Who is this choice relevant for?

Families who portion snacks themselves

You’re looking for a pack to keep in the cupboard for regular after-school snacks, and want to prepare small portions yourself. Check the net weight and think about how much your household will actually use.

Parents who want to make informed choices

You want to check the ingredients and portion size without automatically treating dried fruit as a substitute for fresh fruit. If your child has a relevant sensitivity, the allergen information for the pack you choose is important too.

Families looking for convenience or variety

You might prefer multipacks or want to try different types of fruit before buying a larger supply. Check what each pack contains and how much is in each individual portion.

What should you look for in dried fruit for after school?

First decide whether you’d rather prepare small portions yourself or buy them ready-packed. Then choose an amount that suits how much your household uses.

What to consider What should you look for? Who should consider this most?
How much you’ll use Compare the net weight of the same type of product and choose a supply that suits how much your household uses. If you’re considering a larger bag, you’ll want to know whether you’ll use it all before buying more. Around 29% of consumers put how much they’ll actually use first.
Ingredients and portion size Check whether sugar has been added, and remember that the snack portion is not the same as the size of the bag. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s school lunch list recommends no more than one handful of dried fruit without added sugar a day. If you’re choosing for a child, you’ll want to check the ingredients and decide on the portion size yourself. Around 29% of consumers prioritise ingredients and a small portion.
Portioning it yourself or choosing multipacks Check the amount in each bag or box; a multipack doesn’t automatically tell you how much is in each portion. If you want to prepare snacks in advance or take them with you, how they’re packed is what matters most. Around 14% of consumers prioritise convenient packaging.
Stocking up and storage Choose an amount that suits how much you use and follow the storage instructions for that product on the label. If you only serve dried fruit occasionally or have limited storage space, you won’t want to buy more than you need. Around 14% of consumers focus mainly on how they’ll use and store it.
Type of fruit and variety Check each type of fruit and each mix individually; don’t assume that what applies to raisins also applies to other products. If your child doesn’t like raisins, trying a different type of fruit may matter more than buying one large pack. Around 14% of consumers prioritise variety.

Common pitfalls

  • Assuming a bigger bag means a bigger snack portion

    The pack size doesn’t determine how much you give a child. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small portions of raisins for children.

    Divide the contents into small portions yourself, and don’t let the size of the bag determine how much you serve.

  • Looking only at the total pack weight

    A larger pack may give you more to store, but that doesn’t mean the amount suits how much your household uses.

    Compare the net weight of the same type of product and choose based on how much your household gets through.

  • Treating a fruit and nut mix as fruit only

    A mix may also contain nuts, which matters if you’re looking for fruit only or need to take allergens into account.

    Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific variety before choosing.

  • Assuming a multipack is automatically suitable for children

    A 2-pack or box doesn’t automatically mean that each individual pack contains a suitable portion.

    Check the amount in each individual pack and decide on the snack portion separately.

Supermarket brands for comparison

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists a 2-pack of raisins and also stocks dried fruit and fruit and nut mixes.

  • The product listings include different pack formats and ingredients to compare.
  • A 2-pack doesn’t tell you how much is in each pack or whether that portion is suitable for a child.

Jumbo

The Sultana raisin range listed comes in 250 g, 500 g and 750 g packs.

  • The different net weights make it possible to choose a pack size that suits how much you use.
  • A larger bag means portioning it yourself; the 250 g organic variety is a separate product.

Lidl

Lidl lists Belbake raisins and dried fruit at selected stores.

  • The product listings give you a starting point for comparing packs and ingredients.
  • A range listed for selected stores is not a guarantee of nationwide availability.

ALDI

ALDI lists Trader Joe's raisins in a 500 g pack.

  • ALDI describes its own food satisfaction service: if you’re not satisfied, you can return a food item you’ve bought, even without a receipt, for a replacement or refund.
  • This service applies to purchases from ALDI and is not an independent assessment of the product.

PLUS

PLUS lists Pagysa Sultana raisins in a 750 g bag.

  • The listed net weight is worth considering if you’re looking for a larger supply.
  • PLUS notes that ingredients, allergen information and country of origin may change, so check the current packaging.

Dirk

Dirk lists, among other products, 750 g packs of raisins and 375 g packs of Sultana and golden raisins.

  • The pack sizes listed give you a choice of how much to stock up on.
  • Chocolate-covered raisins have different ingredients, so don’t treat them as the same fruit choice.

Joybuy products for portions and variety

This Joybuy selection includes dried plums in small packs and a mixed snack pack containing dried fruit and nuts.

Be&Cheery dried plums, 80 g, 14 small packs

Be&Cheery dried plums, 80 g (14 small packs)

The 14 small packs may suit you if you prefer ready-portioned snacks to prepare in advance or take with you.

The pack contains 80 g in total.

The ingredients list maltitol as a sweetener.

View at Joybuy
Full of fruit flavor nut and dried fruit mix, 5-pack, 1,073 kg

Full of fruit flavor nut and dried fruit mix, 5-pack, 1,073 kg

This multipack combines a variety of fruit and nut snacks; it doesn’t contain dried fruit only.

The stated total net weight is 1,073 kg.

The ingredients include walnuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts, among other things. Some of the individual products list sugar and/or sweeteners; check the full ingredients and allergen information.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How much dried fruit should you give as an after-school snack?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small portions of raisins for children. Its school lunch list recommends no more than one handful of dried fruit without added sugar a day; this is nutritional guidance, not a legal portion limit.

Is a larger pack automatically a better choice?

Not necessarily: a larger pack gives you more to store, but that doesn’t mean the amount suits how much your household uses. Choose a pack size you’ll use up, and keep the snack portion separate from the amount in the bag.

What should you look for in the ingredients and allergen information?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack for the variety you choose. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens specified by law must be listed on the label. If you have a relevant sensitivity, the name of the fruit alone doesn’t prove that a product is suitable.

What should you check if you’re sensitive to sulphites?

Check the current product information specifically for sulphites. The Food Allergy Foundation notes that sulphites can be found in dried fruit, among other products; the product name alone doesn’t tell you exactly what it contains.

How should you store an opened bag of dried fruit?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack. If needed, consult the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide for the type of fruit and opened pack in question. Don’t assume that the same storage period applies to every type.