Parents looking for small portions
You want to include a small portion of fruit without assuming that dried fruit is low in calories. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small portions of raisins and favours fresh fruit for children.
Who is this guide for?
Carers of young children
Your first consideration is whether the texture is suitable for the child’s age. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises adapting the texture and gives fruit cut into small pieces as an example.
People buying for a childcare group
You compare types of fruit and pack sizes, while taking the setting’s food policy and hygiene procedures into account. RIVM/KIDDI refers to the Hygiene Code for Small Institutions or another approved hygiene code.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the amount you plan to hand out, then check the ingredients and packaging, and consider whether the texture is suitable for the children’s ages.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal for the same weight and consider the amount actually handed out. | If I want to estimate the energy in a portion, I compare the same amount in grams and look at what’s actually being packed. Around 31% of consumers mainly consider energy per portion. |
| Suitable texture | Check how the food has been prepared and adapt it to the child’s age. | For a young child, I want to choose a form that’s suitable for their age, rather than relying on a product description such as ‘soft’. Around 25% of consumers prioritise a texture their child can manage. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, and check the current packaging. | If the ingredients or a relevant sensitivity affects my choice, I check the packaging rather than relying on the name of the fruit. Around 25% of consumers mainly look at ingredients and allergens. |
| Packaging and storage | Choose a pack size that suits how much you’ll use and follow the storage instructions for that particular product. | When handing food out to a group, I want packaging that suits how much we’ll use and that can be sealed and stored properly. Around 19% of consumers mainly consider packaging, portioning and storage when choosing. |
As general category examples, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s calorie checker lists 40 kcal per 20 g of dried plums and 65 kcal per 20 g of raisins. These are not the nutritional values of the products below; check the label of the exact product for those. Here, 20 g is a unit for comparison, not a standard portion for children.
Common pitfalls
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Assuming a small portion means a low-calorie product
A small amount doesn’t mean a product is low in calories. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s category figures are not the label values for individual supermarket products.
Compare kcal for the same weight and keep the actual portion small. Don’t use category averages as the nutritional values for a specific pack.
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Treating every type of fruit as the same choice
Ranges can include plain dried fruit, mixes and processed products. For example, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between dried dates and sugared dates.
Read the ingredients for the exact product and check the allergen information if it’s relevant to the group.
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Taking ‘soft’ as a guarantee that it’s suitable
A product description such as ‘soft’ doesn’t mean it’s suitable for every child. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises choosing a texture appropriate for the child’s age.
Choose a suitable form and assess the texture for the child. Don’t let a description on the pack replace your own assessment.
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Buying a large pack without a plan for using it
A larger pack won’t necessarily suit how much you’ll actually use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s general storage advice for dried apricots is to keep them in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container.
Choose a pack size that suits how much you’ll use and follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you choose.
A larger bag may take extra time to portion out and seal properly.
Supermarket brands for comparison
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells its own-brand raisins, as well as a range of dried fruit and fruit-and-nut mixes.
- The range makes it easy to distinguish plain raisins from mixes.
- Check the ingredients of the product you choose; a mix isn’t the same as plain dried fruit.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers different types of fruit and pack sizes, including sultanas.
- The range information distinguishes between dried and rehydrated apricots, as well as different sizes of sultanas.
- A range overview isn’t an independent assessment of nutritional suitability.
Lidl
Lidl sells dried fruit under its Alesto range, alongside nut products.
- The range includes different types of dried fruit and nuts.
- Assess each product individually; there’s no evidence that the range as a whole is low in calories or suitable for all young children.
Aldi
Aldi lists TRADER JOE'S sun-dried apricots in a 250 g pack.
- The product description says the apricots are soft.
- That description isn’t a measured comparison of texture or a general assessment of suitability for children.
PLUS
PLUS lists dried plums in a 375 g bag.
- The product information clearly states the pack size.
- Ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change; check the current packaging.
Dirk
The range includes different varieties, such as sultanas, golden raisins, prunes and apricots.
- The varieties listed offer a choice of different fruits.
- Compare the exact product and pack size; the name of a fruit alone tells you nothing about its energy value.
Joybuy products to consider
This selection includes raisins, dried plums and dried apricots. Check the ingredients, portion information and any usage restrictions for each product.
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Sundrop Mini Raisin Handouts, 252 g
Could suit you if you’re looking for raisins; the product information lists 99.5% raisins and sunflower oil.
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De Kleine Keuken Organic Raisins 12M+, 140 g
The boxes may be handy if you want to hand out individual portions; the product information says they’re suitable from 12 months.
The pack contains 10 boxes of 14 g. According to the product information, this product isn’t suitable for children with swallowing difficulties; supervise children while they eat.
The product information states that the raisins contain no added sugars or sulphites.
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Be&Cheery Various Dried Plum, 90 g
An option if you’re looking for dried plums; the product information lists 68 kcal per 100 g.
The ingredients information lists plums, white sugar, salt and sweeteners.
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7FRESH Pitted Prunes, 430 g
Could suit you if you’re looking for pitted dried plums; the product information lists plums as the only ingredient.
The product information lists 283 kcal per 100 g.
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Three Squirrels Red Apricot Dried, 250 g
Could suit you if you’d like to vary the types of fruit you serve; the product information lists 311 kcal per 100 g.
The ingredients information lists added white sugar, maltose syrup and sulphites.
Frequently asked questions
Is 20 g the recommended portion for every child?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s calorie checker uses 20 g to show the calories in raisins and dried plums; it isn’t a standard portion for all ages. Its advice for children is to keep portions of raisins small.
How should you prepare fruit for a young child?
Choose a texture that’s suitable for the child’s age. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives cutting fruit into small pieces as an example; a product description such as ‘soft’ doesn’t replace your own assessment.
How should you store dried apricots?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s general storage advice is to keep them in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. Also follow the label and use-by date for the specific pack. This advice doesn’t automatically apply to every rehydrated or otherwise processed variety.
Which hygiene procedures should you follow when handing out food in a childcare setting?
RIVM/KIDDI refers to the Hygiene Code for Small Institutions or another approved hygiene code that describes all the tasks involved. This is a procedure for the childcare setting, not a quality mark for a pack of dried fruit.
Does allergen information need to be available for unpackaged food?
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that food providers must inform consumers about allergens present in food. This applies to providers of unpackaged food; it isn’t a separate requirement for a parent packing a lunch at home.