Parents planning a children’s egg hunt
Choose a defined reward rather than handing out loose handfuls. Check the pack for ingredients and warnings, and plan to serve the dried fruit with a meal, in line with NHS advice.
Who is choosing the reward?
Hosts comparing calories per reward
A small raisin box fixes the amount given to each person; partly rehydrated apricots may be the better fit if the declared calories per 100g matter more. Compare the exact labels before deciding.
Shoppers checking ingredients for a group
Read the ingredient, allergen and safety statements on the packs you intend to serve. The apricot examples discussed here list sulphur dioxide and warn that stones may remain; the coated fruit example calls for different allergen checks.
What should you compare?
Start with the nutrition figure for a consistent weight, then check the amount in the pack or portion you would give each participant.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Calories and portion | Compare kcal per 100g, then kcal per box or planned serving. Sainsbury’s lists 184kcal per 100g for Whitworths Golden Apricots and 228kcal per 100g for its own 40g apricot pack; Tesco lists 285kcal per 100g and 40kcal per 14g box for its portioned raisins. | I want to know both how the fruits compare by weight and how much one hunt reward contains. |
| Pack format | Check whether the pack contains separate portions or needs dividing before the event. Confirm the weight of each portion rather than using the total pack weight as the reward size. | A sealed individual portion makes it easier to give everyone a defined amount; a larger bag works if I will portion it myself. |
| Serving time | Decide when the rewards will be eaten. The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than as a between-meal snack. | I can include dried fruit in the hunt without making it something to nibble throughout the activity. |
| Ingredients and warnings | Read the exact pack’s ingredients, allergen statement and safety warnings. The apricot examples list sulphur dioxide and warn that stones may remain; coated fruit can have additional ingredients and allergen statements. | When serving a group, I need to check whether the particular product is appropriate for those attending. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming a small box is low in calories by weight
A 14g raisin box defines a small reward, but Tesco lists 285kcal per 100g for its boxes and Whitworths lists 333kcal per 100g for Sunny Raisins.
Use kcal per 100g to compare fruits, then kcal per box or serving to decide the amount handed out.
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Comparing coated fruit with plain fruit without reading the label
Tesco lists Whitworths Berry + Chocolate Clusters at 350kcal per 100g and 88kcal per 25g pack. It is a different ingredient mix from plain dried fruit.
Compare the nutrition panels and ingredient lists of the exact products, including any coatings and allergen statements.
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Missing warnings on dried apricots
The Whitworths and Sainsbury’s apricot product information lists sulphur dioxide and warns that stones may remain.
Read the ingredient, allergen and safety statements on the pack before serving it to a group.
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Making dried fruit an all-afternoon snack
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than between meals.
Keep the hunt reward sealed until it can be served with a meal, instead of encouraging repeated snacking during the hunt.
Brand and product references
These figures describe particular labelled products, not every dried fruit sold under each brand.
Whitworths
Its Golden Apricots and Sunny Raisins illustrate the difference between calories per 100g and calories in an individual portion.
- Sainsbury’s lists Golden Apricots at 184kcal per 100g and 55kcal per 30g; Whitworths lists Sunny Raisins at 47kcal per 14g box.
- The Golden Apricots product information lists sulphur dioxide and warns that stones may remain. Sunny Raisins are listed at 333kcal per 100g despite the small box size.
Sainsbury’s
Its 40g dried apricot pack offers a defined pack size for comparison with individual hunt rewards.
- Sainsbury’s lists 91kcal per 40g pack and 228kcal per 100g.
- The product information lists sulphur dioxide and warns that stones may remain; check the pack before serving.
Tesco
Its raisin products offer a comparison between small boxes and a larger bag that a host would portion.
- Tesco lists 40kcal per 14g box for its 12-pack of raisins and 83kcal per 30g for its 1kg Seedless Raisins.
- Their listed figures are 285kcal and 277kcal per 100g respectively, so the small box should not be confused with lower calorie density.
Dried fruit options on Joybuy
These options include individually sized raisin packs and other dried-fruit formats. Compare the exact pack’s nutrition and ingredient labels if calories or suitability for a particular participant will determine your choice.
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Organix Goodies Raisins 12+ Months, 12 × 14g
The 12 × 14g format offers defined amounts for separate hunt rewards. Check the pack label before serving, and plan for the raisins to be eaten with a meal.
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Whitworths Figs 175g
This 175g fig pack needs dividing if you want to give out measured individual rewards. Check its nutrition panel for calories in the portion you choose; figures for Whitworths apricots do not describe these figs.
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J.ZAO Pitted Chilean Prunes 500g
For a hunt reward, use the weight of the prunes you intend to give each person rather than the 500g total pack size. Check the exact product label for calories per portion and ingredients; the apricot figures elsewhere in this article do not apply to prunes.
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Frula Freeze-Dried Mango 10g
This is a single 10g pack rather than a multi-pack of hunt rewards. Check its own kcal per pack and per 100g: the small pack weight alone does not establish how its calorie density compares with other fruits.
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Three Squirrels Freeze-Dried Figs 40g
The 40g fig pack would need dividing for smaller individual rewards. Compare its own kcal per 100g and the amount you plan to serve rather than assuming that all dried figs or freeze-dried fruits have the same values.
Questions about hunt rewards
Is dried fruit automatically lower in calories than other hunt treats?
No general comparison follows from the words “dried fruit”. For the products listed by Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Whitworths here, the partly rehydrated apricots declare 184–228kcal per 100g, the raisin products 277–333kcal per 100g, and the coated fruit mix 350kcal per 100g. Compare both kcal per 100g and the amount in the reward you will actually give.
When is an individual raisin box useful?
Choose one when a defined portion per participant matters more than choosing the lowest declared kcal per 100g among these examples. Tesco lists 40kcal per 14g box, while Whitworths lists 47kcal per 14g Sunny Raisins box; check the label of the product you buy.
Should the dried fruit be eaten during the egg hunt?
The NHS advises eating dried fruit at mealtimes rather than as a between-meal snack. You can include a sealed pack as a hunt reward and serve it with a meal instead of opening it for repeated snacking during the activity.
What should I check on apricot and coated-fruit packs?
Read the exact product’s ingredients, allergen statement and safety warnings. The Whitworths and Sainsbury’s apricot information lists sulphur dioxide and warns that stones may remain; the Whitworths Berry + Chocolate Clusters information lists milk ingredients and possible peanut, nut, sesame and gluten cross-contact.