If you want to take one portion with you
You want to pop a bar straight into your bag, without needing a lunchbox or cutlery. Check whether the bars in a multipack are individually wrapped too.
Who are the different portion sizes handy for?
If you want to compare nutritional values
You’re looking for something to add to your lunch and don’t want to choose based solely on the flavour or a claim on the front of the pack. Compare fibre, protein and sugars per bar, among other things.
If you’re mainly in the mood for biscuits
You want a small sweet treat alongside your lunch. A pack containing several biscuits could work, as long as you check in advance how many biscuits make up a portion.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want an individually wrapped bar, a bar with a particular nutritional profile or simply a portion of biscuits to have alongside your lunch. Then compare the packaging and nutritional information for the exact product variant.
Individually wrapped gingerbread bar
When: you want to take one portion with you without needing another wrapper; Joybuy lists Snelle Jelle Ontbijtcake Minder Suiker as five individually wrapped 50 g bars.
Consider: the claim ‘less sugar’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you how the bar fits into your overall lunch.
Protein or oat bar
When: you want to factor protein or fibre into your choice of something to add to lunch.
Consider: ‘protein’ or ‘oat’ on the front of the pack is no substitute for comparing the full nutritional values per bar.
A portion of biscuits alongside lunch
When: you’re mainly after the flavour of biscuits or speculoos, and you’re taking the rest of your lunch separately.
Consider: a set portion of biscuits still isn’t a replacement for lunch.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taking one portion with you | Look for ‘individually wrapped’ and check the number of bars and the weight of each one. | If I’m only taking one bar, I don’t want to be left with an opened multipack. For around 44% of consumers, having a single portion is the most important thing. |
| Nutritional value as an addition to lunch | Compare fibre, protein, sugars, saturated fat and salt per bar; use the values per 100 g to compare different sizes. | If the rest of my lunch is fairly simple, I want to know what the bar adds. Nutritional value comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Biscuit flavour and portion size | Check how many biscuits make up a portion and remember to consider the rest of your lunch separately. | I’m looking for a sweet biscuit treat, not something to replace my lunch. This flavour-led choice is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Thinking of a snack bar as a whole lunch
A bar that’s easy to take with you won’t automatically provide the combination of nutrients you’re looking for in a lunch. The Voedingscentrum lists wholegrain products, vegetables and fruit among the components of a lunch.
Have the bar as an addition, and decide what else to take with you for lunch.
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Judging by the front of the pack alone
‘Protein’, ‘oat’ and ‘less sugar’ don’t tell you the full nutritional story. Sugars, saturated fat, salt, fibre and protein are all relevant when comparing products.
Read the nutritional information for the variant you’ve chosen. If you’re comparing different bar sizes, compare values both per portion and per 100 g.
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Assuming a multipack contains individually wrapped portions
Several bars in one pack doesn’t automatically mean each bar has its own wrapper.
If you want to take one bar on its own, look for an explicit statement that the bars are individually wrapped.
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Skipping the allergen information
Ingredients and warnings can differ between variants. Snelle Jelle Ontbijtcake Minder Suiker lists rye and gluten, and warns that it may contain nuts and milk.
Always check the current allergen information on the pack you’re buying.
Brands to compare
Snelle Jelle
Gingerbread and spiced cake bars, including Ontbijtcake Minder Suiker.
- For this variant, Joybuy lists five individually wrapped 50 g bars.
- The claim ‘less sugar’ doesn’t automatically make the bar a complete lunch.
Trek
Oat and protein bars in the Albert Heijn range, including a Biscoff variant.
- A brand to look at if you’re specifically after an oat or protein bar.
- Compare the nutritional information for the exact variant before relying on a claim on the front of the pack.
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos biscuits for anyone looking for a biscuit portion to enjoy alongside lunch.
- Jumbo lists an XL pack with two biscuits per portion and ten portions.
- That portion of biscuits isn’t a complete lunch on its own.
AH
Albert Heijn’s own brand, with a range of spiced cake bars, including plain and raisin varieties.
- You can compare different types of spiced cake bars within the range.
- Check whether the bars are individually wrapped in each pack.
Sondey
Lidl’s brand of biscuits, wafers and bars, among other things.
- Lidl lists a pack containing six biscuit bars.
- Check the portion size on the pack you’ve chosen and whether you can take the bars individually.
Bars for when you’re out and about on Joybuy
These products cover two ways to choose a bar for when you’re out and about: a cookie dough bar to assess by portion, and an individually wrapped gingerbread bar. With either option, think about what else you’ll take for lunch.
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Holie's Chewy Bar Cookie Dough, 11 × 3 bars
A cookie dough bar to consider if you’re looking for a sweet bar to take with you. The product name lists 11 packs, each containing 3 bars; check the weight per bar and whether each one is individually wrapped.
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Snelle Jelle Ontbijtcake Minder Suiker, 250 g
If you want to take one gingerbread bar with you, this pack contains five individually wrapped 50 g bars. Use the nutritional information on the current pack to compare the bar with other portions.
The product information lists rye and gluten, and warns that it may contain nuts and milk; check the current allergen information when you buy it.
Frequently asked questions
Can one snack bar replace my whole lunch?
Don’t assume that one snack bar will make up your whole lunch. The Voedingscentrum lists wholegrain products, vegetables and fruit among the components of a lunch, so think about what else to take alongside the bar if it’s your main meal.
How do I compare bars labelled ‘less sugar’ or ‘protein’?
Compare the nutritional information for the whole bar, not just the claim on the front of the pack. Look at sugars, saturated fat and salt as well as fibre and protein, and use the values per 100 g when portion weights differ.
What should I look for if I need to avoid gluten, milk or nuts?
Read the allergen information for the exact variant and pack you’re buying. Snelle Jelle Ontbijtcake Minder Suiker lists rye and gluten, and warns that it may contain nuts and milk. Check the current packaging even if you know the brand.