Choose an individually wrapped bar if you want each guest to be able to pick up exactly one snack; a portion pack of biscuits is a better fit if you want to serve something with coffee or tea. Check how many biscuits or bars are in each individual pack. If anyone has allergies, read the label for the variety you choose, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging when serving outdoors.
You want guests to be able to pick up a wrapped treat themselves, without needing to cut anything or use serving utensils. An individually wrapped biscuit or bar is ideal; a pack containing two biscuits counts as one portion to hand out, but not as one biscuit.
You’re choosing between a biscuit, cereal bar, oat bar or fruit and nut bar, and want to know what each variety contains. The ingredients and nutritional information help you compare these different products.
You need to be able to assess whether a particular flavour is suitable for the people you’re serving it to. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the requirement to list allergens on the labels of prepacked foods. Check for any warnings about possible traces too.
First decide whether you want to put out one biscuit, a pack of biscuits or one bar per guest. Then check the allergens, ingredients and storage conditions for the party.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| One portion per guest | Count the individual packs and check whether each one contains a single bar, one biscuit or a duo portion. | If guests are helping themselves, I don’t want to have to split a pack on the spot. For around 36% of consumers, having one portion ready to hand out is the top priority. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour, including any ‘may contain’ statements. | If a guest has an allergy, I need to be able to assess the chosen variety before handing it out. Around 29% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Snack type and ingredients | Compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. Don’t treat biscuits, cereal bars and fruit and nut bars as the same type of product. | If I’m offering bars as well as biscuits, I want to be able to choose a different type of snack based on its ingredients and nutritional value. For around 21% of consumers, the ingredients are the most important consideration. |
| Outdoor storage | Read the storage instructions and check whether the portions can stay sealed until they’re handed out. | If the table is outside, I want to be able to protect the supplies from sun and moisture. This is the main concern when choosing for around 14% of consumers. |
In the packaging described, Nature Valley Crunchy comes in packs of two bars. So one individual pack isn’t the same as one bar per guest.
Before buying, count the individual packs and check how many bars or biscuits each portion contains.
The biscuits and bars mentioned have different ingredients. Depending on the product, they may contain grains, milk, soya, peanuts or nuts, among other things.
Read the current label for every flavour you choose, even if you’re already familiar with another variety from the same brand.
A name or claim doesn’t tell you what other ingredients and allergens a bar contains, or its full nutritional value per portion.
Use the name as a guide, then check the ingredients list, allergen information and nutrition table for the variety you’ve chosen.
The storage instructions described for Lotus Biscoff biscuits and Hero B’tween bars recommend keeping them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat.
Keep the supplies sealed in a suitable place and, if needed, put out smaller quantities at a time.
Speculoos biscuits for serving with coffee or tea. Lotus Bakeries lists a Pocket Pack containing two biscuits per pack, as well as individually wrapped biscuits for food service.
Cereal bars in a range of varieties. In the milk chocolate variety described, each bar is individually wrapped.
Oat bars, including the Crunchy variety made with wholegrain oats described by Albert Heijn.
Fruit and nut bars. Albert Heijn describes Cocoa Delight as a bar made from dried fruit and nuts with cocoa powder.
This selection includes cereal bars if you want to put out one bar per guest, and biscuits if you’d prefer to hand out a portion of biscuits. For biscuits, check how many pieces are in each individual pack, and check the current label for all varieties.
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A cereal bar to serve as an individual snack. Before handing it out, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for this Zero variety on the packaging.
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A coconut variety for serving one cereal bar per guest. Check the packaging for individual portions and assess the allergens in this variety before handing it out.
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An option if you want to hand out individually wrapped milk chocolate cereal bars. If anyone has allergies, pay particular attention to the current peanut and nut information. For a per-bar comparison, check the nutritional information on the packaging.
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For anyone who’d prefer to offer a portion of biscuits rather than a cereal bar. Each individually wrapped portion contains two biscuits, not one bar; check the label if anyone has allergies.
Read the current label for the exact variety you want to hand out. Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings. Don’t rely on the product type or brand name alone.
No. The Hero B’tween bars described are individually wrapped, while the Nature Valley Crunchy pack described contains two bars per portion. Check how many pieces are in each individual pack.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you choose and keep the supplies sealed until you hand them out. The storage instructions described for Lotus Biscoff and Hero B’tween recommend keeping them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat.
No. The name doesn’t replace the ingredients list, allergen information or nutrition table. Check this information for the Hero B’tween Zero variety you’ve chosen before handing it out to guests.
