Want to snack mindfully while travelling on the NS? First decide how much you want to take, then compare the kcal for that same amount. No added sugar doesn’t automatically mean low in calories: for example, according to the label, Albert Heijn raisins contain 344 kcal and 59 g of total sugars per 100 g. For soaked apricots, it’s also important to check the storage advice after opening.
You want to take something sweet with you and know how many calories your portion contains. Compare products on the same weight basis, and don’t let the pack size dictate how much you eat. Albert Heijn and Jumbo labels show energy per 100 g.
You check added sugars, total sugars and ingredients, for example if you want to avoid sulphites. Albert Heijn’s product information shows that 0 g of added sugars and 59 g of total sugars per 100 g can both apply to the same product.
You sort out your snack in advance and want to know how to store it during your journey. This is particularly relevant for Albert Heijn’s soaked dried apricots, which should be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7°C.
First, choose how much you want to take with you. Then compare the nutritional values for that portion and check whether you can follow the storage advice during your journey.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and weigh your own portion. | I want to know how much energy the portion I take with me provides, not just what’s in the portion shown on the label. Portion calories are the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Check both total and added sugars, and read the ingredients. | If I want to avoid added sugar, I also check total sugars and any ingredients that matter to me. This combination is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Taking it with you and storage | Check the storage advice before and after opening, and decide whether you can follow it while travelling. | I want to be able to store my snack during the journey as directed on the label. This travel-related consideration is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn raisins state that they contain 0 g of added sugars, but the same label shows 344 kcal and 59 g of total sugars per 100 g.
Check the total energy as well as how much you actually want to eat.
Based on the value on the label, the stated 50 g portion of Albert Heijn raisins contains 172 kcal. That doesn’t automatically make 50 g the right amount for you.
Weigh out the amount you want to take before you leave, then use it to calculate the calories.
Albert Heijn soaked dried apricots should be refrigerated after opening at a maximum of 7°C. The label for Jumbo dried apricots advises storing them in a cool, dry, dark place.
Follow the advice for the exact product. A resealable bag is no substitute for refrigeration when it’s required.
If you can’t follow the refrigeration advice, you may not be able to take the opened pack with you in the same way as a product with different storage instructions.
A smaller portion reduces the total number of calories you eat, but it doesn’t change the energy per 100 g. The criteria for nutrition claims are different from the calories in the portion you choose.
Give the kcal for a specific weighed amount instead of calling a product low in calories without suitable evidence.
The products checked, AH Raisins and AH Soaked Dried Apricots, show how energy values and storage advice can vary between products.
Jumbo Pitted Dried Apricots 250 g is an option to compare if you want to take a weighed portion of apricots with you.
Lidl lists dried fruit and nuts under its Alesto range, including apricots.
The ALDI listings checked include Trader Joe’s raisins and a product range featuring cranberries or a cranberry and raisin mix.
PLUS Dried Apricots in a 375 g stand-up pouch may suit you if you want to weigh out several smaller portions at home.
Dirk lists several relevant product types, including sultanas, golden raisins, prunes and apricots.
These Joybuy products are dried fruit and snack options for when you’re on the go. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and portion size for each product; the product name alone won’t tell you how many calories your portion contains.
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A good option if you want to take dried guava with you as a snack.
The product information lists 95% guava and a pack size of 180 g. The product also contains added sugar and a preservative.
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An option if you want to take dates with walnuts and weigh out the amount yourself.
The ingredients are dates and walnut kernels. The nutritional information lists 549 kcal per 100 g; the product contains walnuts.
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A good option if you want to take a pack of dried plums with you.
The pack contains 90 g and the nutritional information lists 68 kcal per 100 g. The product contains sugar and sweeteners, and lists 3,0 g of salt per 100 g.
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A dried loquat snack that, according to the product information, is ready to eat.
The description lists at least 70% loquat and a pack size of 200 g. The nutritional information lists 311 kcal per 100 g; the ingredients include white sugar and sulphites.
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A good option if you want to take dried apricots with you as a snack.
The nutritional information lists 311 kcal per 100 g. The product information lists sugar, malt syrup and sulphites.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g on the label by the weight of your portion, then divide by 100. Using this calculation, 20 g of Albert Heijn raisins contains 68,8 kcal. This is a calculation example, not personalised nutritional advice.
No. Albert Heijn raisins state that they contain 0 g of added sugars, but list 59 g of total sugars per 100 g. Check both figures and bear in mind how much you eat.
Follow the advice on the exact pack. Once opened, Albert Heijn soaked dried apricots should be refrigerated at a maximum of 7°C. Also note that the product is labelled as having a limited shelf life.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. The Albert Heijn soaked apricots, Jumbo dried apricots and PLUS apricots checked all list sulphites.
A small portion means fewer calories per portion, but it doesn’t change the value per 100 g. The Voedingscentrum guidance gives less than 40 kcal per 100 g for solid foods as the threshold for the ‘low energy’ claim. The products checked are above that threshold, so it’s better to state the calculated kcal for a specific portion.
