Quick to hand out, with no weighing
You’re organising a Halloween party and want to set out or hand out bags without making up the portions yourself. Check how many bags are in the pack and how many grams each one contains.
Who are these options for?
Making up your own portions
You want to decide how much goes in each party bag, so you’re looking for something like an unsalted or resealable nut mix. Remember that you’ll need to weigh and pack the portions yourself.
Taking your guests into account
Your choice may depend on allergies or the ages of the children attending. For children under 4, Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter rather than whole nuts; encourage older children to eat calmly and stay with them.
What should you look for when buying?
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Easy portions and convenience | Check whether the pack contains individual bags, how many there are and how many grams each one contains. | If you want to hand them out quickly or give bags to guests to take away, convenience is key. Around 29% of consumers put portioning convenience first. |
| Suitability for your guests | Read the allergen information for the exact product and take the children’s ages into account. | If allergies or the ages of your guests determine your choice, suitability comes before convenience or taste. Around 23% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients list and assess unsalted and unroasted options separately. | If you’re looking for an unsalted mix or a particular combination of nuts, you’ll want to know exactly what’s in it. Around 18% of consumers put ingredients first. |
| Flavour for a party snack | Check the exact flavour and whether you’re buying a nut mix or seasoned peanuts. | For a party snack, the seasoning can make all the difference. The product name alone doesn’t always tell you what’s in it. Around 18% of consumers put taste first. |
| Cost and leftovers | Compare the total amount you’ll need for your guests, and factor in your own bags and preparation time. | If you’re mainly concerned about the total cost and what you’ll have left after handing out the bags, pack size matters. Around 12% of consumers make cost and leftovers their top priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a festive bag of nuts is suitable for every guest
Peanuts and tree nuts are allergens. Whole nuts are also unsuitable as a snack for young children; Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter rather than whole nuts for children under 4.
Check allergens and age suitability separately. Don’t give whole nuts to children under 4 as a party snack, and make sure older children eat calmly while you stay with them.
-
Confusing borrelnootjes with a pure nut mix
Duyvis describes Borrelnootjes as peanuts with a crunchy coating. So the name doesn’t mean that they contain only tree nuts.
Read the ingredients for the exact product and choose based on the ingredients you want, not just the product name or picture.
-
Assuming resealable means individually portioned
The TRADER JOE'S nut mix listed by ALDI comes in a resealable pack, while Foods & Goods says the Duyvis multipack contains individual bags. A resealable bag isn’t automatically divided into portions for handing out.
Check whether you’re buying individual bags or will need to weigh and pack the portions yourself. Factor in the preparation and any separate party bags you’ll need.
Brands to consider
Duyvis
According to Foods & Goods, Duyvis Borrelnootjes Provencale is available in a box of twenty 45-gram bags.
- The individual bags give you a ready-to-hand-out portion size.
- Duyvis describes Borrelnootjes as peanuts with a crunchy coating; check the label for the exact ingredients and allergens.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Unsalted Nut Mix, 200 g.
- A larger pack can be used as a base for weighing out your own portions.
- The pack weight doesn’t mean it contains individual portion bags; check the specific product.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists Unsalted Nut Mix, 200 g, and also sells borrelnootjes.
- There are different types to choose from, such as an unsalted mix or borrelnootjes.
- A larger pack doesn’t in itself prove that making up your own portions will cost less.
Lidl
Lidl’s Alesto range includes nuts, dried fruit and savoury party snacks.
- The Alesto range is a place to start when browsing nuts and party snacks.
- The range information doesn’t confirm whether a particular product comes in individual portions; check the product itself.
ALDI
ALDI lists TRADER JOE'S Unroasted Nut Mix in a resealable 200 g pack.
- The product description names hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts and almonds, and says the pack is resealable.
- Unroasted and unsalted are different characteristics; check the product and allergen information on the label.
PLUS
PLUS lists an unroasted, unsalted nut mix in a 500 g stand-up pouch.
- The total weight gives you a good starting point for weighing out your own portions.
- A stand-up pouch doesn’t confirm that it’s resealable or contains individual portions.
Joybuy products
The Joybuy options below include individual bags for handing out straight away and larger packs for portioning yourself.
Image unavailable
ChaCha Pistachio Nuts, 20 g × 25 bags
The product description says the individual bags are easy to hand out or take with you.
The title says Pistachio Nuts, while the product description mentions hickory nuts. Check the packaging and ingredients list before assessing the contents or allergens for your guests.
According to the product information, the pack contains 25 bags of 20 g each.
Image unavailable
Full of Fruit Flavor Nuts and Dried Fruit Sharing Pack, 5-pack, 1.073 kg
This mix of nuts and dried fruit is intended as an individually wrapped snack to hand out or take with you.
The product title lists a 5-pack weighing 1.073 kg; the description also mentions 30 bags of 25 g. Check the current pack size before planning how many portions you’ll need.
The ingredients list includes walnuts, almonds, cashews and hazelnuts; check the label for allergens and warnings.
Image unavailable
g’woon Unsalted Peanuts, 250 g
These unsalted peanuts are an option if you want to decide how much goes in each party bag.
The product description lists 99% peanuts and sunflower oil, and says that traces of cashew nuts may be present. Check the label if allergens are relevant to your guests.
Image unavailable
g’woon Unroasted Mixed Nuts, 500 g
The 500 g pack gives you plenty to work with when making up your own party bags.
The description says it’s an unroasted, unsalted mix of hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews. It also mentions that traces of peanuts and other nuts may be present; check the packaging for precise allergen information.
Image unavailable
J.ZAO Classic Daily-Nut Mix, 750 g, 30 sachets
The individually wrapped portions are ideal if you want bags to hand out or take with you straight away.
The product description lists 30 portions of 25 g containing nuts and dried fruit. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging; the description names walnuts, almonds, cashews and hazelnuts, among other ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how many nuts I’ll need?
Multiply the number of guests by the number of grams you want to put in each bag. For ready-made portions, count the bags; the Duyvis pack listed by Foods & Goods contains twenty 45-gram bags. This pack size isn’t a nutritional recommendation.
Are whole nuts suitable to give to young children?
Amsterdam UMC recommends nut butter rather than whole nuts for children under 4 because of the risk of choking. Encourage older children to eat calmly and stay with them. So don’t give whole nuts as a snack to eat while walking around.
Can I replace peanuts with tree nuts for someone with an allergy?
Don’t assume so just because they’re in a different product category. Peanuts and tree nuts are separate allergen categories. Check the ingredients and warnings for the exact product and follow the guest’s personal guidance; a nut mix isn’t automatically a suitable substitute.
What should I consider when working out the cost of homemade party bags?
Compare the total amount needed for the same number of guests and the same portion size. Remember to include the cost of your own bags and the time needed to prepare them. A 500-gram pack tells you how much you’re buying, but doesn’t prove it’ll work out cheaper.
How should I store leftover unsalted mixed nuts?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s general advice for opened unsalted mixed nuts is six months in a kitchen cupboard or one year in the freezer. Rancidity, a chewy texture and mould are signs that they’ve spoiled. Follow the product-specific instructions and don’t automatically apply these timeframes to seasoned borrelnootjes or mixes you’ve put together yourself.