Organising a shared lunch
If several people are eating from the same bag, the net weight can help you work out how many packs you need. You can portion them out yourself, but a large bag doesn’t do this in advance.
Which pack size is right for you?
Want to hand out individual portions?
Small bags or individual tubes make it easier to take crisps with you or hand them out. As well as the number of packs, check the weight of each one.
Checking ingredients or nutritional values
If you need to consider an ingredient or nutritional values, make sure you can check the information for the exact flavour. Always check the current packaging: information for one variety doesn’t necessarily apply to another.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether everyone will share one pack or needs their own portion. Then compare the pack size and the information on the packaging for the flavours you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| How much to share | Check the net weight and think about how many people will be eating. | If I’m organising lunch for a group, I want to know there’ll be enough without opening more packs than necessary. Around 33% of consumers prioritise having enough for the group. |
| Portioning out | Check the number of bags or tubes and the weight of each one. | For a day out or a lunch with several children, I want to be able to hand out portions without measuring them myself. This is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety. | If someone eating needs to avoid a particular ingredient, I want to know what’s in this flavour before handing it out. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Nutritional values and portion size | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and, if needed, work them out for the portion you’re serving. | If I want to keep an eye on salt or fat, a comparison isn’t much use unless I know how much each person will have. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this nutritional information. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming information for one flavour applies to every variety
Ingredients and allergens can vary between crisp varieties. So, information on one pack doesn’t necessarily apply to another flavour from the same brand.
Before serving, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’re actually using.
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Assuming a nutritional claim applies to the whole brand
Lay's makes its comparison about fat for the Oven Baked range, not all Lay's crisps. A claim about a product range also doesn’t replace the nutritional information table for the variety you choose.
Check which variety and basis of comparison a claim refers to. Compare nutritional values per 100 g and take account of the portion you’re serving.
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Assuming an online pack can be delivered to your address
Delivery availability can vary by product and address. A suitable pack won’t help if you can’t have it delivered.
Check delivery availability for your postcode before planning your lunch around a product you’ve found online.
A guide to the brands
Albert Heijn
AH own-brand crisps are an option if you’d like to portion out a standard bag yourself.
- AH Paprika Crisps are available in a 250 g pack.
- Check the packaging for your chosen flavour; information about paprika doesn’t automatically apply to other varieties.
Jumbo
Jumbo has own-brand crisps in a range of flavours and pack sizes for those who want to portion them out themselves.
- Jumbo Paprika Crisps are one example of a 250 g bag.
- When choosing, check the weight of the specific bag rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s crisps and snacks brand, with options including ready salted and paprika flavours.
- You can explore different flavours in the range.
- Check the weight and nutritional information for each flavour before comparing packs.
Lay's
Lay's offers both standard bags and multipacks of small bags; MAX and Oven Baked are separate product ranges.
- A multipack can be a good choice if you want to hand out portions in advance.
- Features or claims for one product range don’t necessarily apply to other Lay's varieties.
Pringles
Pringles offers crisps in tubes for those who prefer individual packs to one bag for everyone to share.
- Pringles Original is available, among other options, in a 40 g pack.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety; information about Original doesn’t apply to other flavours.
Crisps and snack mixes on Joybuy
These packs offer different ways to serve crisps at a lunch, from individual tubes and multipacks to a sharing mix. Focus on how many packs you get and how much you need.
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Pringles Original Crisps, 12 × 40 g
The individual tubes are a good fit for a lunch where you want to hand out packs or take them with you.
The pack contains 12 tubes, each weighing 40 g. Check the ingredients and allergens for this version on the current packaging.
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Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g
This sharing mix is an option if you’d like to serve crisps at a lunch for everyone to share.
The total weight is 180 g. Check the packaging to see how the mix is divided if the number of individual portions matters.
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Pringles Original Crisps, 3 × 165 g
Three larger tubes are a good fit if you want to share crisps across several occasions or groups, but they aren’t small individual portions.
Each tube contains 165 g. Check the ingredients and allergens for this version on the current packaging.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 2 × 15-pack
This pack is a good fit for a lunch where you want to hand out lots of individual bags.
The product name specifies two 15-packs. Check the weight and product information for each bag if these details matter when handing them out.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 15-pack
This pack is a good fit if you want to take a box of individual bags with you or hand them out.
The product name specifies one 15-pack; when comparing it with the other Fun Mix Box, check the difference in the number of packs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare a large bag with a multipack?
Compare the total net weight, then work out how many individual portions you need. You’ll need to portion out a large bag yourself; with a multipack, the weight of each bag matters too.
Are small bags always more convenient for a school holiday lunch?
Small bags are most useful if you want to hand out crisps in advance or take them individually. If everyone is eating together and you want to portion them out yourself, one larger bag may work better.
What should I check if someone needs to avoid an ingredient?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging for the exact variety you’re serving. Your Europe describes ingredient and allergen information as part of EU labelling for prepacked foods. Don’t rely on details from another flavour or pack size.
How should I store an opened bag of crisps?
Seal the pack well after opening and follow the storage instructions for your chosen product. Albert Heijn recommends keeping its Paprika Crisps in a cool, dark and dry place.
What should I check before ordering crisps online?
Check whether the exact pack can be delivered to your postcode. Also check the number of bags or tubes and the total weight, so the pack you receive is right for the lunch you’re organising.