The host who wants to hand snacks out easily
You want to give each player their own bag and let them choose from different flavours. A multipack or mixed box fits the bill; just check that the number and size of portions suit your group.
Who are the different pack types for?
The host serving bowls to share
You’d rather serve the crisps yourself, so you compare the total weight of large bags. This works best when your group is happy with a limited choice of flavours.
The shopper comparing labels
You’re taking ingredients, allergens, nutritional values or dietary preferences into account. Check the exact flavour and pack, not just the brand or the outside of a mixed box.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether everyone will have their own pack or whether you’ll be sharing bowls. Then compare the portions, the flavour selection and the labels of the products you actually plan to serve.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and choice of flavours | The number of individual packs, the amount in each portion and the flavours in the box. | If players want to choose different snacks, you’ll want to hand them out without constantly refilling a shared bowl. For around 42% of consumers, having individual portions and a choice of flavours is the top priority. |
| Amount for the group | The total weight and how many bowls or individual portions it will fill. | If your group will be eating from bowls, you’ll mainly want to know whether there’ll be enough crisps to go round. Around 33% of consumers prioritise the quantity when choosing. |
| Label for each flavour | The ingredients and allergens in each flavour; compare nutritional values per 100 g and per portion if they’re relevant to your choice. | If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients or wants to compare nutritional information, you’ll need to look beyond the name of the mix. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming every bag in a mix has the same ingredients
A mixed box may contain potato crisps and corn snacks with different flavourings. So the label on one bag won’t tell you everything you need to know about the rest of the box.
Read the ingredients list for every flavour that matters. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly identified in the ingredients list.
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Looking only at the size of the box
A large box doesn’t tell you how much each bag contains or how the flavours are divided. That makes it harder to work out whether every player can choose a suitable portion.
Check the number of packs, the total weight and, where shown, the weight and flavour of each individual portion.
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Applying a nutritional claim to all the snacks on the table
A claim on one type of crisps doesn’t automatically apply to other flavours or products in the same box. Fat, salt and portion size are also different things to consider.
Compare the nutritional information for the exact products per 100 g and per portion, depending on what you want to know.
Brands to compare
These brands offer pack formats that could suit your game night. Always compare the specific product: a brand name alone tells you nothing about what’s in a box or the label for each flavour.
Lay's
Lay's offers regular and ridged potato crisps, as well as multipacks of small bags. Albert Heijn’s product page describes a Celebration Box containing 30 bags from different snack brands.
- Lay's says the small bags in its multipacks are designed for sharing.
- For a mixed box, check the ingredients of each product; one label or product range won’t represent the whole mix.
Pringles
According to the Dutch brand page, Pringles Original is available in 40 g, 70 g and 165 g tubes. A multipack of small tubes is another way to serve individual portions.
- A resealable tube lets you spread the contents over several snack breaks.
- The ingredients list for Pringles Original includes wheat flour; the brand page also mentions possible traces of milk and soya.
Smiths
Smiths is another option if your group specifically wants sticks or spicy snacks. Supermarkt Scanner lists, among other products, barbecue and paprika sticks in 100 g packs.
- These sticks offer a different type of snack alongside potato crisps.
- Check each product to make sure the type, flavour and ingredients suit your group.
AH
Albert Heijn lists AH Chips Naturel in a 250 g bag, with a portion size of 25 g. A large bag is suitable for serving in bowls or handing out portions yourself.
- The stated total weight and portion size can help you plan how much to buy.
- The vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free claims on the product page apply to this plain variety, not automatically to other AH crisps.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists its own-brand crisps in plain, paprika and ridged varieties, including 250 g and 335 g bags.
- The different weights and flavours listed give you options when you want to fill bowls.
- Read the label of the variety you choose if ingredients or allergens matter to your group.
Lidl Snack Day
Lidl lists plain, paprika and ridged crisps, along with other savoury flavours, under its Snack Day brand.
- The flavours listed give you options for serving a bowl with a particular flavour.
- Lidl says that various Snack Day products are available in store only; check for the product you want and read the label when you shop.
Products for individual portions
These Joybuy products come in boxes of individual bags or tubes, ready to hand out during a game night. If you’d rather serve crisps in shared bowls, compare large bags by total weight and flavour; the products below aren’t a comparison of that type of pack.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box, 2 x 15 bags
An option if you want to give players individual bags instead of sharing one large bag.
The product name states that there are two packs of 15 bags each. Before handing out the portions, check the flavours, the weight of each bag and the labels of the contents.
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Croky Sharing Mix, 180 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for a mixed pack and want to decide in advance how to share the contents among players.
The product name states a total weight of 180 g. Check the pack to see how many individual bags it contains, how much each one weighs and which flavours and allergens are listed.
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Lay's, Cheetos and Doritos Mega Box, 20 pieces
Suited to a group that wants individual snacks to hand out, with a choice of different types too.
Joybuy’s product description states that the box contains 20 pieces, including different potato and corn snacks. Check the quantities of each type and the ingredients of every bag that matters.
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Lay's Doritos Chill Box, 12 pieces
A box to consider if you want to set out an individual pack for each of several players.
The product name states that it contains 12 pieces. Before handing them out, check the weight of each bag, the flavour selection and the ingredients of the individual products.
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Pringles Original, 12 x 40 g
An option if you want to hand out individual tubes, take them with you or open them one at a time.
Joybuy lists 12 tubes of 40 g; this is Original, not a mix of flavours. The Dutch ingredients list for Pringles Original includes wheat flour and mentions possible traces of milk and soya. Check the label on the tubes you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Are large bags or individual bags more convenient for a game night?
Individual bags are more convenient when everyone needs their own portion; large bags work well for crisps that you’ll divide between bowls yourself. For individual packs, check the number of bags and the flavours; for large bags, look at the total weight.
How do I work out how many crisps I need?
Use the total weight and stated portion size as a guide, and take account of any other snacks on the table. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 40 g as an example serving of crisps; it isn’t a fixed portion for every guest.
Can I choose Pringles Original if someone needs to avoid wheat?
Don’t assume so: the Dutch ingredients list for Pringles Original includes wheat flour. Check the current packaging for the exact variety, and if someone has an allergy, discuss with them which products may be suitable.
Is the label on a mixed box of crisps enough?
If you’re choosing for someone with an allergy, check the information for each individual product too. A mix can contain different ingredients and allergens in each flavour; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens in prepacked foods are identified in the ingredients list.