Student looking for one snack on the go
Wants something to eat during the journey, while handing over the keys or on the first day of settling in, without having to open a larger pack.
Who is a single snack useful for?
Student who wants to compare labels
Wants to weigh up portion size, protein and fibre rather than choosing based on a bar’s name alone.
Student buying snacks for several occasions
Finds a multipack useful if there’s room to store and enjoy the remaining portions after moving day.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you need a single product sold individually or something for later snack breaks too. Then compare the label for the specific portion and pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| One single portion | Check whether the product is sold individually, and distinguish the weight of one portion from the total pack weight. | If I only want to take one snack, I don’t want to be left with an opened pack. For around 42% of consumers, buying a single portion is the top priority. |
| Several snack breaks | Check how many items are in the pack and consider whether you’ll use the rest later. | A pack makes sense for me if I want to eat biscuits after moving day too and can store them. Around 33% of consumers prioritise enjoying their snacks over several occasions. |
| Label and ingredients | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack; compare the nutritional values per 100 g as well as the size of your portion. | When choosing, I mainly want to know which ingredients are in my snack and how much I’ll actually eat. The label is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a multipack for a single bar
Individually wrapped portions in a pack don’t mean you can buy just one. For example, Lidl lists cereal bars in packs of six.
Before buying, check whether the unit for sale is one bar or a whole pack.
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Judging by the front of the pack alone
A product name or protein claim doesn’t tell you which ingredients and allergens are in that specific variety.
Check the current ingredients list every time you buy, especially if an allergen is relevant to you.
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Assuming a product listing guarantees availability
A page for a limited-time range doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the product will be available when you shop.
Check availability shortly before you go to the shop, especially if you’re looking for a particular single-portion size.
Brands to consider
Trek
The High Protein Lotus Biscoff variety is a 55 g protein bar listed by Albert Heijn as an individual product.
- For this variety, Albert Heijn lists 29 g of protein and 21 g of fibre per 100 g; also bear in mind the 55 g portion size.
- The product information lists soya, wheat and cereals containing gluten, and notes that it may contain peanuts, nuts, milk and sesame. If you have an allergy, check the current packaging.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries lists a 50 g Sandwich Cookie filled with speculoos cream. Check the unit for sale if you want to buy exactly one portion.
- It’s a filled speculoos biscuit, for anyone who’d prefer a biscuit to a protein bar.
- For this variety, Lotus Bakeries lists 34 g of sugars and 26 g of fat per 100 g, and notes that it contains wheat and soya. Check the label on the pack you buy.
Biscotto
This ALDI own brand offers, among other products, sandwich biscuits in a 500 g pack, intended as a store-cupboard option for several occasions.
- A larger pack could suit you if you’d like to eat biscuits more often after moving.
- A 500 g pack isn’t a substitute for a cereal bar sold individually for a single snack break.
Golden Bridge
ALDI lists Breaktime cereal biscuits as nine pieces in a 256–292 g pack, alongside other packaged snacks.
- The number of pieces is listed, so you can decide whether a pack will work for several snack breaks.
- Cereal biscuits in a multipack aren’t the same as a single biscuit or cereal bar sold individually.
Biscuits and biscuit sticks at Joybuy
These products are suitable as a small snack to take with you when moving house. Check the product type: neither is a single biscuit bar sold individually.
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Glico Pocky Cookie Bar Chocolate Flavor 47 g IN
For anyone looking for a small snack to take along: this is a pack of biscuit sticks, not a single biscuit bar sold individually. The listed weight is 47 g; check the packaging for ingredients and allergens.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
For anyone who wants biscuits to enjoy over several occasions: this is a 150 g pack, not a single bar. Check how many biscuits you want to take with you, and read the current packaging if you have an allergy.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if I’m really buying one bar?
Check the unit for sale, not just whether the portions are individually wrapped. Albert Heijn lists Trek High Protein Lotus Biscoff as a 55 g bar; if it’s a pack with several bars, you buy the whole pack.
How do I compare a protein bar with a biscuit?
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check how many grams you’ll actually eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g, so you don’t base your choice on the wording on the front of the pack alone.
What should I check if I have a food allergy?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that the labelling of 14 allergens is mandatory.
How should I store a bar on moving day?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging and check the use-by date. For Trek High Protein Lotus Biscoff, Albert Heijn advises storing the bar in a cool, dry place.