Regular packed-lunch planners
If you prepare several lunches at once, a large bag lets you measure portions into reusable containers. You will need somewhere to keep the opened bag sealed between lunches.
Who is each format for?
People who need sealed portions
An individually wrapped pack can go straight into a work bag or lunchbox when measuring and repacking fruit at home is impractical. Check the individual pack weight, not just the multipack weight.
Ingredient- and allergen-conscious shoppers
Fruit-only products, sweetened fruit and fruit-and-nut mixes are different choices. Read the current ingredients and allergen declaration for the exact pack intended for the lunchbox.
What should you check?
Start with how you will pack lunch, then check the serving size and ingredients of the format that fits your routine.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack format | Check the total weight, the number of individual packs and whether a large bag needs home portioning. Tesco Groceries and Sainsbury's Groceries list 1kg dried-fruit bags; Sainsbury's also lists individually wrapped BEAR Fruit Splits in five 20g packs. | I prepare lunches ahead and can divide a large bag, or I need a sealed pack that can go straight into a lunchbox. |
| Portion size | Read the weight of the portion you will actually pack. The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion; a 20g pack is smaller than that reference amount. | A consistent amount matters when I portion fruit at home. For a ready-packed option, I want to know what is in each wrapper. |
| Ingredients | Check the fruit types, any sweetened ingredients and the current allergen declaration. Whitworths lists peanuts, raisins and sweetened dried cranberries in its 1DERS Fruit + Nut Mix, with a may-contain warning for nuts and sesame. | I want to know whether I am packing fruit alone or a fruit-and-nut mix, especially when someone else will eat it. |
| When it is eaten | Plan dried fruit as part of lunch. The NHS advises eating it at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk. | I can put a portion with lunch instead of leaving an open bag available for snacking throughout the day. |
Common packing mistakes
-
Assuming every fruit snack contains only fruit
A fruit-and-nut mix can contain ingredients that do not suit the intended eater. Whitworths lists peanuts and sweetened dried cranberries in its 1DERS mix and warns that it may also contain nuts and sesame.
Check the ingredients and allergen statement on the exact pack, particularly when packing for someone with an allergy or for a setting with its own food rules.
-
Assuming one wrapper equals a 30g portion
Individual packs vary in weight. Sainsbury's lists BEAR Fruit Splits in 20g packs, while the NHS uses 30g of dried fruit as its 5 A Day portion reference.
Read the weight of each pack, or measure fruit from a larger bag if you want to use the 30g reference.
-
Leaving the main bag out for grazing
The NHS advises having dried fruit at mealtimes rather than repeatedly between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk.
Put the amount intended for lunch into a container and keep the rest of the bag sealed at home.
Brand and retailer references
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists a 1kg dried mixed-fruit bag for shoppers who prefer to portion lunches at home.
- The large bag can be divided across several packed lunches.
- It is not individually portioned; check the current ingredients and allergen label for the mix.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's Groceries lists 1kg mixed dried fruit and 1kg seedless raisins, offering a choice between mixed fruit and a single fruit type for home portioning.
- Both listed formats can be measured into lunch containers.
- Neither 1kg bag supplies individually wrapped servings.
Whitworths
Whitworths lists a 1DERS Fruit + Nut Mix multipack containing 4 × 5 × 30g portions.
- The separate packs remove the need to measure portions at home.
- This is not a fruit-only product: Whitworths lists peanuts and sweetened dried cranberries, with a may-contain warning for nuts and sesame.
Sunsweet
Sunsweet lists pitted prunes in a 200g pouch and a 500g canister for shoppers who want prunes rather than mixed fruit.
- The two listed sizes provide different amounts of the same fruit type.
- Check how you will carry a serving; these formats are not described as individually wrapped portions.
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists Turkish Sultanas 1kg alongside Taste Buds 10 Raisin Snack Boxes 140g.
- The listed range includes both a large bag and a snack-box format.
- Check the local Foodhall listing for the pack you intend to buy.
Joybuy dried-fruit options
These options include two multipacks with separate lunch portions and a smaller bag of figs to portion yourself. They do not all serve the same packing routine.
No image available
Hao Xiang Ni Ready-to-Eat Red Dates 900g (30 × 30g)
Thirty separate 30g sachets can be packed without measuring fruit from a larger bag. The multipack contains 900g in total; check the current label for ingredients and allergens.
No image available
Three Squirrels Daily Blueberry Dried Snack 256g (16 × 16g)
The 256g box contains sixteen 16g packs for lunches that call for a separately packed portion. Each pack is smaller than the NHS 30g dried-fruit portion reference; check its ingredients if composition matters to your choice.
No image available
Whitworths Figs 175g
This 175g bag is an option if you prefer to pack your own portion of figs. It does not provide separate lunch packs, so you will need a container or bag for the amount you take.
Frequently asked questions
How much dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion?
The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one portion of 5 A Day. You can use that amount when measuring fruit from a larger bag, but check the weight of an individual snack pack rather than assuming it contains 30g.
Should dried fruit go in lunch or be kept for between meals?
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk. For a packed lunch, put the intended portion with the meal instead of grazing from a bag during the day.
Is a fruit-and-nut multipack suitable for every lunchbox?
No: check the exact pack and any allergy rules where the lunch will be eaten. Whitworths lists peanuts in its 1DERS Fruit + Nut Mix and warns that it may also contain nuts and sesame.
Do similar-looking fruit snacks have the same ingredients?
Not necessarily. Whitworths lists sweetened dried cranberries and peanuts in its 1DERS mix, while the checked BEAR Fruit Splits listing describes a fruit-ingredient product with no added sugar. Read the current ingredients, allergen statement and nutrition panel for the pack you choose.