Parents who pack a bag now and then
An individual bag does not need to be portioned out and can be an occasional extra treat. For a regular school lunch, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing mostly foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five.
Who are multipacks useful for?
Families with different flavour preferences
An assorted box gives you a choice, as long as its contents suit what the children like to eat. Check how many bags there are of each flavour: Jumbo and Albert Heijn offer boxes with different assortments.
Shoppers who need to check allergens carefully
If a box contains different types of snacks, it is important to check the label for each relevant variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights that allergens must be listed on food labels.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether the crisps are for an occasional school treat. Then choose between an assortment and a single flavour, and check the portions and labels on the pack you want to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Where they fit into the school day | Decide whether the bags are for an occasional treat, and what else will go in the lunchbox. | If I want to pack an extra treat, I don’t want crisps to replace the usual lunch. Around 31% of consumers put this consideration first. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for every relevant snack variety, including those in an assorted box. | If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know which bag is suitable. Around 25% of consumers put this check first. |
| Portion size and flavour mix | Compare the number of individual bags, the weight of each one and how many bags there are of each flavour. | When everyone at home has different preferences, I want to be able to pack portions without being left with flavours no one wants. Around 25% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| How much you’ll actually use | Consider how many bags you expect to use and whether the pack size suits the occasion. | If I’m stocking up for several school occasions, I want the contents to match what we’ll use. This is the main concern for around 19% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Treating an individual bag as a regular lunch choice
An individual pack is easy to pop in a lunchbox, but that doesn’t change the place of crisps in a school lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing mostly foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five for school.
Save multipacks of crisps for an occasional extra treat, and decide separately what to pack for a regular lunch.
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Assuming every bag contains the same allergens
An assorted box may contain different types of snacks and recipes. So the label for one variety won’t necessarily tell you everything you need to know about another.
Before buying and packing the bags, check the current ingredients and allergen information for the relevant varieties, including any warnings about possible traces.
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Looking only at the number of bags
Bags in multipacks are not always the same size or evenly divided between flavours. For example, Albert Heijn lists a Pringles Original 12-pack of 12 × 40 g, while Jumbo shows a 15 × 25 g own-brand sharing pack.
Compare the weight of each pack and the flavour mix with the school occasion you want to use the bags for.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Lay's features in assorted boxes with individual bags and different types of snacks.
- Jumbo lists a Family Mix with 15 bags; Albert Heijn lists a Celebration Box with 30 bags.
- Check the actual flavours, portion sizes and ingredients for each box. Different editions are not necessarily the same.
Pringles
An option when having one familiar flavour matters more than variety.
- Albert Heijn lists an Original 12-pack with 12 individual 40 g packs.
- Compare 40 g per pack with the portion you want to give. A single flavour means there’s no choice within the box.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes a sharing pack with a straightforward mix of flavours.
- Jumbo lists a paprika and plain variety pack with 15 bags of 25 g.
- Check that both flavours and the current ingredients are suitable for the people who will be having the bags.
Lidl Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s snack brand, with a range of crisp flavours.
- For a school occasion, look specifically for a pack with individual portions and check what it contains. Standard bags of crisps don’t necessarily serve the same purpose.
Smiths
Smiths is worth considering if you’re specifically looking for snacks from this brand.
- Jumbo lists Smiths Sticks in individual 100 g packs. If you find a multipack, check the number of portions, contents and label separately.
Multipacks of crisps at Joybuy
These multipacks offer individual portions for an occasional snack or sharing occasion. The assorted boxes give you a choice of snack types; packs with a single flavour are most relevant when you already know which one you want.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 pieces
An assorted box for an occasional sharing occasion when people have different flavour preferences.
Check the contents and allergen information for each variety before packing any bags.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 15 pieces
An assorted box to consider if you’re looking for individual snacks to suit different flavour preferences.
Check the mix of snack types and the ingredients of each bag you plan to use.
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Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chili, 10 × 40 g
Better suited to someone who prefers Thai Sweet Chili than to a group looking for different flavours.
Consider whether a 40 g portion is right for the occasion you’re buying the pack for, and check the current label if you have allergies.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 12 pieces
An assorted box to consider if you want to cater for different snack preferences at an occasional get-together.
Check the weight of each bag and the ingredients of the varieties you plan to pack.
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Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce, 12 × 40 g
Worth considering if Texas BBQ Sauce is the one flavour you’re after.
Check that the individual pack format and 40 g portion suit the lunchbox and the occasion. If you have allergies, read the current label.
Frequently asked questions
Are bags of crisps suitable as an everyday school snack?
Crisps are best kept as an occasional extra treat rather than the basis of a daily school lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing mostly foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five for school, including vegetables, fruit and wholegrain foods.
Do I need to check every bag in an assorted box for allergens?
Check the allergen information for every variety you plan to pack, as different types of snacks may contain different ingredients. Also read any warnings about possible traces on the current packaging.
What if the school has rules about snacks or treats?
Check the rules at your child’s school before buying a multipack for a school occasion. That way, you can decide whether and when individual bags are suitable.