The nuts and peanuts reviewed here, with nutrition information available, are not low in calories: compare the nutritional values per 100 g and weigh the portion you actually eat. For a student dinner, also choose based on flavour and how you plan to use them, and remember that unsalted does not mean low in calories. If you’re on a tight budget, choose a pack whose contents you’ll actually use.
If you want to eat nuts but keep an eye on the energy content of your snack, weighing out a portion is more useful than relying on the word ‘unsalted’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 164 kcal as a general example for 25 g of unsalted nuts; the nutritional value of a particular variety may differ.
If your food budget is limited, consider the pack size and how much you’ll actually use. That way, you can choose a variety that suits when you eat it, rather than leaving it unused.
If you mainly add nuts or peanuts to your evening meal, consider which type and use will suit the dish, and count the amount you use. Duyvis describes its peanuts as suitable for cooking, while Albert Heijn suggests cashews for dishes such as chicken with cashews and noodles with stir-fry vegetables.
First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then work out the portion you’ll actually use. For dinner, the flavour you want, the ingredients and the salt content also matter.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and weigh the amount you eat. | If I want to measure out my snack or the nuts I add to dinner, I check both the label and my portion. Around 34% of consumers prioritise energy per portion. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight with the amount you expect to use. | When I’m shopping on a tight student budget, I want to choose a pack whose contents I can use. Around 33% of consumers prefer a portion size that suits their food budget. |
| Using them in an evening meal | Check the type of nut, ingredients and suggested uses listed in the product information. | When I want to add nuts to a dish, flavour and how they’ll work in the recipe matter more to me than using them as a snack. Around 20% of consumers mainly choose based on how useful they’ll be in a meal. |
| Ingredients and salt | Read the ingredients list, any allergen information and the salt content per 100 g. | If I’m keeping an eye on the ingredients or salt, I check the label of the exact variety. Around 13% of consumers are most concerned with ingredients and salt. |
‘Unsalted’ tells you about the salt, not the energy content. The nutritional values listed for products including Duyvis peanuts, AH cashews and PLUS peanuts are above the threshold for the commercial claim ‘low calorie’.
Compare the kcal per 100 g and calculate the energy in the portion you actually weigh out. According to the European Commission, the threshold for using the commercial claim ‘low calorie’ on solid foods is a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g; a smaller portion does not change this product limit.
The net weight doesn’t tell you how much you’ll use at a time. A pack is practical for your needs only if you can use the contents and store them according to the label instructions.
Compare the pack size with your planned snack portions or how much you’ll use in recipes, and follow the storage instructions for the variety you choose.
Jumbo lists 0.21 g of salt per 100 g for its unsalted pistachios, which it attributes to naturally occurring sodium. So ‘unsalted’ doesn’t necessarily mean the nutrition table will show zero grams of salt.
Check the salt content on the pack if it matters to your choice.
Duyvis describes its unsalted peanuts as suitable for snacking and cooking.
The 170 g pack of AH unsalted cashews is suggested for dishes such as chicken with cashews and noodles with stir-fry vegetables.
Jumbo’s unsalted pistachios are an option if you’re specifically looking for pistachios.
Lidl has a variety labelled unsalted cashews.
ALDI lists roasted, unsalted cashews under the TRADER JOE'S product brand in a 250 g pack.
PLUS unsalted peanuts are a specific variety to compare for snacking or adding to dinner.
This Joybuy selection includes peanuts, cashews and pistachios for measured snack portions or use in recipes. Nutritional values and ingredients vary by product.
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The product description mentions snacking and using them in sweet and savoury dishes.
The product description lists 0.12 g of salt per 100 g.
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The product description suggests enjoying these as a snack or adding them to yoghurt, muesli, bakes and desserts.
The description lists 100% cashew kernels and 604 kcal per 100 g.
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The product description suggests enjoying these as a snack or using them in baking and cooking.
The description lists at least 97% pistachios, 602 kcal and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g.
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The product description suggests enjoying these pistachios as a snack after shelling them.
The description lists 95% pistachios, salt and sugar, 626 kcal and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g.
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The product description mentions snacking and adding them to recipes.
The description lists 99% peanuts, sunflower oil, 0.02 g of salt and 2690 kJ per 100 g.
No. A smaller portion does not make a product eligible for the commercial claim ‘low calorie’. According to the European Commission, solid foods must contain no more than 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 g to use this claim. So describe the portion you’ve weighed and its nutritional value, rather than calling the product low calorie.
First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then weigh your own portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 164 kcal as a general example for 25 g of unsalted nuts; for a specific variety, check the nutrition table on the pack.
Yes, nuts and peanuts can be used as ingredients in a dish. Duyvis suggests cooking with unsalted peanuts, while Albert Heijn recommends its cashews for dinner recipes. Adjust the amount to suit the dish and check the ingredients of the variety you choose.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) states that pre-packed products must include allergen information; peanuts and nuts are listed as separate allergens. The Duyvis variety may contain traces of nuts, and the PLUS peanuts reviewed here may contain cashew nuts.
No, the warning concerned a specific pack. The NVWA warning dated 20 May 2026 names 170 g packs of TRADER JOE'S unsalted cashews with a best-before date of 23-09-2026, due to possible metal particles, and advises against eating them. This is not a warning about all ALDI cashews or the 250 g pack mentioned above.
