Households looking for ready-portioned lunches
Individual bags let you decide in advance which portion to pack. Compare the weight of each bag: the packs listed by Jumbo include bags weighing 25 g and 40 g.
Who are these pack formats suitable for?
Families planning several lunch occasions
If you’re stocking up for several school days, consider both the number of bags and the total amount. A mixed pack is most practical when everyone will actually eat the different flavours.
Families who pack crisps occasionally
If crisps are an occasional extra, portion size and how often you pack them matter more than buying a large supply. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places both regular and light crisps outside the Wheel of Five.
Which pack format works for lunch?
Multipack of individual bags
Works if: you want to prepare a bag for a school day without portioning it yourself.
Consider: the weight may vary from bag to bag, and everyone needs to be happy with the flavours in a mixed pack.
Large sharing bag
Works if: you want to portion the crisps out at home and finish the opened bag promptly.
Consider: the pack doesn’t provide individual lunch portions; you’ll need to make these yourself.
Tube
Works if: you want a resealable pack; according to Jumbo, Pringles is available in tubes including 165 g packs.
Consider: a standard tube doesn’t divide the contents into lunch portions for you.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Consistent portions | Check the number of bags and the weight of each one; 25 g and 40 g are different portion sizes. | I want to be able to prepare one chosen bag for a school day in advance. For around 36% of consumers, a consistent portion is the top priority. |
| Contents you’ll use | Check the total amount and how many bags or portions you’ll actually use. | If I’m buying for several lunch occasions, I want to avoid having some left over; around 29% of consumers prioritise contents they can use. |
| Flavour selection | Check which flavours are included in a mixed pack and read the ingredients for each variety. | Different tastes at home can make a mixed pack appealing, as long as nobody is left with bags they don’t want. Getting the right variety is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Occasional treats | Check the portion size and nutritional information for your chosen variety, including energy and salt. | I want to pack crisps as an occasional extra, not as a replacement for lunch. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
What should you watch out for?
-
Looking only at the number of bags
A pack with lots of bags doesn’t tell you how much crisp is in each one. For example, the packs listed by Jumbo as 15 × 25 g and 20 × 40 g offer different portion sizes.
Check both the number of bags and the weight of each one before choosing a portion for school.
-
Taking ‘light’ as a recommendation for lunch
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, both regular and light crisps fall outside the Wheel of Five. So the word ‘light’ doesn’t tell you whether crisps are a suitable basis for lunch.
Consider the portion you’ve chosen and read the nutritional information, rather than relying on the label alone.
-
Assuming all flavours have the same ingredients
Ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties in a mixed pack. For example, Joybuy’s product information for a Lay's Fun Mix Box lists milk and the possible presence of cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
Check the label for every flavour that’s relevant before packing a bag.
-
Skipping the label on the pack you receive
For lunch, you’ll use the pack you actually have at home. With a mixed pack, the ingredients, allergens, amount per bag and best-before information are particularly important.
Check these details on the pack you receive and on the individual bags where necessary.
Brands and ranges to consider
Lay's
Worth considering if you’re looking for individual bags in one flavour or a mixed pack. Jumbo lists, among other options, a Party Mix with 15 bags and a plain variety in a pack of 20 × 40 g bags.
- Some packs come with pre-portioned bags.
- For a mixed pack, check the contents and ingredients of each flavour.
Pringles
Worth considering if you’re looking for a tube. Jumbo lists 165 g tubes in various flavours; Joybuy also lists Original in a pack of 12 × 40 g.
- The pack format offers an alternative to individual bags and large sharing bags.
- The information for the Original variety in a 12 × 40 g pack lists wheat and gluten, and possible traces of milk and soya; check the label for your chosen variety.
Smiths
Worth considering if you’re looking for smaller bags of Sticks. Jumbo lists barbecue and paprika varieties in 100 g packs.
- The listed varieties come in packs of 100 g each.
- A 100 g bag isn’t an individually portioned lunch bag.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range is worth considering if you want to compare a multipack with a larger sharing bag. Jumbo lists a multipack of 15 × 25 g bags and large bags including 250 g and 335 g.
- The listed packs include both individual portions and bags you can portion out yourself.
- With a large bag, you’ll need to prepare a school portion yourself.
Snack Day
Lidl’s range is worth considering if you’re looking for a crisp mix in individual bags in store. Lidl Netherlands lists a multipack of 15 bags containing different varieties.
- The listed multipack combines several varieties in individual bags.
- Check the weight and ingredients of each bag on the pack you choose.
Crisp packs on Joybuy
These packs include individual bags or tubes that you can prepare for a school lunch. Compare portion size, flavours and labels for the variety you choose; none of these snacks is a substitute for a proper lunch.
Image unavailable
Pringles Original Crisps 12 × 40 g
The individual tubes are handy if you want to prepare a portion for a lunch occasion in advance.
According to Joybuy’s product information for this variety, the product contains wheat and gluten and may contain traces of milk and soya. Check the latest label.
Image unavailable
Lay's Fun Mix Box Crisps, 2 × 15 bags
Individual bags are handy for preparing snacks for several school days in advance. Check which flavours everyone will eat, and check the weight and allergens on the pack.
Image unavailable
Lay's, Cheetos and Doritos Mega Box, 20 pieces
This snack mix is worth considering if you want a varied supply for several lunch occasions. Check the weight, ingredients and allergens for each product in the mix before choosing a bag.
Image unavailable
Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
A crisp mix to consider if everyone at home enjoys different flavours. Check the pack to see how many individual bags you can prepare, and read the ingredients for each variety.
Image unavailable
Lay's Family Box, 15 bags
The individual bags make it easy to choose a snack in advance for a planned lunch occasion. Check the weight of each bag and, for a mixed pack, read the ingredients and allergens for every flavour.
Frequently asked questions
Can crisps be the main part of a school lunch?
No. Treat crisps as an occasional snack alongside lunch, not as a replacement for it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places both regular and light crisps outside the Wheel of Five.
What does the number of bags tell me about portion size?
The number alone isn’t enough: check the weight of each bag too. A multipack of 15 × 25 g and a pack of 20 × 40 g offer different portion sizes, even though both contain individual bags.
Should I check every flavour in a crisp mix for allergens?
Yes. Read the ingredients and allergen information for the varieties you’ll be eating. Don’t assume that all the bags in a mixed pack have the same ingredients; check the pack you receive.
How should I store an opened bag or tube?
Follow the storage and best-before information on the pack, and reseal opened packaging as instructed. This also helps you decide whether a large bag is suitable for the number of portions you plan to use.
Is online ingredient information enough when choosing a bag to pack?
Use online information to choose a pack, but check the label on the product you receive before eating it. Pay particular attention to the ingredients and allergens for the flavour you’re actually packing.