Dried fruit makes a fruity addition to your movie night, but 20 g of the three apricot varieties examined provides just 0.6 to 0.8 g of protein. These figures come from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS. If your main aim is to get protein after exercise, pair a portion of fruit with a separate source of protein, and check the nutritional information and allergens for the whole snack.
You want a snack that also provides some protein after your training. Check how much protein is in the portion you’ll actually eat, and treat the fruit as an addition rather than assuming it will support your recovery. The Vereniging Sportvoedingsexperts Nederland provides information about nutrition and recovery.
You’re looking for dried fruit with no added sugar, but also want to keep an eye on your portion and total sugar intake. The ingredients list and nutrition table answer different questions. Information about the AH and PLUS varieties examined comes from Albert Heijn and PLUS.
You want to choose a suitable pack for movie night and check allergens and storage instructions for after opening. Check the information on the exact pack, particularly for sulphites, possible stone fragments and storage instructions. The NVWA explains allergen labelling on prepacked products.
A good fit if: you mainly want a fruity snack and get your protein from other parts of your diet.
Bear in mind: a small portion of the apricots examined provides little protein. No added sugar doesn’t mean low in total sugars.
A good fit if: after exercise, you’re mainly focused on the protein in your whole snack.
Bear in mind: the protein won’t necessarily come from the fruit. Check the ingredients, allergens and storage advice for both parts of the snack.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per portion | Compare protein per 100 g and per the amount you plan to eat. Assess any combination as a whole. | If you want your snack to work after exercise, you’ll want to know what your planned portion actually provides. Around 40% of consumers put protein content first. |
| Sugars and portion size | Check both the ingredients and total sugars in the nutrition table. If you want to eat a set amount, portion it out in advance. | If you want to take the total sugars and amount of your fruity snack into account, both details matter. Around 30% of consumers give sugar and portion size top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the exact pack for allergens and warnings about possible cross-contamination. | If you or a guest needs to consider ingredients or allergens, you’ll want to check the product information before serving. Around 20% of consumers put ingredient safety first. |
| Packaging and storage | Choose a pack size to suit how much you expect to use, and follow the storage instructions after opening. | If you mainly want a pack that suits your movie night and any leftovers, pack size and storage advice are practical considerations. Around 10% of consumers consider packaging and storage the most important factors. |
A 20 g portion of the apricot varieties examined provides less than 1 g of protein.
Work out the amount you actually plan to eat, and consider any additional source of protein separately.
The AH and PLUS varieties examined state 0 g of added sugars, but contain 37 g and 53.4 g of total sugars per 100 g respectively. These figures apply to those specific products.
Check both the ingredients and nutrition table, and portion out the fruit in advance if you want a set amount.
After opening, the AH soaked apricots examined must be refrigerated at a maximum of 7 °C. The Jumbo and PLUS products examined state that they should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
Follow the storage instructions on the exact pack rather than applying one general rule to every variety.
For the variety examined, AH warns that a stone may have been left in by accident; Jumbo mentions possible stone pieces or fragments.
Bear the warning on the pack in mind when serving.
The range includes soaked dried apricots and fruit and nut mixes.
According to Jumbo, the pitted dried apricots examined are available in a 250 g pack.
According to Lidl Netherlands, the Alesto range includes dried fruit such as mango strips.
ALDI describes TRADER JOE'S Sun-Dried Apricots as soft dried apricots in a 250 g pack.
The PLUS Dried Apricots pouch examined contains 375 g.
Dirk’s category overview shows different types of dried fruit and nuts, including pitted apricots, dates and figs.
These product picks focus on plain dried fruit as a fruity snack for movie night. Check the protein content, ingredients and portion size for each variety.
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The product description presents dried guava as a ready-to-eat snack. Check the ingredients if you’re keeping an eye on added sugar.
The stated nutritional value is 1.27 g of protein per 100 g.
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The product description presents the individually wrapped mango as a ready-to-eat snack. Check the pack for ingredient information.
The stated nutritional value is 2 g of protein per 100 g. The product information states that it contains 56 g of sugar per 100 g.
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The product description presents the dried apricots as ready to eat and suitable for sharing.
The stated nutritional value is 1.1 g of protein per 100 g. The product information states that it contains 62.0 g of sugars per 100 g, as well as added sugar and sulphites.
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The product description presents the dried apricots as ready to eat. Follow the storage instructions provided.
The stated nutritional value is 0.9 g of protein per 100 g. The ingredients list includes sugar, maltose syrup and sulphites.
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The product description presents the individually packed dried mango as a ready-to-eat snack.
The stated nutritional value is 1.0 g of protein per 100 g. The product information states that it contains 36.3 g of sugars per 100 g, as well as added sugar.
For the varieties examined, a calculated 20 g portion of AH Soaked Dried Apricots provides 0.8 g of protein, while PLUS Dried Apricots provides a calculated 0.68 g. The rounded Jumbo portion table states 0.6 g. These figures apply only to the varieties named and come from Albert Heijn, PLUS and Jumbo.
Not if you’re looking for a substantial amount of protein: the apricot varieties examined provide less than 1 g per 20 g. Consider adding a separate source of protein and assess the whole snack. Voedingscentrum advises eating a maximum of 20 g of dried fruit a day. This is dietary guidance, not a legal consumption limit.
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. For the soaked apricots examined, Albert Heijn advises refrigerating at a maximum of 7 °C. The Jumbo and PLUS products examined state that they should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place.
No. Both the AH and PLUS varieties examined state 0 g of added sugars, but contain 37 g and 53.4 g of total sugars per 100 g respectively. Check both figures for those products.
Check the ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings on the exact pack. According to the NVWA, allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label; sulphites are among the allergens that must be listed. The apricot varieties examined state that they contain sulphites.
Choose a pack size to suit how much you expect to use, and bear the storage advice for after opening in mind. The AH and Jumbo packs examined contain 250 g; the PLUS pouch contains 375 g.
