People who plan their portions
If you’d like to keep frozen desserts in your routine while deciding in advance how much to serve, check the nutritional information per lolly. The word ‘mini’ doesn’t tell you how big that portion is.
Who are these pack sizes for?
Households sharing occasionally
An assortment of different flavours and lollies can work well for a small group. The number of lollies should also suit the space in your freezer and how often you plan to share them.
Households sharing larger packs
For more frequent get-togethers, a pack of 12 gives you more lollies to share. Before choosing one, check the weight of each lolly, the storage instructions and how much freezer space you’ll need.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the portion size and the exact recipe, then choose the pack size to suit how you’ll use it. If you plan to take ice lollies away from home, check separately how you’ll keep them cold.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and nutritional information | Compare the energy, sugars and saturated fat per lolly, taking the stated portion size into account. | If I’m planning an individual dessert, I want to know what the lolly I’m serving contains; around 42% of consumers put having clear portion figures first. |
| Sharing and flavours | Check the number of lollies, flavours and allergens in each variety. | When several people are choosing their flavours, I want enough lollies without buying an unnecessarily large pack; around 25% of consumers put sharing first. |
| Pack size and storage | Consider the number of lollies alongside the net weight, how often you’ll share them and the space in your freezer. | If I regularly share frozen desserts, I want to be able to divide up the pack and store it properly; around 17% of consumers prioritise a larger pack. |
| Transport and storage | Read the storage instructions and plan how you’ll keep the product cold while transporting it. | If I’m taking an ice lolly with me, I need to keep it frozen until I’m ready to eat it; around 16% of consumers prioritise this transport requirement. |
Common mistakes to avoid
-
Assuming ‘mini’ means lower in calories or sugar
The size alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the recipe. Magnum lists 155 kcal and 13 g of sugars per 55 ml serving for its Mini Amandes: these figures apply to that specific product, not to all mini ice lollies.
Compare the nutritional information per lolly for the exact recipe, then decide how many to serve.
-
Choosing 12 lollies without planning how you’ll use them
The MUCCI pack of 12 mini lollies sold by ALDI contains 429 g in total. The number of lollies alone doesn’t tell you whether that pack size suits the occasions when you’ll be sharing them.
Check the net weight, the space in your freezer and how often you plan to serve these desserts.
-
Overlooking allergens in an assortment
Ingredients vary by flavour: products from Magnum, Carrefour and Auchan list milk and, depending on the recipe, soya or almonds.
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the specific pack for every flavour in the assortment.
-
Packing an ice lolly in a lunchbox without keeping it cold
A small lolly is still a frozen product. The DGCCRF highlights the importance of keeping food cold during transport.
Use equipment suitable for transporting frozen food and follow the storage instructions on the packaging; an ordinary, unrefrigerated lunchbox isn’t suitable.
Brands to know for these pack sizes
Magnum
Chocolate-coated mini lollies, including packs of 6 in a range of recipes.
- Magnum lists 155 kcal and 13 g of sugars for a 55 ml serving of Mini Amandes, so you can assess that specific portion.
- Ingredients and allergens vary by recipe. The mini size doesn’t indicate whether a product is suitable for weight management.
Carrefour Extra
An assortment of 8 mini lollies, each weighing 32 g, to share between several people.
- The stated weight per lolly gives you a useful point of comparison when looking at different pack sizes.
- Carrefour lists 340 kcal per 100 g: check the portion size and allergens in the assortment before comparing it with another recipe.
Auchan
An assortment of 8 mini lollies, weighing 258 g in total, with a range of chocolate-based recipes.
- The number of lollies and the net weight help you plan how to share the pack.
- Ingredients vary between flavours, particularly the milk and almond content. Compare the nutritional information on the specific pack.
MUCCI
ALDI’s ice cream range includes a pack of 12 mini lollies, weighing 429 g in total.
- The number of lollies may suit frequent sharing if you have room to store the whole pack.
- Check the nutritional information and ingredients for the product you’re buying before comparing it with a smaller pack.
Multipacks to consider on Joybuy
These packs of 4 to 12 lollies suit different sharing needs. If you’re choosing a portion as part of a weight management plan, compare the nutritional information for each recipe on its packaging. If you’re taking them anywhere, make sure you can keep them cold.
Image unavailable
POP FRUIT Sorbet Sticks 100% Coconut, x4, 280 g
Four lollies for a small get-together or to set aside as individual portions.
Check the nutritional information and allergen warnings on the pack before choosing this coconut recipe.
Image unavailable
CAPRI-SUN Orange & Cherry Ice Pops, x12, 444 g
Twelve ice pops to share at more frequent get-togethers.
Before comparing portions, check which unit the packaging uses for the nutritional information: the available figures give the weight in grams per ice pop and the portion in millilitres.
Image unavailable
Solero Berry Ice Cream Bars, 4 × 90 ml
Four ice cream bars to share with a small group.
If you’d like to compare portions across different recipes, check the sugars and saturated fat per bar on the packaging.
Image unavailable
Binggrae Melona Melon Ice Bar, 8 × 70 ml
Eight ice bars to share between several people.
To compare a 70 ml portion, check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging for this product.
Image unavailable
PEPPA PIG Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream Sticks, 6 × 60 ml
Six ice cream sticks for individual portions or sharing with a small group.
Check the nutritional information per stick and any allergen warnings on the specific pack.
Frequently asked questions
Is a mini ice lolly automatically suitable for weight management?
No: ‘mini’ describes the size, not the nutritional information for the recipe. Compare the energy, sugars and saturated fat in the portion you’ll actually serve. For example, Magnum lists 155 kcal and 13 g of sugars for a 55 ml serving of Mini Amandes.
How many lollies should I choose for sharing?
A pack of 6 to 8 may suit an occasional get-together, while 12 lollies could work for more frequent sharing if you have enough room to store them. Also compare the net weight and the size of each lolly: the number in the pack alone doesn’t tell you how large the portions are.
Can I take ice lollies in a lunchbox?
An ordinary, unrefrigerated lunchbox isn’t suitable for transporting frozen ice lollies. The DGCCRF recommends maintaining the cold chain, so use suitable transport and then follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Which allergens should I check in an assortment?
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings for every flavour in the specific pack. Recipes from Magnum, Carrefour and Auchan list milk and, depending on the variety, soya or almonds. Don’t assume the whole assortment has the same ingredients as a single lolly.