Before packing a school lunch, check the label on the exact tortilla chips and the school’s rules: corn-based chips aren’t automatically suitable for someone with an allergy. A large bag works well if you want to make portions at home and will use the contents; individual bags are more convenient if you want to pack a set, sealed portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options such as fruit and vegetables for children’s snacks; tortilla chips are no substitute for the main part of a lunch.
You want to check the ingredients for the exact flavour and know what the school’s rules are. Albert Heijn labels AH Tortilla chips naturel as gluten-free, while the listing for Doritos Naturel says the product may contain soya and wheat (gluten).
You use one bag for several lunches and decide how much to put in the lunchbox. Albert Heijn lists a 200 g bag of plain tortilla chips; ALDI lists SUN SNACKS Tortillachips in a 300 g bag.
You want to be able to put a bag straight into the lunch bag. Jumbo lists a box of Doritos Nacho Cheese with 20 individual 44 g bags.
Start with the label and the school’s rules. Then compare the pack size with the amount you actually want to include in each lunch.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Read the current label for the exact flavour and check which rules the school follows. | If my child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s on the pack and what the school allows before packing lunch. For around 33% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Pack size and how you’ll use it | Check the weight, how many portions you want to make yourself and the storage instructions after opening. | If I’m making several lunches from one bag, I want to make sure I’ll use the contents. Around 27% of consumers prioritise making use of what they buy. |
| Set portions | For individual bags, check the weight per bag and the number of bags. | I want to be able to pack a sealed bag without measuring out a portion at home, but the amount still needs to suit the lunch. For around 20% of consumers, having a set portion matters most. |
| How they fit into the lunch | Read the nutritional information per 100 g and, where provided, per portion. | If I’m packing crisps, I want to think carefully about how often I do so and what else is in the lunch. This is a key consideration for around 20% of consumers; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as snacks for children. |
Labelling varies by product. Albert Heijn labels AH Tortilla chips naturel as gluten-free; Doritos Naturel is listed as possibly containing soya and wheat (gluten).
Check the pack of the exact flavour you’re putting in the lunchbox, and bear the school’s rules in mind.
An individual bag makes packing easy, but it also determines how much you’re including in one go. Jumbo lists Doritos Nacho Cheese bags at 44 g each; this variety contains milk.
Check the weight, nutritional information and allergen details for each bag before choosing.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends including options such as vegetables, fruit and wholegrain products in children’s meals and snacks, and points out that many snack products are high in calories or salt.
Think of tortilla chips as a possible extra, and consider the lunch as a whole.
The supermarket’s own brand offers a 200 g bag of AH Tortilla chips naturel, which you can portion at home.
ALDI lists SUN SNACKS Tortillachips in 300 g bags, with plain, cheese and sweet chilli flavours.
Doritos features here with individual Nacho Cheese bags and a bag of the Naturel variety.
You can divide these two bags into lunch portions at home. Choose a size that suits how you’ll use them, and always check the label and the school’s rules before packing.
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A 475 g bag for making portions at home for several lunches. Before packing, check the current label for allergens and check the school’s rules.
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A plain variety in a 185 g bag that you can portion at home. Check the allergen information for this exact pack and bear the school’s rules in mind.
No, knowing they’re made from corn isn’t enough to tell you about a specific variety. Albert Heijn labels AH Tortilla chips naturel as gluten-free, while Doritos Naturel is listed as possibly containing wheat (gluten). So check the label on the pack you’re buying.
Check the ingredients list on the pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared in pre-packed foods have to be clearly identifiable there; also check the rules followed by the school.
Small bags are handy if you want to pack a set, sealed portion without portioning it out at home. Check the weight and allergens for each bag, though; with a large bag, you can choose the lunch portion yourself.
Tortilla chips aren’t a substitute for the usual main part of a lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options such as vegetables, fruit and wholegrain products for children’s meals and snacks; so consider chips as part of the lunch as a whole.
