Hosts handing out snacks
You’re planning a birthday drinks party and want to put out individual bags or give them to guests to take home, without weighing out portions in advance.
Who are these portions for?
Hosts who want to portion snacks themselves
You want to decide the weight and contents of each portion yourself, and don’t mind weighing them out from a larger pack.
Hosts planning around dietary requirements
You’re taking salt or allergen requirements into account and checking the ingredients for each product. Unsalted, or having no peanuts listed as an ingredient, doesn’t automatically make a product suitable for someone with an allergy.
What should you look for when choosing?
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Handing out and taking snacks with you | Check that the pack really contains individual bags and how many there are. | If you want to give guests something to take home without filling bags yourself, ready-to-go convenience is key; around 33% of consumers prioritise ease of handing out snacks. |
| Amount per person | Check the weight of each individual bag, not just the total pack weight. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s 25-gram reference is for a handful of unsalted nuts, not a recommended portion for a drinks party. | If you want to decide how much each guest gets, portion control matters more than ready-to-go convenience; around 25% of consumers focus mainly on the weight per person. |
| Flavour and type of snack | Check whether you’re buying nuts, salted peanuts or coated savoury snacks, and read the ingredients. | If you’re looking for a particular seasoning, crunchy coating or mix of nuts, the type of product makes all the difference; around 17% of consumers choose mainly on flavour and type of snack. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Check the ingredients and precautionary warnings on the pack. An unsalted option may still contain allergens. | If salt or allergen requirements determine your choice, the product information is what matters; around 17% of consumers put dietary requirements first. |
| Preparation | Think about whether you want to weigh out portions yourself and perhaps fill individual bags. | If you want to keep preparations for the party to a minimum, individual portions are easier; around 8% of consumers focus mainly on the work involved in portioning snacks themselves. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming unsalted means allergen-free
Unsalted tells you about the salt content, not allergens. The Jumbo mix reviewed contains peanuts and tree nuts; the PLUS mix contains four types of tree nut and warns that it may contain peanuts.
Read the ingredients and precautionary warnings for the exact product you plan to serve. Check your choice with guests who have a food allergy.
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Treating the pack size as a general serving recommendation
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 25 grams as a handful reference for unsalted nuts. A Duyvis Provencale bag in one product listing weighs 45 grams and has different ingredients.
Compare both the weight and the type of snack. Don’t treat a product-specific portion as general dietary advice.
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Confusing a large bag with individual portions
A 200-gram pack isn’t the same as a multipack containing individually wrapped bags.
Check the inner packaging and the number of individual portions, not just the total weight. Weighing and possibly wrapping portions yourself takes preparation and may involve extra packaging.
Relevant brands and supermarket ranges
The examples reviewed range from individual bags to larger packs for portioning yourself. Check the format, ingredients and allergen information for each product.
Duyvis
The examples reviewed include salted peanuts in 20 mini bags and Provencale savoury snacks in a multipack of 20 bags.
- The AH product page lists Provencale as 20 bags of 45 grams each.
- The peanuts are salted; Provencale contains peanuts and wheat. Check the other allergen information too.
Albert Heijn
The examples reviewed are Duyvis Provencale in individual bags and AH unsalted mixed nuts, including a 200-gram pack.
- There are examples of both ready-portioned snacks and nuts to weigh out yourself.
- A larger bag of mixed nuts isn’t a collection of individual bags to take with you; check the packaging format of the product you choose.
Jumbo
The 200-gram Jumbo Unsalted Nut Mix reviewed is intended for portioning yourself.
- The ingredients list includes peanuts and various tree nuts.
- Peanuts are an ingredient, so don’t choose this product if you need a peanut-free ingredients list.
ALDI
Information about the Dutch range lists different types of nuts, both salted and unsalted, as well as seasoned savoury snacks.
- The product types listed give you a starting point for exploring different snacks for a drinks party.
- Check the packaging and ingredients for each product if individual portions or specific allergens are important.
PLUS
The 200-gram PLUS mixed nuts reviewed are unroasted and unsalted, and contain four types of tree nut.
- The ingredients are walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews.
- The pack warns that it may contain peanuts and other nuts.
Nut products at Joybuy
This selection includes individually wrapped portions and larger bags of mixed nuts for portioning yourself.
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ChaCha Pistachio Nuts, 20 g, 25 Bags
The individual bags are ideal for handing out or taking with you, without weighing out portions yourself.
The product name lists 25 bags of 20 g.
The product information says the pack contains a desiccant. Do not eat it.
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g'woon Unroasted Mixed Nuts, 500 g
A larger pack is a good choice if you want to decide the weight of each portion yourself.
The description lists hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews, and states that the product contains 0 g of salt.
The description warns that the product may contain traces of peanuts and other nuts.
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J.ZAO Classic Daily-Nut Mix, 750 g, 30 sachets
The individual bags are a handy option if you want to hand out portions without weighing them yourself.
The description lists 30 bags of 25 g containing walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts and dried fruit, including raisins, cranberries and blackcurrants.
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ChaCha Assorted Nuts Mega Pack, 242 g
The product description says the snacks are individually wrapped, making them easy to share or take with you.
The description lists various types of nuts and flavourings.
According to the product information, the assortment includes wheat, milk and sesame. Check the details for the variant you choose.
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g'woon Nut Mix Unsalted, 200 g
This pack is suitable for putting together and weighing out your own portions.
The description lists peanuts, almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts and hazelnuts.
Frequently asked questions
Is one bag automatically a handful of nuts?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 25 grams as a handful reference for unsalted nuts. A Duyvis Provencale bag in one product listing weighs 45 grams and has different ingredients, so compare the weight and type of product.
How many 25-gram portions can you get from 200 grams of nuts?
If you weigh out 25-gram portions yourself, 200 grams works out to eight portions. This is an example for planning, not a fixed amount for each guest.
Is an unsalted nut mix suitable for someone with a nut allergy?
Not automatically. Check the ingredients and warnings on the pack: unsalted says nothing about allergens or possible cross-contamination.
Can you give whole nuts to children under 4?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving whole nuts or peanuts to children under 4, as they could choke on them. Follow any warnings on the pack you choose too.
Which is more convenient: individual bags or a larger pack?
Individual bags save you the time and effort of weighing and wrapping portions yourself; a larger pack gives you more control over the weight of each portion. For individual bags, check how many there are and the weight of each one. For a larger pack, check the ingredients and allergen information.