If you want to limit your calorie intake during a board game night, first decide how many grams you want to eat, then compare the nutritional information for the exact product. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a 25 g portion of unsalted nuts contains 164 kcal, so unsalted doesn’t mean low-calorie. Then choose based on ingredients and ease of serving, and always check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging if anyone has a food allergy.
You want to snack on nuts during a long board game night and know in advance how much energy your portion will provide. Compare the weight in grams and the kcal for the exact product, rather than relying on words such as unsalted or natural.
You want a snack without added salt and are choosing between peanuts, different types of nuts and preparation methods. The ingredients, and whether the nuts are unroasted or lightly roasted, matter to you.
You’re buying for several players and thinking about portions, shells and how to store any leftovers. If a guest has a food allergy, check the information on the packaging of the exact product first.
For a board game night, the portion size, ingredients, ease of serving and suitability for your guests are the main things to consider.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per portion | Check the kcal per 100 g and weigh out the edible portion. | If you want to limit the energy in your snack during a long game night, weighing it out can help. For around 39% of consumers, calories per portion are the top priority when buying. |
| Ingredients and preparation | Read the label for the types of nuts, added oil, salt and any coating. | If you’re mainly looking for a particular mix of nuts or preparation method, compare those features with the nutritional information. Around 23% of consumers prioritise ingredients and preparation. |
| Easy snacking | Check the number of portions and the edible weight, and think about where the shells will go. | If you want to share and snack easily while playing, consider portions and shells. For around 15% of consumers, ease of serving is the top priority. |
| Quantity and leftovers | Choose a pack size to suit the number of portions you want to serve, and follow the storage instructions. | If you’re buying for a group, you’ll want to have enough portions ready and store any leftover nuts properly. Around 15% of consumers prioritise quantity and leftovers. |
| Food allergies | Check the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging for any allergens your guests need to avoid. | If a guest has a food allergy, the product must be suitable for the allergens they avoid. For around 8% of consumers, allergen suitability is the top priority when buying. |
Unsalted nuts can still be high in energy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 164 kcal for a 25 g reference portion of unsalted nuts.
Weigh the amount you plan to serve and calculate the kcal using the nutritional information per 100 g. Consider salt and energy as separate factors.
Jumbo’s product pages list 633 kcal per 100 g for the unsalted nut mix reviewed and 641 kcal per 100 g for the unroasted nut mix. The ingredients also differ.
Compare the information on the exact pack. Don’t use the preparation method as a substitute for checking the nutritional information.
Albert Heijn describes the 200 g bag of pistachios reviewed as four portions of 25 g of shelled pistachios. So, for nuts in their shells, the total pack weight is not the same as the edible weight.
Plan portions based on the weight of the shelled nuts, and make room for the shells when serving.
The coating may contain other ingredients too. Looking only at the peanuts could mean missing relevant ingredients and allergens.
Read the full ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging for the flavour you’ve chosen.
Worth considering if you want to compare a simple peanut snack with coated party nuts.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a specific type of nut, such as unsalted pistachios, as part of your regular shop.
Useful for comparing specific unsalted mixes with oil and unroasted mixes.
Lidl’s Dutch product range page describes Alesto as a range of nuts, dried fruit and party snacks.
ALDI’s Dutch range page lists several individual types of nuts, available salted and unsalted.
The PLUS product page includes an unroasted, unsalted nut mix.
These Joybuy product picks are suited to portion-conscious snacking with peanuts, almonds and chestnut kernels. Compare the portion size and nutritional information for the product you choose.
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Suitable if you want to serve unsalted peanuts for sharing. The product name lists a 250 g pack.
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An option if you want to weigh out almonds for a snack. The product name lists a 500 g pack.
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Suitable if you want to include chestnut kernels in your snack comparison. The product name lists a 220 g pack.
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A chestnut option to consider alongside peanuts and almonds. The product name lists a 300 g pack.
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The product name specifies whole chestnuts in a 1 kg pack containing 10 sachets. Check the product information if you want to portion out the sachets in advance.
For solid foods, the European Commission sets a limit of no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g for the claim ‘low energy’. A smaller portion doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g of the product.
Multiply the kcal per 100 g by the number of edible grams, then divide by 100. Using the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s reference value of 164 kcal per 25 g, 15 g works out to 98.4 kcal; this is a calculation example, not personal dietary advice.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, especially if a guest has a food allergy. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) states that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products.
Store leftovers in a sealed container in a dry place, and follow the instructions on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing them in a cool place; the Jumbo Unroasted Nut Mix reviewed says to store it in a cool, dry, dark place.
