Holiday households planning their snacks
Choose a total quantity that suits the number of snack occasions you have planned. A large bag is most practical when you’re sharing it with a group and won’t open more than you need.
Who are these pack sizes suitable for?
Families and groups on the go
Individual bags are easy to hand out on a car journey, picnic or beach day. A mixed pack can be handy if not everyone wants the same flavour.
Households that want to choose portions in advance
A pack of individual bags makes it easy to see how much you’re taking for each snack break. Check the weight of each bag, though: individually packed doesn’t automatically mean a small portion.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’ll be sharing one bag or taking crisps along for separate occasions. Then check the quantity and, for a mixed pack, how the flavours are divided.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Total contents | Check the net weight and think about how much you’ll actually use during your holiday. | If I’m buying crisps to share at one get-together, I want an amount we can share without opening much more than we need. Around 29% of consumers put choosing the right total quantity first. |
| Individual portions | Check how many bags or tubes there are and the weight of each one. | When we’re out and about, I want to hand out sealed portions without first dividing up a large bag. Around 29% of consumers prioritise convenience when taking snacks with them. |
| Flavour choice | Read which flavours are in the pack and how many of each you get. | If our group wants different flavours, I look for a mixed pack with a selection that suits everyone. Around 21% of consumers consider flavour variety the main priority. |
| Portion size | Compare the weight of each bag with how much you want to serve or take with you at a time. | I want to choose in advance how many crisps to have for a snack; even an individual bag can be bigger than I intended. For around 21% of consumers, choosing the right portion is the main consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Judging by the size of the box
A box with lots of individual packs doesn’t tell you how many crisps it contains overall.
Check the net weight and the number of bags, and choose a total quantity that suits your planned snack breaks.
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Only reading the front of a mixed-flavour pack
The products in a mixed pack may have different ingredients and allergens. This matters if anyone in your group needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack, and check each item individually.
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Assuming a small bag or reduced-fat variety is automatically a different nutritional choice
A smaller bag doesn’t change the nutritional value of the crisps. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, reduced-fat crisps contain less fat than regular crisps, but the difference in calories is limited.
Check the nutritional information per 100 g and consider how much you’ll actually eat.
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Opening a large bag to last for several days of your holiday
Once opened, crisps can lose their crunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping opened crisps in a kitchen cupboard for 2–5 days.
Seal an opened bag tightly and store it somewhere cool, dry and dark. Choose individually packed crisps if you want to open a bag on different days.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Lay's Family Box at Albert Heijn contains 15 individual bags of different snacks, including varieties from Lay's, Cheetos and Bugles.
- A good choice for sharing a range of flavours from one box.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for every item in the mixed pack.
Pringles
Pringles Original is available, among other formats, in a multipack of 12 tubes of 40 g. Other pack sizes may contain a different amount per tube.
- Individual tubes are easy to spread across different snack breaks.
- Check the label for ingredients and allergens for the flavour you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both large bags of its own-brand crisps and a sharing pack of 15 bags of 25 g.
- Choose a pack format to suit sharing or handing out individual portions.
- For the sharing pack, check the exact flavour and allergen information; the listed paprika and ready salted varieties contain milk.
Lidl Snack Day
Lidl describes a multipack of 15 bags of assorted crisps as a product available in store.
- Individual bags are handy for sharing when you’re out and about.
- Check the contents and flavours of the pack currently available in store.
Crisp packs on Joybuy
These packs are suitable for taking crisps with you or spreading them across several snack breaks. Note the difference between small individual packs and bags weighing 100 g each.
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Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
A pack for sharing crisps over several occasions. The stated total contents are 180 g; check the pack to see which flavours and ingredients it contains.
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Pringles Hot & Spicy, 12 x 40 g
For individual snack breaks on the go: this multipack contains 12 packs of 40 g. Check the label for ingredients and allergens in Hot & Spicy.
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Pringles Original, 12 x 40 g
For spreading crisps across separate occasions: this pack contains 12 tubes of 40 g. For this Original variety, check the label for wheat and gluten, and for any mention of milk and soya.
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Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce, 12 x 40 g
For sharing or taking with you in individual portions: this multipack contains 12 packs of 40 g. Read the label if wheat, gluten or mustard are relevant to anyone in your group.
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Takis Blue Heat corn chips, 18 x 100 g
For a group who want to share individual bags of the same flavour. This multipack contains 18 bags of 100 g; consider whether that weight per bag suits your planned snack breaks and check the allergens on the label.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bigger box contain more crisps?
Not necessarily. Compare the net weight of the packs; the number of bags or the size of the box doesn’t tell you how many crisps you’ll get in total.
Are sharing bags handy for a car journey or beach day?
Yes, if you want to take or hand out crisps in individual packs. Check the number of bags and the weight of each one to make sure the pack suits your group and planned snack breaks.
Should I check every item in a mixed pack for allergens?
Yes, if anyone in your group needs to avoid certain ingredients. A mixed pack can contain snacks with different ingredients, so read the information on the exact pack rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Does a small bag or reduced-fat variety change the nutritional value of crisps?
A smaller bag doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g, but it can help you choose a portion in advance. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, reduced-fat crisps contain less fat than regular crisps, while the difference in calories is limited; compare the nutritional information of the products you’re considering.
How should I store an opened bag of crisps on holiday?
Seal the bag tightly and store it somewhere cool, dry and dark. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping opened crisps in a kitchen cupboard for 2–5 days; also check their smell, appearance and crunch.