People who put a meal first
Would you rather have a proper meal after exercising, and perhaps enjoy something savoury as well? The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a normal main meal after exercise; crisps don’t need to replace it.
Who is this relevant to?
People who want a set snack portion
Individual bags make it easy to choose a portion in advance without opening a large bag. Check the weight of each bag, though: this can vary within a mixed box.
Households stocking up for several occasions
If several people are choosing from the same box, check more than just the number of bags. The net weight, flavours, snack types and allergens in the pack you choose all matter too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re planning a meal or a separate snack after exercising. Then choose the bag size and check exactly what’s inside a mixed box.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Meal or snack | Decide whether your exercise session coincides with a main meal. If the nutritional content of your snack matters to you, check the nutritional information per portion. | If I still need to eat after exercising, I don’t want to mistake crisps for a meal. This is the main consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Portion size | Check both the number of bags and the weight in grams per bag; bags in a mixed pack aren’t always the same size. | If you want to choose one savoury snack in advance, knowing the bag size is more useful than knowing only the number of items. This is the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Stock and contents | Compare the total net weight and check whether the number of bags suits the snack occasions in your household. | If I’m stocking up for several snack occasions, I want to know how much the box actually contains. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Ingredients and mix | Read the breakdown of the contents and check the current label on the exact pack, especially if you have allergies or prefer a particular type of snack. | If not everyone wants the same snacks or ingredients, the whole mix needs to suit the household. This matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Thinking of a multipack as a meal replacement
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a normal main meal after exercise. Don’t confuse the nutritional value of crisps with that of a meal: plain crisps contain an average of 2.6 g of protein per 40 g.
Plan your normal meal separately from any occasion when you might want to have a bag of crisps.
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Counting only the number of bags
The number of items doesn’t tell you how many crisps or other snacks are in a box. For example, Jumbo lists 15 bags of 25 g in its Chips Uitdeelzak, while Albert Heijn lists 12 tubes of 40 g in its Pringles Original 12-pack.
Compare the net weight and the amount in each pack before choosing a size.
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Assuming all the bags in a mix are the same size
A mixed box can contain different bag sizes and other savoury snacks as well as potato crisps. So the number of bags alone tells you little about the portions or the balance of flavours.
Read the contents list for the exact box, and choose a mix only if the different bags suit your household.
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Guessing allergens from the flavour name
According to Albert Heijn’s product listing, the Lay’s Family Box described there contains milk, soya and lactose. That doesn’t automatically tell you what’s in another Family Box or a revised mix.
Before eating, check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you’ve actually chosen.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Lay’s describes its Multipack as bags in different flavours. With mixed boxes, the exact contents matter more than the brand name alone.
- The Family and Mega boxes reviewed offer individual bags containing different snacks.
- Check the bag weights, snack types and allergens for each box; the Family Box listed by Albert Heijn contains milk, soya and lactose.
Pringles
The Original 12-pack listed by Albert Heijn contains 12 tubes of 40 g each, making it a good option if you want several packs of the same flavour.
- A single flavour and a stated weight per tube make it easy to see what you’re getting.
- The Original listing mentions wheat and cereals containing gluten, and says that milk and soya may be present; check other flavours separately.
Jumbo huismerk
According to Jumbo, the Jumbo Chips Uitdeelzak Paprika & Naturel contains 15 bags of 25 g each, split between two flavours.
- The set bag weight is useful if you want to choose one individually packed snack in advance.
- This sharing pack doesn’t offer a wide range of flavours; the product listing names milk as an allergen.
Snack Day
Lidl describes Snack Day as its own brand, offering a range of crisp flavours. The contents depend on the product you choose.
- The range of flavours gives you options if you’re looking for a savoury snack in store.
- For your chosen multipack, check the contents of each bag, the ingredients and the nutritional information on the pack.
Multipacks of crisps at Joybuy
These packs are suited to individual savoury snacks after exercise or to keeping supplies for several occasions. When choosing, pay particular attention to the stated weight per bag or tube, and check the contents and current label of mixed boxes.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Chips, 2 × 15 stuks
For several individual snack occasions if you’re looking for a mixed box. The product name lists 2 × 15 items; check the contents of the mix and the current label.
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Pringles Red Pepper Flavoured Potato Chips, 12 × 40 g
For anyone who wants several packs of the same flavour rather than a mixed box. The product name lists 12 packs of 40 g; check the ingredients for this Red Pepper variant on the current label.
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Lay's Family Box, 15 stuks
For a household looking for individual snacks to enjoy on several occasions. The product name lists 15 items; check the exact box for the snacks and bag weights it contains, as well as the allergens listed.
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Lay's Fun Mix Box Chips, 15 stuks
For anyone who wants to choose individual snacks from a mixed box. The product name lists 15 items; check the breakdown of the contents and the current label before choosing a bag.
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Lay's Cheetos Doritos Mega Box Multipack Chips, 20 stuks
For several snack occasions if a box containing different snack brands suits your household. The product name lists 20 items; check the contents and allergens for each type, not just the total number.
Frequently asked questions
Can crisps replace my post-workout meal?
Don’t have crisps instead of the meal you planned to eat after exercising. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a normal main meal after exercise; plain crisps contain an average of 2.6 g of protein per 40 g.
How do I compare multipacks with different-sized bags?
Check both the total net weight and the weight and breakdown of the individual bags. The number of items alone doesn’t make packs with different portion sizes and snack types comparable.
Where can I check allergens in a mixed box of crisps?
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on labels. For a mixed pack, don’t rely on the brand name, flavour name or an older product photo alone.