flavours.
- If you want to compare nutrition values or allergens by flavour, check the current label.
Snack Day (Lidl)
Lidl describes Snack Day as its own snack brand and also lists a crisps multipack with 15 different bags.
- A Lidl multipack with individual bags is another packaging option to compare with other boxes.
- Check the weight, ingredients and allergens on the bags in the specific pack.
Pringles
The Pringles varieties listed in Jumbo’s range include 165 g tubes.
- A tube may suit you if you want to portion out the contents yourself.
- A 165 g tube isn’t the same as a multipack of individual bags for lunchboxes.
Crisps multipacks at Joybuy
These products include individual portions of crisps and mixed snack boxes. If you’re looking for one sealed bag for a school lunch, check the exact contents and packaging of each item, especially in mixed boxes.
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Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chili, 10 × 40 g
A good choice if you’re looking for individual bags in a Thai Sweet Chili flavour. The pack lists 10 bags of 40 g each; compare that weight with your preferred lunch portion and read the current label.
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Pringles Hot & Spicy Crunchy Chips, 12 × 40 g
An option if you’re after a spicy flavour. The pack lists 12 portions of 40 g each; check whether that amount suits the lunch and read the nutrition and allergen information on the label.
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Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce Potato Chips, 12 × 40 g
For anyone looking for Texas BBQ Sauce flavour in portions for several lunches. The pack lists 12 portions of 40 g each; check how the portions are packaged and read the label, especially if you have a wheat or mustard allergy.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 2 × 12 pieces
A mixed box for anyone looking for variety. Before buying, check the total number of bags in the bundle on offer: the product information states both 2 × 12 pieces and 12 bags per Chill Box. Also check the weight per bag and the label for each flavour.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 pieces
A mixed box for anyone looking for a selection of snacks. The name states that it contains 20 pieces; check whether each one is individually wrapped, and read the weight, nutrition information and allergens for each type before choosing it as a lunchbox staple.
Frequently asked questions
What size bag works well for a school lunch?
Choose an individually wrapped bag with an amount that suits the lunch you want to pack. Jumbo lists 25 g bags in its Paprika & Naturel sharing pack and 27.5 g bags in Lay's Party Mix; compare the weight and nutrition information on the pack you’re buying.
Should I check every bag in a variety pack for allergens?
Yes. Check the information for each flavour, as the ingredients may differ across a variety pack. Read the current label on the box and on the individual products; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be listed on prepacked foods.
How should I store crisps after opening a bag?
Once opened, store crisps in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry, dark place. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened crisps in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 5 days; also follow the instructions on the pack.