A single-fruit pack is a straightforward choice for a child’s packed lunch when its portion size and label suit the child. The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion and advises eating dried fruit with a meal rather than between meals; a 14g box is a smaller serving. Check nuts and other allergens before choosing a mix, and do not give whole nuts to children under five.
An individual pack is easy to put alongside lunch. If you want it to count as a dried-fruit 5 A Day portion, look for 30g in the individual pack, following NHS guidance. Check the club’s food and allergy policy before packing it.
A 14g raisin box may suit a lunch that already includes other fruit or calls for a smaller serving. It is not a full 30g dried-fruit portion. The NHS advises supervising babies and young children while they eat.
Read the current ingredients and allergen statement, particularly for fruit-and-nut mixes or a group lunch with nut restrictions. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust advises against giving whole nuts to children under five because of choking risk.
Start with the weight of one serving, then check ingredients and whether the child will eat it with lunch. A multi-pack’s total weight does not tell you the size of each box or sachet.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and meal timing | Read the ingredients for added sugar, sweeteners or other additions. The NHS advises serving dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk. | I want to know what is in the pack and put it with lunch, rather than offer it throughout the day. In a Field Agent UK survey published in July 2026, 57% of 500 parents packing lunchboxes said high sugar or sweeteners were a red flag that would stop them buying. |
| Individual portion | Find the weight of each box or sachet, not just the multi-pack. The NHS says 30g of dried fruit counts as one 5 A Day portion; one 14g box is smaller. | If I am choosing a smaller serving alongside other lunch items, I want to recognise it as a smaller serving—not mistake it for a full dried-fruit portion. |
| Nuts and age | Check included nuts, precautionary allergen statements and the venue’s policy. A fruit-and-nut mix containing whole nuts is unsuitable for a child under five, according to University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust guidance. | For a young child or a nut-restricted setting, I need to check the exact product and lunch rules before considering a mix. |
| Pack format | Compare the number of individual portions, their weights and any safety warnings on the current pack. | When packing several holiday lunches, I want portions that fit the lunch I am preparing and warnings I can check before serving. |
Pack sizes differ. The NHS reference is 30g of dried fruit for one portion, while the ASDA and M&S mini raisin boxes listed by their retailers contain 14g each.
Check the weight of one box. Choose a 30g serving when that portion is the aim, or choose a smaller box deliberately alongside other lunch items.
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk.
Pack it as part of lunch instead of repeatedly offering pieces during the journey or afternoon.
Whitworths Favourites Fruit & Nut Mix contains almonds and cashews and may contain other nuts and sesame. Whole nuts also pose a choking risk for children under five, according to University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
Read the current label and check the venue’s policy. Where nuts are unsuitable, consider a clearly labelled single-fruit product instead.
These examples illustrate pack formats and label checks; a brand name alone does not establish the ingredients or serving size of every product it makes.
Waitrose & Partners lists Whitworths Sunny Raisin snack packs in a 6 x 30g format, while ASDA lists an 8 x 14g format.
ASDA lists its own-label Mini Raisin Snack Boxes as 10 x 14g, with raisins in the ingredients list.
Ocado lists the M&S Raisin Snack Box as 10 x 14g and labels it as containing no added sugar.
These options include smaller individual packs, 30g date sachets and individually wrapped prunes for packed lunches. Compare the serving format and current ingredients for the child and setting; the products are not interchangeable on portion size or contents.
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The individual 14g boxes offer a smaller raisin serving for lunch. One box is below the NHS 30g dried-fruit reference for a full 5 A Day portion; serve dried fruit with the meal.
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Each 30g sachet matches the NHS weight reference for one dried-fruit 5 A Day portion when eaten with lunch. Check the dates for pits and remove any before serving them to a young child.
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Individual wrapping offers a way to pack prunes with lunch. Check the weight of the amount you pack if you are using the NHS 30g portion reference, and read the ingredients if you are avoiding sweeteners.
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Each 16g pack is a smaller dried-fruit serving for lunch, not a full 30g dried-fruit portion. Check the current ingredients and nutrition label if added sugar affects your choice.
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The 16g individual packs provide a smaller serving to put with lunch. One pack is below the NHS 30g dried-fruit portion reference; check the current ingredients and nutrition label when comparing it with other fruit packs.
Check the weight of dried fruit in that individual pack. The NHS says 30g counts as one 5 A Day portion; a 14g mini raisin box is a smaller serving, not a full dried-fruit portion.
Put it with lunch. NHS guidance advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals to reduce tooth-decay risk.
Not if it contains whole nuts. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust advises against giving whole nuts to children under five because of choking risk. Check the ingredients and choose an age-appropriate alternative.
The Department for Education’s school food standards guidance applies to food served by schools in England; it does not establish one rule for every parent-packed holiday-club lunch across the UK. Check the individual club’s food and allergy policy.
Read the individual portion weight, ingredients, allergen statement, best-before date and safety warnings on the current pack. This matters particularly when choosing for a child with an allergy or comparing a plain-fruit pack with a mix.