Choose individual bags if you want to hand out snacks for the week without weighing them yourself; choose a larger bag if you’d rather decide on the portions yourself. The Duyvis Provencale pack at Albert Heijn contains 20 bags of 45 g, while the 500 g AH Mixed Nuts pack lists twenty 25 g portions for you to portion out yourself. As well as pack size, check the ingredients: a seasoned party snack is not the same as an unsalted nut mix.
You’re planning several occasions when you’ll need snacks to take with you, and want to know in advance how many bags or portions weighed out by you will be needed. For example, Albert Heijn lists twenty 25 g portions in its 500 g AH Mixed Nuts pack; these portions are not individually wrapped.
You’re looking for snacks that are already packed in set portions, so you can hand them out without portioning them yourself. The Duyvis Borrelnootjes Provencale 20-pack at Albert Heijn is described as containing twenty 45 g bags.
You might be looking for an unsalted nut mix, or a seasoned party snack. Check the ingredients on the specific pack to compare them; the word ‘nuts’ alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the mix.
First decide whether you want to hand out set portions or weigh them yourself. Then choose the total quantity, ingredients and suitability for the people who’ll be eating them.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Individual bags or weighing them yourself | Check the number of individual inner packs and the weight of each bag. A portion shown on the label could also be a calculated amount from one large bag. | If I want to hand out snacks straight away, I don’t want to weigh them first. Around 36% of consumers prioritise individual portions. |
| How much you need for the week | Work it out based on the number of people, planned snack occasions and how much you want to take with you each time. Compare the net weight with your plans. | If I’m stocking up for several occasions, I want enough without opening more than I’ll use. Around 29% of consumers focus mainly on getting the right amount for the week. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific variety. ‘Unsalted’, ‘unroasted’ and ‘seasoned’ describe different properties. | If I’m looking for an unsalted mix or a party snack, I check the ingredients of the specific product. Around 21% of consumers consider ingredients their main priority. |
| Suitability for the people eating them | Check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the pack. Also consider the shape of whole nuts when handing them out. | If I’m giving snacks to other people, I want to check that the variety is suitable for them. Around 14% of consumers prioritise suitability for the people eating them. |
The number of portions on a label doesn’t automatically tell you how many individual bags are in the pack. In the 500 g AH Mixed Nuts pack, the twenty 25 g portions are amounts for you to weigh out yourself.
Check whether the product description mentions individual inner packs, and look at the weight of each bag too.
Making portions yourself takes time to prepare.
A seasoned coating can contain different ingredients and allergens from a plain nut mix. According to the product information, the Duyvis Provencale variety contains wheat, among other ingredients.
Read the ingredients list on the specific pack, even if you’re already familiar with the brand or flavour.
Individual packaging doesn’t change the shape of whole nuts or peanuts. The Voedingscentrum warns that whole nuts and peanuts can cause choking.
Consider the shape of the snack for the person it’s intended for; don’t judge by the size of the bag alone.
A large bag is handy for making your own portions, but the quantity needs to suit how much you plan to use and the storage instructions.
Choose a pack size based on how much you expect to use that week, and follow the storage instructions on the label.
If you buy more than you use, there may be some left once the pack has been opened.
The Provencale variety at Albert Heijn is described as a multipack of individual party snack bags.
The 500 g AH Unsalted Mixed Nuts pack is a larger bag for portioning yourself.
The 200 g Unsalted Mixed Nuts pack described is a smaller bag; an unroasted 500 g value pack is also described.
The Dutch nut mix described is an unroasted, unsalted mix in a 200 g bag.
The TRADER JOE'S unsalted nut mix described is available in a 500 g pack.
PLUS describes an unroasted, unsalted nut mix in a 500 g stand-up pouch.
This selection includes individually wrapped snacks and larger packs for making your own portions. The ingredients vary, so check each variety for details such as ingredients, salt and allergens.
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The individual bags are designed for planned occasions when you’re taking snacks with you or handing them out without weighing them yourself.
The description lists 30 bags of 25 g. The mix contains nuts and sweetened dried cranberries and blueberries.
Contains almonds, cashews, walnuts and hazelnuts, among other ingredients.
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The individually wrapped nuts are designed for taking with you or handing out without portioning them yourself.
The pack contains a selection of nuts and flavoured varieties; some are seasoned, salted or sweetened.
The ingredients information lists wheat, milk and sesame, among other ingredients. Check the pack is suitable for the people you’re buying for.
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The 1 kg pack is a larger size for weighing out your own portions.
The product information lists roasted pistachios with 1% salt; this is not an unsalted variety.
Contains pistachios.
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The 500 g pack is a larger size for weighing out the amounts you need.
The product information lists 87.6% pecans. The ingredients also include sugar and salt, so this is not an unsalted nut option.
Contains pecans.
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This bundle includes a selection of snacks to enjoy on different occasions or share; it doesn’t contain nuts alone.
The items listed include mixed nuts, macadamias, banana chips, plums and pitted jujubes.
The ingredients information lists aspartame in the California plums. Check the allergen information for each individual product too.
No, not necessarily. A portion count could also refer to amounts for you to weigh out from a large bag. Check whether the pack mentions individual inner bags.
Multiply five occasions by the amount you want to take with you each time. If you use the 25 g portion shown on the label for this calculation, that works out at 125 g per person. This is an example for planning purposes, not personal dietary advice.
No. The Voedingscentrum warns that whole nuts and peanuts can cause choking. Consider whether the form of the food is suitable for the child; individual packaging doesn’t change that.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the specific pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information must be shown on the label of prepacked products; peanuts and nuts are among the regulated allergens.
The number of bags doesn’t tell you that. Compare the cost of the same quantity and type of product, and include any ordering or delivery costs in your own calculations.
