Parents looking for an everyday snack for a toddler
For everyday snacking, the Dutch Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread. A multipack of crisps doesn’t fit with this advice.
Who is this choice for?
Parents planning an occasional treat
If crisps are for older children or adults as well at a special get-together, individual bags can make it easier to hand them out in advance. If you’re buying a variety box, check which flavours it contains and read the allergen information.
Families mainly shopping for older children and adults
If the pack is mainly for adults and older children, the number of bags, the amount in each bag and the contents of the box are all worth comparing. Choose something else for your toddler’s everyday snack.
What should you look for?
First, decide whether the crisps are meant to be an everyday snack for your toddler. Only if you’re planning a special, occasional treat should you then compare the packaging and individual varieties.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday snack for a toddler | Is this for a daily snack for a baby or toddler? If so, choose a food from the Wheel of Five instead of a box of crisps, as recommended by the Dutch Nutrition Centre. | For my toddler’s everyday snack, I want something that follows the Dutch Nutrition Centre’s advice. For around 50% of consumers, suitability for everyday use comes first. |
| Handing them out in advance | Check the number of bags, the amount in each bag and the varieties in the box; ingredients and allergens can vary between varieties. | If crisps are being served at a special get-together, I want to be able to hand out the bags in advance. For around 30% of consumers, ease of sharing is the main consideration. |
| Stocking up for older snackers | Compare the total weight and type of packaging with what your household needs for the occasion. | If I’m mainly buying for older children and adults, I want an amount that suits how they’ll use it. For around 20% of consumers, stocking up for the family is the first consideration. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a small bag makes an everyday snack for a toddler
An individual bag makes sharing easier, but it doesn’t turn crisps into a food from the Wheel of Five. The Dutch Nutrition Centre advises against giving children under 4 snacks high in salt.
Choose a more suitable snack for your toddler’s everyday routine. Only consider individual bags of crisps for a planned, occasional treat.
-
Judging a variety box by its outer packaging alone
According to Jumbo, Lay's Party Mix contains milk and may contain, among other things, soya, wheat and other cereals containing gluten. The varieties in a mix may differ.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific box and check which bags it contains.
-
Comparing the number of bags without checking how much is in each one
A box with more bags isn’t necessarily a better fit for an occasional treat: the amount in each bag and the total weight also determine how many crisps you’ll have at home.
Compare these amounts before choosing a pack, and decide who the bags are for.
Brands compared
Lay's
Lay's sells sharing boxes containing different varieties of crisps. Albert Heijn lists 15 bags in its Family Box, while Jumbo describes its Party Mix as containing 15 individual bags.
- Individual bags make it possible to hand them out in advance.
- For mixed boxes, check the ingredients and allergens for each variety; this doesn’t automatically make the bags suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler.
Pringles
Pringles is available in tubes and packs containing smaller individual portions. The type of packaging determines whether the contents are already portioned out.
- Individual packs can be useful when you’re handing out crisps in advance.
- Albert Heijn lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for Pringles Original, and says it may contain milk and soya. Check the information for the variety you’re buying.
Snack Day
Snack Day is Lidl’s own brand for crisps and other savoury snacks.
- The range includes a variety of savoury snacks to compare by packaging type and ingredients.
- Check the label for the specific variety; crisps aren’t a substitute for an everyday toddler snack from the Wheel of Five.
Multipacks for occasional treats
These multipacks contain individual bags, making it easier to share crisps as part of a planned, occasional treat—for example, when older children or adults are joining in too. They aren’t intended for your toddler’s everyday snack routine.
No image available
Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chili, 10 × 40 g
The individual bags are designed to be handed out in advance for an occasional get-together, not as an everyday snack for a toddler.
Before buying, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for this variety.
No image available
Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce Potato Chips, 12 × 40 g
The individual bags make it possible to hand them out in advance for an occasional treat; they don’t make crisps suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for this specific variety.
Frequently asked questions
Is a multipack of crisps suitable as an everyday snack for my toddler?
No, not as an everyday snack. For babies and toddlers, the Dutch Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five between meals, such as vegetables, fruit or wholemeal bread, and advises against snacks high in salt for children under 4.
Does a small bag of crisps make a difference for my toddler?
A small bag makes it easier to portion them out in advance, but it doesn’t make crisps suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler. If you’re sharing them as an occasional treat, decide who the bags are for.
What should I check in a mix of crisps if allergens are a concern?
Read the label on the specific box and check the varieties inside. For Lay's Party Mix, Jumbo lists milk and possible traces of cereals containing gluten, gluten, soya and wheat; you shouldn’t assume the same information applies to another mix.
Does a ‘less fat’ or ‘less salt’ label make crisps suitable as a snack for a toddler?
No. That label alone doesn’t determine whether crisps are suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler. Follow the Dutch Nutrition Centre’s advice for babies and toddlers, and read the nutritional information for the specific variety when comparing products.