Mindful festival snackers
You want to keep the calories in your snack down. So compare the nutritional values per 100 g as well as those for a weighed portion.
Who is this guide for?
Campers without reliable refrigeration
You want to take a product whose storage instructions suit the location and facilities available at your campsite. A need to refrigerate it after opening could affect your choice.
Label-conscious snack buyers
You may want to check for added sugar, sulphites or warnings about nuts and peanuts. To do so, check the information on the exact pack.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the nutritional values per 100 g, work out what they mean for your planned snack portion, then check whether you can store the product at the campsite as instructed on the pack.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and calculate the value for the same weighed amount. | If I want to weigh out my snack portion carefully, I compare the nutritional values for exactly that amount. Around 36% of consumers say calories are their top priority when choosing. |
| Storage at the campsite | Check the storage instructions before and after opening, and make sure they suit your cooling facilities and storage space. | If I don’t have reliable refrigeration, I want to know whether I can store an opened pack as instructed. This is the deciding priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and warnings | Read the ingredients list, total sugars and allergen information on the exact pack. | If certain ingredients matter to me, I want to check the pack rather than rely on the type of fruit alone. Around 21% of consumers prioritise checking ingredients. |
| Portions and pack size | Choose a pack weight that suits your planned portions, the number of people and the storage instructions. | If I’m taking snacks for several occasions or people, I want to know in advance how I’ll divide and store the contents. Around 14% of consumers prioritise portion and purchase planning. |
The labels reviewed show why both calorie comparisons matter: AH Soaked Dried Apricots list 182 kcal per 100 g, Jumbo and PLUS prunes list 282 kcal per 100 g, and AH Raisins list 344 kcal per 100 g. For a 20 g portion, that works out at 36.4, 56.4 and 68.8 kcal respectively for these products. These are product values from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS; the portion size doesn’t change the value per 100 g.
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming ‘no added sugar’ means ‘low calorie’
These are different properties. The AH Raisins reviewed contain no added sugars, but Albert Heijn lists them at 344 kcal per 100 g.
Check the energy value separately and calculate what’s in your planned portion.
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Assuming all dried fruit can be kept unrefrigerated after opening
Storage instructions vary by product. For AH Soaked Dried Apricots, Albert Heijn says to refrigerate after opening at a maximum of 7°C. The raisins and prunes reviewed say to store in a cool, dry, dark place; that doesn’t automatically mean a warm tent is suitable.
Read the instructions on the pack and only choose a variety whose storage requirements you can meet at your campsite.
A product that needs refrigerating after opening requires suitable chilled storage.
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Taking the portion size on the pack at face value
The AH Raisins reviewed list a portion size of 50 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit per day; this is dietary advice, not a legal product limit.
Weigh out your planned portion in advance and compare products using the same amount.
Relevant brands and retailers
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Raisins and AH Soaked Dried Apricots.
- The product pages give specific nutritional values and storage instructions: the apricots reviewed contain 182 kcal per 100 g and must be stored at a maximum of 7°C after opening.
- The storage requirement and nutritional value apply to this specific apricot variety, not the entire range.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists Pitted Dried Prunes 250 g, with nutritional values and storage advice.
- The product page reviewed lists 282 kcal per 100 g and advises storing in a cool, dry, dark place.
- The product information mentions the possible presence of nuts and peanuts; check the exact pack if this is relevant to you.
Lidl
Alesto is Lidl’s own brand for nuts and dried fruit; Lidl lists products including apricots.
- The product information can help you check which varieties in the range suit your preferences.
- The brand name alone tells you nothing about the calories or storage requirements of a specific variety.
Aldi
ALDI Nederland lists Trader Joe’s Sun-Dried Apricots in a 250 g pack.
- The product description identifies this variety as soft dried apricots.
- That description isn’t enough to rank the variety against other products for calories or storage requirements.
PLUS
PLUS lists Dried Prunes in a 375 g pack.
- The product page provides nutritional values and advises storing in a cool, dry, dark place.
- A larger pack doesn’t in itself tell you whether the portion size or storage options after opening will suit you.
Dirk
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Pitted Prunes in a 375 g pack.
- The product page gives the product name and pack weight.
- The product listing alone isn’t enough to compare nutritional values or storage requirements with other varieties.
Dried fruit at Joybuy
These Joybuy products include raisins and prunes for snacking on the go. Check the ingredients, storage instructions and nutritional values on each pack; the available product information doesn’t list kcal per 100 g for every variety.
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Anatolia Sari Uzum Raisins, 500gr
A good fit if you’re looking for raisins to snack on while you’re out and about.
The product description lists 100% dried grapes and says to store in a cool, dry place.
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Sundrop Mini Raisin Handouts, 252 g
A good fit if you want to take raisins with you as a snack.
The product description lists 99.5% raisins and sunflower oil. After opening, store the pack tightly closed in a cool, dry place.
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De Kleine Keuken Organic raisins 12M+ 140g
The individual boxes could suit you if you want to portion snacks in advance.
The product description lists 10 boxes of 14 g, organic raisins, and no added sugars or sulphites. According to the description, the product is suitable from 12 months; supervise children while they eat. Not suitable for children with swallowing difficulties.
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7FRESH Pitted Prunes 430g
A good fit if you want to take pitted prunes with you as a snack.
The product description lists 283 kcal per 100 g and says to store in a cool, dry place. Consume immediately after opening.
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Jia Jian Cheng Chu Prebiotic Thickened Prunes 65g
The 65 g pack could suit you if you’re looking for a small pack to take with you.
The product description lists 214 kcal per 100 g, fructose syrup as an ingredient, and says to store in a cool, dry place.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small portion of dried fruit be called ‘low calorie’?
Not on the basis of portion size alone. For a ‘low calorie’ nutrition claim, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g, according to the European Commission. You can, however, state how many calories a weighed portion contains.
How much dried fruit does the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommend per day?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a maximum of 20 g per day. This is dietary advice, not a legal product limit; you can use it when planning your snack portion.
Do I need to keep dried fruit in the fridge at the campsite?
Follow the instructions for the exact product. Albert Heijn says AH Soaked Dried Apricots must be refrigerated at a maximum of 7°C after opening. The raisins and prunes reviewed say to store in a cool, dry, dark place; that doesn’t automatically make a hot tent suitable.
Why does a general calorie checker give a different figure from the supermarket label?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s page for generic dried prunes lists 40 kcal per 20 g; based on the labels for the Jumbo and PLUS prunes reviewed, the figure is 56.4 kcal per 20 g. These figures relate to different product data. Use the label on the pack you choose when shopping.
What should I look for if I’m sensitive to sulphites or have a food allergy?
Check the allergen information and any warnings on the exact pack. The NVWA states that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products. AH Soaked Dried Apricots list sulphites; always check the product information for the pack you have.