Choose nuts for a road trip based on the portion you weigh out; unsalted or unroasted nuts are not automatically low in calories. For a food to carry the ‘low calorie’ claim, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal per 100 g, as explained by the European Commission under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. So compare the nutritional information on the packaging, and also consider the ingredients, packaging convenience and suitability for your travel companions.
You want to take nuts with you without mindlessly eating from a large pack. The nutritional information per 100 g and the weight of your portion will help you calculate its energy content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides general nutritional information about unsalted nuts; values vary between products and packaging.
You want to portion your snack in advance or take it in individual bags. Compare the weight of each bag with the amount you plan to eat; Albert Heijn and Duyvis provide portion or packaging information for their respective products.
If someone in the car has a nut or peanut allergy, or young children are travelling with you, ingredients, allergen information and the shape of the snack are important considerations. The NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) explains allergen labelling; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against whole nuts and peanuts for young children.
First weigh the amount you want to take with you, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and the ingredients of your chosen variety.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and weigh the amount you’ll actually take with you. | If you want to know how much energy your weighed-out snack contains, portion control comes first; around 42% of consumers have the same top priority. |
| Ingredients and preparation | Read the ingredients list; ‘unsalted’ alone tells you nothing about oil or energy content. | If you want to choose a particular type of nut or combination, the ingredients list matters most; around 25% of consumers put composition first. |
| Packaging and portion size | Check the weight of each bag or divide a larger pack into the amounts you want in advance. | If you want to do as little preparation as possible on the road and take a suitable amount, packaging convenience matters most; around 17% of consumers put it first. |
| Suitability for your travel companions | Check the latest ingredients and allergen information; for young children, also consider the shape of the snack. | If someone has a relevant allergy or a young child is travelling with you, suitability takes priority over comparing calories; around 16% of consumers put this first. |
Unsalted describes the salt content, not the amount of energy. The Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS products reviewed list between 622 and 641 kcal per 100 g; these values apply to those specific products.
Compare the energy per 100 g on the packaging and calculate it for the weight you want to eat.
An individual pack doesn’t automatically contain the amount that suits your plan. For Unsalted Nutmix Walnut, Duyvis lists a multipack that includes bags of 4 × 30 g.
Check the weight of each bag before deciding how many to take or eat.
A mix can contain different types of nuts and may also include other allergens. The general product name doesn’t tell you whether a particular pack is suitable for someone with an allergy.
Before you set off, check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
A large pack often contains more than you’ll want to take for one snack break. If you don’t weigh it out in advance, it’s harder to keep track of how much you eat during the journey.
Portion out the amount you want in advance and follow the product’s resealing and storage instructions.
Duyvis offers packaged nut mixes that are handy for taking on the go. For Unsalted Nutmix Walnut, Duyvis product information includes a multipack of 4 × 30 g.
AH Amandelen ongezouten (AH Unsalted Almonds) is a roasted almond variety, in the 190 g pack reviewed. Albert Heijn lists 627 kcal per 100 g and a portion size of 25 g for this product.
Jumbo Cashewnoten Ongezouten 200 g (Jumbo Unsalted Cashews 200 g) is a product for anyone who wants to take cashews with them and portion them out. Jumbo lists 622 kcal per 100 g and includes 99% cashew nuts and sunflower oil in the ingredients.
Lidl’s Alesto range includes nuts, dried fruit and savoury snacks, so it covers a variety of products.
ALDI lists Trader Joe’s Notenmelange ongezouten (Trader Joe’s Unsalted Nut Mix) in a 500 g pack, containing almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts.
PLUS Notenmix ongebrand ongezouten 200 g (PLUS Unroasted, Unsalted Nut Mix 200 g) lists hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and cashews. PLUS gives the energy content of this mix as 641 kcal per 100 g.
These Joybuy products may suit you if you’re looking for nuts or a similar snack to take on the road and want to weigh out the amount yourself.
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An option if you want to take unsalted peanuts with you and choose the amount yourself.
The product name indicates a 250 g pack. According to the product information, it may contain cashew nuts; check the current packaging if allergies are a concern.
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A good fit if you want to take almonds with you and weigh out the amount yourself.
The product name indicates a 500 g pack. Check the current packaging if an almond allergy is a concern; take extra care with whole nuts around young children.
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An option if you want to take roasted, unsalted cashews with you and portion them out yourself.
The product name indicates a 200 g pack. Check the current packaging if a cashew allergy is a concern; take extra care with whole nuts around young children.
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This variety may suit you if you want to take unsalted walnuts with you and don’t mind cracking them open before eating.
The walnuts are in their shells and need to be cracked open. Check the current packaging if a walnut allergy is a concern; take extra care with whole nuts around young children.
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Consider this snack only if its ingredients suit what you’re looking for to take on the road.
According to the product information, this variety contains sugar and salt, so it isn’t an unsweetened, unsalted nut variety. Check the current packaging if an allergy is a concern. Take extra care with whole nuts around young children.
Not on the basis of those descriptions alone. The European Commission explains that, under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal per 100 g to carry the ‘low calorie’ claim. Compare the nutritional information for the specific pack and work out your portion separately.
No, the 25 g mentioned isn’t a recommended portion for everyone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 25 g as an example of a handful of unsalted nuts in the nutritional information consulted. For your own calculation, use the nutritional information for the pack you choose and the amount you weigh out.
No. The ingredients list may also include oil; for example, Jumbo lists sunflower oil in the cashews reviewed. So check the ingredients for the exact variety rather than relying on the product name alone.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the specific product. The NVWA states that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products; don’t rely on the general name ‘nut mix’ alone.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns against whole nuts and peanuts because of the risk of choking. Carefully consider the shape of the snack if young children are travelling with you.
