Labels for three checked apricot products show 0.64 to 0.8 grams of protein per 20-gram serving; Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list these nutritional values. So serve dried fruit as the fruit component, and if you need extra protein after intense exercise, consider adding a separate source of protein based on your overall diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists foods such as quark, yoghurt, nuts and beans as ways to increase your protein intake. When combining foods, check the ingredients and storage instructions too.
You want to enjoy dried fruit at a garden party and know how much protein a serving provides if you’re keeping an eye on your intake after intense exercise. Look at the whole snack and your overall diet, not just the product name.
You want to shop in advance and serve fruit outdoors without overlooking storage advice. Different instructions may apply, especially once a product has been opened or when it’s served with chilled foods.
You want to give guests clear information and, if needed, serve fruit, nuts and dairy separately. Check the ingredients and warnings on each product; don’t assume it’s suitable just from its category.
The breakdown below looks at consumers choosing dried fruit for a garden party and taking sport and recovery into account.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who does this matter most to? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per serving | Compare the amount per 100 grams and calculate how much that provides in the serving you plan to offer. | If I want to know what my serving actually provides after exercise, I look at the amount I put on my plate. Around 36% of consumers put protein content first. |
| Serving and storing food outdoors | Read the storage instructions, including what to do after opening, and keep chilled combinations cold. | For an outdoor buffet, I want to know what needs to stay chilled and how to serve the portions. Storage instructions are the main concern for around 28% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and suitability for dietary requirements | Check the ingredients and allergen warnings on each pack. Jumbo and PLUS list sulphites in the apricots checked. | When giving guests information about dietary requirements, I want to be able to check the ingredients and warnings for each product. Around 22% of consumers put dietary suitability first. |
| Portions and packaging | Match the quantity to the number of guests and the portions you want to serve. | I want to plan my shopping around the portions I’m serving, so I know how much fruit to open. Portion planning is the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
The labels for the AH, Jumbo and PLUS apricots checked show less than 1 gram of protein per 20-gram serving. So a serving of fruit on its own won’t meet any additional need for protein.
Use the serving you actually plan to offer as a guide, and consider your protein intake as part of your overall diet.
Once opened, the checked Albert Heijn soaked apricots need to be kept chilled. Dairy served alongside them at the buffet also needs to be stored according to the instructions for the whole snack.
Check the label after opening, put out small portions of chilled combinations and keep the rest refrigerated.
The checked AH mix contains pear, dates and nuts, and needs to be kept chilled. The product name alone doesn’t tell you everything that’s in it.
Check the ingredients and storage instructions for the whole mix before you buy it.
For the apricots checked, Jumbo notes that, despite careful processing, a piece of stone or a stone fragment may occasionally be present.
Bear the warning on the packaging in mind and check the fruit as you prepare it.
The product information reviewed includes soaked apricots and a fruit and nut product.
The product reviewed is 250 grams of pitted dried apricots.
At Lidl, Alesto is the range for nuts, dried fruit and party snacks.
The product listing reviewed is 250 grams of TRADER JOE’S sun-dried apricots.
The own-brand apricots reviewed are sold in a 375-gram stand-up pouch.
The dried fruit and nuts category includes apricots, figs and dates, among other products.
These Joybuy products are dried fruit to serve as a separate fruit component. Check the nutritional information for each product and serving if you’re also keeping an eye on protein content.
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The product description presents these raisins as a snackable fruit component.
Ingredient: 100% dried grapes. Store in a cool, dry place.
The description warns of a choking hazard for young children and advises keeping the product out of reach of babies and young children.
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The product description presents the guava as a snackable fruit component.
The description lists 95% guava, sugar and preservative. The nutritional information provided lists 1.27 grams of protein per 100 grams, or around 0.25 grams per 20 grams.
Store in a cool, dry place.
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The product description presents the dragon fruit as a snackable fruit component.
The nutritional information provided lists 5 grams of protein per 100 grams, or around 1 gram per 20 grams.
Store in a cool, dry place.
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The product description suggests mango as a snack and in combinations with foods such as yoghurt or nuts.
The nutritional information provided lists 2 grams of protein per 100 grams, or around 0.4 grams per 20 grams.
The ingredients list includes sulphites (E223). The description recommends eating the product immediately after opening.
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The product description presents the apricots as a fruit component ready to eat.
The nutritional information provided lists 1.1 grams of protein per 100 grams, or around 0.22 grams per 20 grams.
The ingredients list includes sulphites and added sugar. The description recommends eating the product immediately after opening.
No, not as a matter of course. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says most people who do sport don’t need special protein shakes or bars if they eat a healthy, varied diet. Whether someone needs extra protein after intense exercise depends on their goals and overall diet.
No. The checked Albert Heijn soaked apricot product lists a 50-gram serving, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating no more than 20 grams of dried fruit a day. So the serving size shown on a pack isn’t automatically a recommendation for how much you should eat.
Follow the instructions on the pack. The checked Albert Heijn soaked apricots need to be refrigerated after opening and kept at a maximum of 7 °C; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends setting your fridge to 4 °C.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises leaving perishable food out of the fridge for no more than 2 hours; after that, you should throw it away. Put out small amounts at a time and keep the rest refrigerated.
Sulphites can be used as a preservative. Stichting Voedselallergie explains that a reaction to sulphites is an intolerance reaction, not a typical food allergy. Check the packaging if a guest needs to avoid sulphites.
