Lunchbox planner
You want to include a bag of crisps now and then, without making it a regular staple of the lunchbox. For everyday lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Wheel of Five.
Who are individual snack bags useful for?
Family looking to pack a set amount
With an individual bag, there’s no need to keep portioning snacks out of a large, opened bag. Do check the weight, though: not every bag in a mixed box contains the same amount.
Stocking up for different flavour preferences
You’re looking for bags for several children or lunch occasions. It’s not just the number of bags that matters, but also the mix of flavours, snack types and allergens in the box.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether crisps are an occasional addition to the lunchbox. Then check the amount in each bag and how much of a mixed box you’ll actually use.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Portion and place in the lunchbox | Check the weight of each bag and the nutritional information per 100 g or per portion. A small bag doesn’t change the nutritional value per gram. | If you’re packing crisps now and then, you’ll want to know how much is in one bag without treating it as a replacement for lunch. For around 42% of consumers, portion size comes first. |
| How much of the multipack you’ll use | Compare the number of individual bags, the total weight and what’s in the box. Check whether the quantity suits the number of snack occasions you have in mind. | For several lunch occasions, you’ll want enough individual bags, but not a box that leaves some unused. Around 33% of consumers prioritise having a useful amount in stock. |
| Flavours and allergens | Read which snacks and flavours are in the exact box. Check the ingredients and allergens on the bags you plan to include. | If children have different flavour preferences or need to avoid certain ingredients, you’ll want to know which bags are suitable for each of them. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a bigger box is automatically more useful
More bags are only helpful if the portions, flavours and types of snacks suit the lunchboxes you’re saving them for.
Compare the number of bags with the total weight, and check what each variety contains before choosing a bigger box.
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Assuming every bag in a mixed-flavour box is the same
A box may combine potato crisps with other snacks. The Lay's Mega box described by Albert Heijn includes ingredients containing milk and soya in some parts of the mix.
Read the ingredients and allergens on the exact packaging, and check the bags you plan to include.
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Confusing a small bag with an everyday lunch choice
A portion-sized pack determines the amount, not the place of crisps in an everyday school lunch. For food and drink at primary school, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Wheel of Five.
Treat crisps as an occasional snack and put together the usual lunch separately.
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Assuming every multipack is available in the same way
Lidl states that its multipack of 15 bags is only available in store.
Before setting off or placing an order, check how the exact variety is available.
If it’s only sold in store, you’ll need to make a trip to the shop.
Brands and shops to explore
Lay's
Worth a look if you want to compare individual snack bags with mixed snack boxes.
- Jumbo and Albert Heijn list Lay's boxes with different numbers of bags.
- A mixed box doesn’t necessarily contain only potato crisps; check the contents, weight and allergens for each variety.
Pringles
Another type of packaging to consider if you prefer tubes to bags.
- Albert Heijn lists a Pringles Original 12-pack.
- Don’t compare the number of tubes directly with the number of snack bags in a mixed box; check the amount in each pack too.
Smiths
Worth a look if Smiths Sticks are the snack you’re after.
- Jumbo lists 100 g Sticks varieties in barbecue and paprika flavours.
- These individual packs don’t serve the same purpose as a box of individual snack bags.
Albert Heijn
A shop where you can browse the contents of boxes from different brands.
- Product information includes a Lay's Mega box with 20 pieces and a Celebration box with 30 pieces.
- Albert Heijn notes that product information can change, so check the packaging before use as well.
Jumbo
A shop where you can compare Lay's individual snack bags in different box sizes.
- The product information shown includes a Party Mix with 15 bags in three flavours.
- Check the total weight and individual portions in each box; the number of bags alone doesn’t tell you enough.
Lidl
A shop to consider if you’re looking for a mix of individual bags.
- Lidl lists a multipack of 15 bags containing different types of crisps.
- This item is listed as available in store only.
Multipacks of crisps and snack mixes at Joybuy
These products include multipacks of crisps and boxes containing different snacks. For a school lunchbox, choose based on the individual portions, and check which bags are included in mixed boxes.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 pieces
For anyone looking to keep individual snacks in different flavours for several occasions.
The product name lists 20 pieces. Check which snacks are included and how many of each flavour the box contains.
If you have allergies, read the ingredients on the exact packaging; milk and soya are present in some parts of the mix in the Mega box described by Albert Heijn.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 15 pieces
An option if you’re looking for a box of individual bags and want a choice of flavours.
The product name lists 15 pieces. Check the weight of each bag and, if you have allergies, read the ingredients on the exact packaging.
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Lay's Family Box, 15 pieces
For anyone looking to keep individual snacks for different lunch occasions.
The product name lists 15 pieces. Check the weight of each bag, the ingredients and the allergens on the exact packaging.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 12 pieces according to the product name
Consider this variety only if the contents and portions suit the lunchboxes you’re putting together.
The product information gives conflicting numbers of bags. Confirm the number and weight of each bag on the exact packaging, and check the allergens there too.
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Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g
A mix to consider if you’re looking for a smaller pack with a variety of snacks.
The product name gives a total weight of 180 g. Check the number of bags, the weight of each one and the ingredients on the exact packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are bags of crisps a regular staple in a school lunchbox?
No. Don’t treat crisps as a replacement for everyday lunch. For food and drink at primary school, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Wheel of Five; you can consider a bag of crisps separately as an occasional snack.
How do I compare two multipacks of crisps for lunchboxes?
Compare how many individual portions you can use and how many grams are in each bag. Consider the types of snacks too: a mixed box, a 12-pack of tubes and a large sharing bag aren’t necessarily interchangeable.
Do I need to check every bag in a mixed-flavour box for allergens?
Check the bags you plan to include against the exact packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that 14 allergens must be listed on the label; ingredients may differ within a mixed box.
Can I rely on a product page for ingredient information?
Use the product page to help you make your choice, but check the physical packaging before use. Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so the packaging is important if ingredients or allergens affect your choice.
Might a school have its own rules about snacks?
Ask the school or out-of-school care provider what rules apply to lunchboxes. Keep them in mind before choosing a box of bags for school.