Hosts choosing a portion for each child
An individual pack makes the amount in each bag clear. Tesco and Sainsbury's list 14g raisin portions at 40 kcal and 42 kcal respectively; compare the calories for the pack you intend to give out.
Who is this for?
Hosts planning mixed-age parties
Age and eating time matter alongside portion size. Department for Education guidance says not to offer raisins as a snack to children under 12 months; the NHS advises giving toddlers dried fruit with meals, not between meals.
Hosts checking guests’ allergies
A plain raisin pack and a fruit-and-nut mix are not interchangeable. Sainsbury's lists raisins and sunflower oil for its Mini Snack Raisins, while Whitworths lists several allergens and precautionary warnings for its Shots variety pack. Check the exact pack and guests’ requirements before filling bags.
What matters when choosing?
Start with the amount each child receives, then check whether the food suits the children and the likely time of eating.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per pack | Compare kcal for the individual portion, not just per 100g. Tesco lists 40 kcal per 14g raisin box; Sainsbury's lists 42 kcal per 14g serving. A 30g Whitworths Sunny Raisins pack works out at about 84 kcal from Sainsbury's listing of 281 kcal per 100g. | I want one clearly sized item in each bag and need to compare the amount each child would actually receive. |
| Eating time | Consider whether bags will be opened between meals. The NHS advises giving toddlers dried fruit such as raisins with meals because its sugar can cause tooth decay. | If toddlers are likely to eat the contents straight after the party, I would choose another item rather than treat dried fruit as a between-meal snack. |
| Children’s ages | Check the age group before choosing raisins or mixes containing whole nuts. Department for Education food-safety guidance says not to offer raisins as a snack to children under 12 months or give whole nuts to children under five. | For a party with babies or younger children, I need an item that suits the recipients rather than one snack for every bag. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredient and allergen declaration on the exact pack. Sainsbury's Mini Snack Raisins list raisins (99%) and high-oleic sunflower oil; Whitworths Shots variety packs list allergens and precautionary warnings covering several ingredients. | When guests’ allergy requirements are unclear, I need to check with their carers before selecting a product, including one that appears to contain only fruit. |
What should you avoid?
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Calling every dried-fruit pack low-calorie
Pack size changes the comparison. Tesco and Sainsbury's list 40–42 kcal for their 14g raisin portions, while a 30g Whitworths Sunny Raisins pack works out at about 84 kcal from its stated per-100g figure.
Compare kcal per individual pack and decide how many packs will go in each bag.
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Assuming fruit is a tooth-friendly snack at any time
The NHS advises that the sugar in dried fruit can cause tooth decay and says toddlers should have it with meals rather than between meals.
If toddlers are likely to eat their party-bag item between meals, choose something other than dried fruit.
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Treating fruit-and-nut mixes like plain raisins
Whitworths Shots variety packs carry allergen and precautionary warnings. Department for Education guidance also says children under five should not be given whole nuts.
Check every recipient’s age and allergy requirements, and read the declaration on the exact product before using a mix.
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Choosing from an online description alone
The food handed to children is the pack you receive, so its portion and labelling are the details to use when filling bags.
Check the physical pack’s ingredients, allergen declaration, portion size, age warnings and best-before date.
Brands with relevant raisin packs
Tesco
Tesco Seedless Raisins come as 12 individual 14g boxes.
- Tesco Groceries lists 40 kcal and 8.4g sugars per box, making the per-child portion straightforward to compare.
- For toddlers, follow NHS advice to give dried fruit with meals rather than as a between-meal snack.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's Mini Snack Raisins are listed in a 12 × 14g format.
- Sainsbury's lists 42 kcal and 9.7g sugars per 14g serving; the stated ingredients are raisins (99%) and high-oleic sunflower oil.
- The small box does not change NHS advice about dried fruit and between-meal snacking for toddlers.
Whitworths
Whitworths Sunny Raisins are listed as six 30g packs; its Shots range includes mixed snacks.
- The Sunny Raisins pack has a stated portion size. At the 281 kcal per 100g shown by Sainsbury's, that is about 84 kcal per 30g pack.
- The Sunny Raisins listing warns that stalks may remain. Whitworths Shots variety packs carry allergen and precautionary warnings, so check the particular variety rather than treating the ranges alike.
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists Taste Buds 10 Raisin Snack Boxes, 140 g, in its children’s food range.
- The listed box format gives hosts another individually packed raisin option to inspect.
- Read the chosen product’s nutrition and ingredient label before comparing its portion with the 14g raisin boxes above.
Dried-fruit options on Joybuy
These Joybuy options include individually wrapped prunes and smaller packs of freeze-dried fruit. Check each pack’s nutrition and suitability for the children receiving it before choosing it for a party bag.
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J.ZAO Pitted Chilean Prunes 500g
The product is described as individually wrapped prunes, which could make portions easier to distribute; 500g is the stated overall pack weight. Check the weight and kcal of an individual wrapper before comparing it with a 14g raisin box. If toddlers will eat the prunes, NHS advice is to give dried fruit with meals rather than between meals.
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Frula Freeze-Dried Mango 10g
This 10g freeze-dried mango pack offers a stated pack weight for portion planning. Check its own kcal and ingredient label rather than estimating calories from the raisin examples. Consider the recipients’ ages and, for toddlers, NHS advice to give dried fruit with meals.
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Three Squirrels Freeze-Dried Figs 40g
This 40g freeze-dried fig pack is a larger stated portion than the 14g raisin boxes, but pack weight alone does not establish its calorie count. Compare the kcal for the full 40g pack and check its ingredient and allergen label before putting it in a child’s party bag.
Questions about party-bag dried fruit
Is dried fruit a lower-calorie party-bag option?
That depends on the individual portion, not on dried fruit as a category. Tesco lists 40 kcal per 14g raisin box and Sainsbury's lists 42 kcal per 14g serving; a 30g Whitworths Sunny Raisins pack works out at about 84 kcal from the per-100g figure listed by Sainsbury's. The NHS advises giving toddlers dried fruit with meals rather than between meals because its sugar can cause tooth decay.
Can babies and toddlers have raisins in a party bag?
Do not offer raisins as a snack to children under 12 months, according to Department for Education food-safety guidance. For toddlers, NHS guidance is to give dried fruit with meals rather than as a snack between meals. Choose another party-bag item if it is likely to be eaten between meals.
Should I choose plain raisins or a fruit-and-nut mix?
Plain raisin packs are easier to compare with the listed 14g portions, but check the exact ingredients and each child’s allergy requirements before choosing either type. Whitworths Shots variety packs carry several allergen and precautionary warnings, while Department for Education guidance says not to give whole nuts to children under five.
What should I check for a nursery party bag?
Ask the setting about its food and party policy, then check recipients’ ages and allergy requirements before buying. Department for Education food-safety guidance says not to offer raisins as a snack to children under 12 months and not to give whole nuts to children under five.