Value seekers with regular game nights
You’re buying for several players and will also use any leftover nuts at another time. So pack size, price per kilo and storage all play a part in your decision.
Who is a larger pack suitable for?
Mindful snack planners
You’re looking for unsalted nuts and want to look beyond words such as ‘nuts’ or ‘value pack’. The ingredients and portion size can help you decide whether a product suits your preferences.
Hosts catering for dietary needs
You’re choosing snacks for guests with allergies or other dietary requirements. Check the current label, including any warnings about cross-contamination.
What should you look out for when buying?
First, decide what matters most to your group: price, quantity, ingredients, allergens or how you’ll serve the snacks.
The percentages below relate to consumers choosing nuts for a board game night. Each row shows the need that matters most to them.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Price and total spend | Compare the price per kilo and the price of the whole pack; also consider whether you’ll use the rest. | If I’m mainly looking for value, I want to know both the price per kilo of a larger pack and what I’ll pay now. Around 31% of consumers prioritise getting a good price. |
| Quantity and leftovers | Check the net weight and any portion guidance; think about how you’ll store and use the rest. | If I want to put out enough without ending up with unused leftovers, I consider the quantity and how I’ll use any remaining nuts. Around 25% of consumers put this consideration first. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and check whether the nuts are unsalted; also look at the oil and how they’re prepared. | If I prefer unsalted nuts, I want to know the ingredients of the exact product. Around 19% of consumers consider ingredients the most important factor. |
| Allergens for guests | Check both the ingredients list and any warnings on the pack, such as ‘may contain’. | If a guest has a known allergy, I check the label before choosing a product. Around 13% of consumers make allergen suitability their deciding factor. |
| Serving at the table | Think about whether you want to fill small bowls or put the snack in a separate place. | If I want to organise snacking around cards and game pieces, I think about how to serve the snacks in advance. Around 12% of consumers prioritise ease of serving. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing nuts in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place. Check the chosen pack’s label for specific storage instructions.
Common buying mistakes
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Confusing a low price per kilo with a low bill for the evening
A larger bag may cost less per kilo, but you’ll pay more upfront.
Compare the pack price with the price per kilo, and decide in advance what you’ll do with any leftovers.
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Assuming ‘nuts’ means ‘nuts only’
Coated savoury nuts may contain a batter coating and other ingredients as well as peanuts. Even an unsalted mix may contain oil.
Read the ingredients list for the exact product rather than relying on the product name alone.
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Assuming a familiar product name guarantees it’s allergen-safe
An ingredients list and a warning about possible cross-contamination provide different information.
Keep the pack handy when serving and check the current label for your guests, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.
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Assuming a stand-up pouch is resealable
The term ‘stand-up pouch’ doesn’t confirm that the pack has a closure.
Check the closure and follow the storage advice. If needed, transfer the contents to a suitable airtight container.
Brands and supermarket ranges for reference
Duyvis
The range includes peanuts, mixes, Borrelnootjes and Tijgernootjes.
- The manufacturer lists Cocktail in 125 g, 275 g, 500 g and 1000 g packs.
- According to Duyvis, Cocktail is a peanut with a crunchy coating, not a pure nut mix. Check the exact product and its allergens; a listed pack size doesn’t indicate whether it’s in stock at a particular shop.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn own-brand nuts include an unsalted mix available in 200 g and 500 g packs.
- The product pages list the weight and portion sizes, which can help you plan how much to buy.
- The 500 g mix contains sunflower oil, among other ingredients. Unsalted doesn’t automatically mean unroasted, so check the current label.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes Cocktail Borrelnoten in 300 g and 500 g packs.
- The listed pack sizes offer different quantities for a snack occasion.
- The cocktail products are peanuts with a batter coating and contain wheat, so don’t treat them as a pure nut mix.
Lidl
Alesto is Lidl’s nut and snack range; one listed nut mix comes in a 200 g bag.
- The product page describes this mix as unroasted and unsalted.
- The product page states that it’s sold in store. Check availability at your local branch; the brand name doesn’t tell you whether it offers good value.
ALDI
The listed TRADER JOE’S Unsalted Nut Mix comes in a 500 g pack.
- The ingredients include almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
- Unsalted doesn’t mean allergen-free. Check the label for ingredients and warnings.
PLUS
PLUS lists an unroasted, unsalted nut mix in a 500 g stand-up pouch.
- The product information lists walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews.
- ‘Stand-up pouch’ doesn’t mean the pack is resealable, so check the closure yourself.
Joybuy products
These Joybuy products are related nut snacks and portion packs. Check each product to see whether it’s a nut mix, chestnuts or a mix with dried fruit.
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Wolong Assorted Pure Nuts, 500 g tin
This 500 g tin of six types of nuts is designed for sharing.
The product description states that no salt has been added. The nuts listed are almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and pistachios.
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g’woon Unroasted Mixed Nuts 500 g
This 500 g mix of unroasted, unsalted nuts is a good choice if you’re looking for a larger pack.
The description lists hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews. The product may contain traces of peanuts and other nuts.
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J.ZAO S++ Grade Whole Chestnuts, 1 kg (10 sachets)
According to the product description, the peeled chestnuts are ready to eat and divided into individual sachets.
The box contains 1 kg, divided into ten 100 g sachets. This is a chestnut product, not a mixed nut product.
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BE&CHEERY Premium Macadamia Nuts 500 g
This 500 g pack contains macadamia nuts and, according to the description, can be served as a snack straight away.
The product description states that it contains 100% macadamia nuts, with no added salt, sugar or seasoning. According to the description, the contents should be eaten immediately after opening.
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J.ZAO Classic Daily-Nut Mix 750 g (30 sachets)
The individual 25 g sachets provide pre-portioned snacks for a group.
The pack contains nuts and dried fruit. The ingredients list includes walnuts, almonds, cashews and hazelnuts, as well as sugar in the dried cranberries. According to the product description, store the pack in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Frequently asked questions
How many nuts should you put out for four players?
As a rough guide, you could fill four bowls with 25 g each: 100 g in total. A 500 g bag would make twenty portions of that size. This is an example to help you plan, not a recommended amount for a game night; Albert Heijn lists 25 g as a portion size.
How should you store nuts once the bag is open?
Follow the label and store nuts in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. For Duyvis Cocktail 275 g, the product page specifically recommends storing the contents in a light-proof, airtight container after opening. Storage instructions vary by product.
Can you serve an unsalted nut mix to someone with a peanut allergy?
Don’t decide based on the product name or ingredients list alone. For its 500 g nut mix, PLUS states ‘May contain peanuts’. Choose a snack that’s suitable for your guest’s known allergy and check the current label.
What allergen information appears on a packaged bag in the Netherlands?
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products. Since 1 January 2026, Dutch rules have also set out how and when food businesses must warn about the unintended presence of allergens, for example due to cross-contamination. These requirements apply to food businesses; check the information on the product’s packaging.
Are whole nuts suitable if young children are playing too?
Not necessarily. The AH and Duyvis product pages checked warn that young children can choke on nuts and peanuts. Take the warning on the pack into account when choosing snacks for young guests.