Anyone preparing lunch packs in advance
You want to set aside one individual portion for each lunch pack. The number of bags and the weight of each one will determine whether the pack suits your plans.
Who are these multipacks for?
Anyone offering a choice of flavours
You’re organising lunch for colleagues with different tastes. A mixed box offers a choice, as long as the flavours and snack types included suit the group.
Anyone checking labels before handing snacks out
You want to be able to check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the products you’ve bought. With a mixed box, each type of snack needs to be checked individually.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the number of lunch packs you need. Then compare the contents of each individual portion, and finally check whether the flavour selection and labels suit the people receiving them.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count the individual bags or tubes and compare the total with the number of lunch packs you need. | If I want to pack one snack for everyone, the pack needs to contain enough individual portions. Around 36% of consumers put having enough portions first. |
| Contents per portion | Compare the weight of each bag or tube, not just the number of items in the pack. | I want to know in advance how many crisps each lunch pack will contain, especially if the packs have different portion sizes. Around 29% of consumers give this comparability top priority. |
| Flavour selection | Check which flavours and snack types are included, and how many portions there are of each. | If colleagues have different preferences, I want to offer a choice without assuming the flavours are split evenly. For around 21% of consumers, this choice matters most. |
| Label information | Check the ingredients and allergens for each snack type; compare the nutritional information per portion if you wish. | Before handing out snacks, I want to be able to check what each type of pack contains. For around 14% of consumers, allergens and nutritional information come first. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing only the number of items
Fifteen small bags and fifteen larger portions will fill the same number of lunch packs, but they won’t contain the same amount per pack.
Check the weight of each individual portion as well as the number of items. For example, Jumbo lists 15 bags of 25 g, while the Pringles Original multipack reviewed contains 12 portions of 40 g.
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Treating a mixed box as one uniform type of crisps
The Lay’s mixed boxes described by Albert Heijn combine products from brands including Lay’s, Cheetos and Doritos. As a result, the ingredients and allergens may vary between items.
Before handing them out, read the label information for every snack type included on the packaging you’ve bought.
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Assuming there are equal numbers of each flavour
A box containing several flavours doesn’t have to include the same number of bags of each one. As a result, a favourite flavour may run out sooner.
Check the number of each variety if you want to give everyone a particular flavour; otherwise, choose a multipack with one flavour throughout.
Brands and product ranges compared
Lay’s
Albert Heijn describes Lay’s mixed boxes containing 20 or 30 individual bags, as well as multipacks with one flavour.
- The Mega Box and Celebration Box described combine different flavours and types of snacks.
- For a mixed box, check the contents and allergens of each item; the bags don’t all contain the same product.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists sharing bags with 15 individual 25 g portions in paprika and ready salted flavours.
- Two stated flavours and a set number of bags make it easy to prepare lunch packs in advance.
- If you want to offer more flavours, check whether paprika and ready salted provide enough choice.
Snack Day
Lidl describes a Snack Day multipack containing a mix of 15 bags of crisps.
- The stated number of individual bags is useful when planning lunch packs.
- Check which varieties are in the pack in store, and read the labels there.
Pringles
The Pringles Original multipack described contains 12 individual 40 g portions in one flavour.
- The number of portions and weight per portion are clearly stated for this variety.
- Check that the packaging format and 40 g portion fit in your lunch pack, and check the current label too.
Crisps multipacks and snack boxes on Joybuy
This selection includes multipacks in one flavour and mixed boxes with individual snacks. Choose based on the number of portions you need, and check which products are actually included in a mixed box before handing them out.
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Lay’s Sensations Thai Sweet Chili, 10 × 40 g
For ten lunch packs where the same flavour and a 40 g portion are suitable.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging you’ve bought before handing out the bags.
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Pringles Original Crisps, 12 × 40 g
For twelve lunch packs where one flavour is all you need.
The individual portions come in tubes rather than bags. Check that the packaging format and 40 g portion are right for your lunch pack.
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Lay’s Cheetos Doritos Mega Box, 20 items
For twenty lunch packs when a variety of crisps and corn snacks is welcome.
Albert Heijn describes the Mega Box as containing bags ranging from 22 g to 27,5 g. Check the selection and allergens for each snack type on the box you’ve bought.
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Lay’s Fun Mix Box, 15 items
For fifteen lunch packs when you want to hand out a variety of snacks.
Check how many bags of each variety are in the box you’ve bought, and check the allergens for each type.
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Lay’s Family Box, 15 items
For sharing out fifteen individual snacks, with room for different preferences.
Before preparing your lunch packs, check the weight of each bag, the mix of snack types and the label information on the box you’ve bought.
Frequently asked questions
Should I check the allergens for each snack type in a mixed box?
Yes. Check the current label information for every type included before handing out the snacks. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on food labels; the ingredients can vary between products in the same mixed box.
Is a box with more bags always more convenient for lunch packs?
No. The number of bags needs to match both the number of lunch packs and the portion size you want. So compare the weight of each bag too, and, for a mixed box, check how the flavours are divided.
How should I store the snacks until lunchtime?
Store unopened packs according to the instructions on the box or bags you’ve bought. The Jumbo sharing bags described should be stored in a cool, dry place; also check the best-before date.
Does a small bag tell you enough about its nutritional value?
No. The weight of a bag doesn’t tell you how much fat, saturated fat or salt that particular product contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives the average values for 40 g of crisps as 13,1 g of fat, including 3,4 g of saturated fat; check the nutritional information on the packaging for the variety you choose.