Parents who want to choose portions carefully
You want to be able to weigh the amount without mistaking a small portion for a low-calorie product. Compare the energy content at the same weight, and don’t base the amount on an adult reference intake.
Who is this advice for?
Parents dealing with school rules or allergies
You want to find out first whether peanuts are allowed in your child’s lunchbox and are suitable given their allergies. Choosing an unsalted option or peanut butter doesn’t change the fact that it’s a peanut product.
Parents who prepare lunch portions themselves
You may buy a bag for several lunches and want to divide and store its contents yourself. As well as checking the nutritional values, look at the exact packaging and storage instructions.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check that peanuts are allowed under your school’s rules and are suitable given your child’s allergies. Then compare the portion, ingredients and packaging.
Whole peanuts
Choose these when: peanuts are allowed at school and the form is suitable for your child.
Bear in mind: unsalted peanuts are not low in calories simply because they are unsalted. For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter instead of whole nuts.
Nut butter or peanut butter
Choose this when: a spreadable option is suitable and peanuts are allowed.
Bear in mind: peanut butter is still a peanut product, so it’s not an option if your child has a peanut allergy or the school bans peanut products.
No peanuts
Choose this when: the school’s policy excludes peanuts or your child has a peanut allergy.
Bear in mind: check which other lunch options are suitable under the school’s rules and in light of any other allergies.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and weigh the amount. The four options compared contain 602–625 kcal per 100 g, according to product information from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS. | If I want to keep a close eye on the energy content of the portion I pack, I compare the same amount and weigh it. For around 36% of consumers, energy per portion comes first. |
| Allergens and school rules | Check the latest school rules and the allergen information on the exact packaging. For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts. | If I first want to know whether a peanut product is allowed at school and suitable for my child, I check both the rules and the product form. For around 29% of consumers, safety and permission are the main concerns. |
| Unsalted ingredients | Read the ingredients and salt content on the exact packaging; an ‘unsalted’ label on its own tells you nothing about the energy content. | If I’m mainly looking for an unsalted option with ingredients I can assess, I check the label rather than relying on the brand name alone. For around 21% of consumers, ingredients are the top priority. |
| Portioning and storage | Check the pack weight, weigh the amount and follow the storage and resealing instructions on the packaging. | If I want to make several lunch portions from one bag, I look at the weight and how to store the rest. For around 14% of consumers, practical portioning comes first. |
Common pitfalls
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Mistaking unsalted for low-calorie
The unsalted products compared contain 602–625 kcal per 100 g. Weighing out a smaller portion doesn’t make the product itself low in calories.
Compare the energy content at the same weight, and describe a smaller amount as a smaller portion, not a low-calorie product.
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Choosing another peanut product to get around school rules
Choosing another brand, unsalted peanuts or peanut butter doesn’t remove the peanuts. School rules may also apply to peanut butter.
Check the school’s rules before packing peanuts or a peanut product.
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Putting a general age label above safety advice
A general age label on an online shop doesn’t replace the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice on the form of nuts for children under 4.
For young children, follow the advice to use nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts.
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Treating packs of different sizes as the same product
The 300 g and 500 g AH options both list 620 kcal per 100 g, but the stated peanut content differs: 96% and 97%, respectively.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack rather than using details from a different size.
Brands and supermarket options for reference
Duyvis
Duyvis Unsalted Peanuts is an unsalted 235 g option.
- The product information lists peanuts and sunflower oil. The Jumbo product page states 614 kcal per 100 g and less than 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.
- Unsalted doesn’t mean low in calories here. Check the allergen information on the packaging.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells unsalted options in 300 g and 500 g packs, among others.
- The Albert Heijn product pages state 620 kcal per 100 g for both options.
- The stated peanut content differs: 96% for the 300 g pack and 97% for the 500 g pack. Also check the allergen information on the pack you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo Unsalted Peanuts is a 250 g option that you can portion yourself.
- The Jumbo product page lists 99.5% peanuts, sunflower oil, 602 kcal and 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.
- The reference intake shown is for an average adult, not a portion recommendation for a school-aged child.
Lidl
Lidl lists a 285 g unsalted peanut product.
- The product range listing names the unsalted option and its pack weight.
- Check the nutritional information on the exact packaging to assess its energy content.
Aldi
ALDI lists 250 g of Trader Joe’s peanuts as roasted and unsalted; Trader Joe’s is the product name.
- The ALDI product page confirms that the option is roasted and unsalted and gives the pack weight.
- Use the nutritional information on the packaging to assess its energy content; the ‘unsalted’ label won’t tell you that.
PLUS
PLUS Unsalted Peanuts is a 250 g pack that you can weigh out yourself.
- The PLUS product page lists 99% peanuts, sunflower oil, 625 kcal and 0.02 g of salt per 100 g.
- The product information says it may contain cashews. Check the warnings and follow the advice on the form of nuts for young children.
Peanuts at Joybuy
These Joybuy products include unsalted peanuts, peanuts in their shells and roasted peanuts. Check the product information for each option and make sure its form is suitable for lunch.
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g'woon unsalted peanuts 250 g
A 250 g bag you can portion yourself, if peanuts are allowed at school.
The product information lists 99% peanuts, sunflower oil and 0.02 g of salt.
Contains peanuts; not suitable for anyone with a peanut allergy or where the school excludes peanuts. For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts, due to the risk of choking.
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g'woon peanuts in their shells 500 g
The 500 g pack can be portioned if peanuts are allowed at school; bear in mind that they need to be shelled before eating.
The product title states that these are peanuts in their shells.
Contains peanuts and may contain traces of nuts. Not suitable for anyone with a peanut allergy or where the school excludes peanuts. For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts, due to the risk of choking.
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Verse Extra Large roasted peanuts 210 g
The product description lists roasted, unsalted peanuts in a 210 g pack, which you can weigh out if peanuts are allowed at school.
The product description states 626 kcal per 100 g, so unsalted doesn’t mean low in calories.
Contains peanuts; not suitable for anyone with a peanut allergy or where the school excludes peanuts. For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts, due to the risk of choking.
Frequently asked questions
Can you call these peanuts low in calories?
No. The four options compared contain 602–625 kcal per 100 g, according to product information from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS. Weighing out a smaller amount doesn’t make the product itself low in calories.
Are 15 or 25 grams automatically the right amount for my child?
No. These amounts aren’t individual portion recommendations for a school-aged child. The 15 g in the comparison is only a calculation example; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 25 g as the amount for one handful in its calorie checker.
Can I pack peanut butter if whole peanuts aren’t allowed at school?
Not without checking the school’s rules. OBS Brinkschool’s policy excludes peanut butter and hazelnut spread as well as peanuts and nuts. This is an example of one school’s policy, not a rule for all schools in the Netherlands.
What form does the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommend for children under 4?
Due to the risk of choking, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts. This advice doesn’t mean peanuts are suitable if your child has an allergy or if they’re not allowed under the school’s rules.
What should I do if I have the recalled tub of AH Extra Large Salted Peanuts?
Albert Heijn’s warning of 20 May 2026 concerns tubs with a best-before date of 04-11-2026, due to possible metal fragments. Albert Heijn asks customers not to consume this specific product; the warning doesn’t automatically apply to the unsalted bags.