When protein is the priority, compare the amount per serving rather than choosing plain dried fruit for its fruit content alone. Whitworths lists 0.5g protein per 14g box of Sunny Raisins, ASDA lists 3.4g per 30g serving of its Fruit & Nut Mix, and Sainsbury’s lists 10.4g per 40g Eat Natural bar with added soya protein; the portions and ingredients differ. If the after-school snack falls between meals, NHS guidance advises keeping dried fruit for mealtimes to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
A small box of raisins is easy to carry, but its protein amount is different from that of the reviewed fruit-and-nut mixes and bar. Compare the labelled portions before deciding what role it will play in the snack.
Fruit-and-nut mixes warrant a check of nut, peanut, sulphite and cross-contact statements, as well as any choking warning relevant to the child eating them.
A fruit-and-nut bar with added protein ingredients is another format to compare. Its protein figure, ingredients and allergens need checking as a bar, not as though it were plain dried fruit.
Start with protein per labelled portion, then check whether the ingredients and the time the snack will be eaten make that format suitable.
Consider it when: A portable fruit portion matters more than protein.
Bear in mind: NHS guidance places dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals, and Whitworths Sunny Raisins list 0.5g protein per 14g box.
Consider it when: Nuts are suitable for the eater and you want to compare a mix with plain fruit on protein per portion.
Bear in mind: Nut and other allergen declarations matter, and some mixes warn that small children can choke on nuts or pieces of fruit.
Consider it when: Protein per bar is the main comparison and its ingredients suit the eater.
Bear in mind: A bar may contain protein ingredients beyond fruit and nuts; check its own serving size and allergen statement.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per portion | Compare grams of protein alongside the labelled serving size. Whitworths lists 0.5g per 14g box of Sunny Raisins; ASDA lists 3.4g per 30g serving of Fruit & Nut Mix; Sainsbury’s lists 10.4g per 40g Eat Natural bar. | I want protein to be a meaningful part of this snack, so I need to compare the portion I would actually serve—not just the words on the front of the pack. |
| Fruit portion and timing | Check the pack size against the NHS 30g dried-fruit 5 A Day portion. NHS guidance advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes, rather than between meals, to reduce tooth-decay risk. | If this is a snack before dinner, I need to decide whether to keep the dried fruit for the meal instead. |
| Allergens and choking warnings | Read the current ingredients, allergen and ‘may contain’ statements. Check the specific pack for warnings about nuts and small pieces of fruit. | A higher protein figure is not enough if the ingredients are unsuitable, or if the child cannot safely manage the pieces in the snack. |
Whitworths Sunny Raisins list 0.5g protein per 14g box. By contrast, the reviewed Eat Natural bar lists 10.4g per 40g bar, but it is a different format with different ingredients and a larger serving.
Compare protein in the labelled portion and check what that portion contains, rather than relying on the snack category.
The reviewed ASDA Fruit & Nut Mix contains nut allergens and sulphites. Its listing also warns that small children can choke on nuts and small pieces of fruit.
Check the physical pack’s current allergen statements and choking warning before serving a mix to a child.
The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion, but advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes to reduce tooth-decay risk.
If the after-school occasion is between meals, account for that timing when choosing the snack.
These examples show how portion size and ingredients vary across the formats; the figures apply to the named products, not every product from a brand.
Its named products include portioned raisins, fruit-and-nut mix and roasted nut mix.
Its Fruit & Nut Mix is a labelled serving example for comparing a mix with portioned raisins.
The reviewed Peanuts, Orange & Dark Chocolate Fruit & Nut Cereal Bar is a bar comparator, not plain dried fruit.
Luxury Fruit & Nut Mix is a larger-pack example for households considering a shared mix.
These Joybuy options cover fruit-and-nut mixes and fruit-and-nut bars. For an after-school choice, compare each pack’s protein per serving, ingredients and child-safety warnings; a product name alone does not settle those checks.
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A fruit-and-nut mix to consider if nuts are suitable for the eater. Check the pack’s protein per serving, allergen statements and any choking warning before serving it after school.
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This fruit-and-nut mix is labelled Adult Version. Check the pack’s intended use, portion nutrition, allergens and choking warnings before considering it for a child.
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A portioned bar format for comparison with fruit-and-nut mixes. Check protein per 35g bar and the current peanut and other allergen statements rather than assuming it matches a bar with added soya protein.
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The 30-sachet format gives a defined pack to compare with other snacks. Check protein per sachet, nut allergens and any child-safety warning before serving.
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A fruit-and-nut bar in 35g portions. Check its protein per bar, nut allergen statement and child-safety warning; do not assume every fruit-and-nut bar has added protein ingredients.
Compare its protein per portion before choosing it for that purpose: Whitworths Sunny Raisins list 0.5g per 14g box. A fruit portion does not, by itself, tell you how much protein the snack provides.
NHS guidance advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk. It also says that 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion; that portion guidance does not change the advice about timing.
No. Check the individual child’s allergen needs and whether they can safely eat the pieces in the mix. The reviewed ASDA Fruit & Nut Mix lists nut allergens and sulphites and warns that small children can choke on nuts and small pieces of fruit; read the current pack before serving.
Compare protein alongside each product’s labelled serving size, then read the ingredients and allergen statement. For example, ASDA lists 3.4g protein per 30g serving of its Fruit & Nut Mix, while Sainsbury’s lists 10.4g per 40g Eat Natural bar containing peanuts and soya protein crispies; those are different portions and formulations.