Students who want to take a set portion with them
An individually wrapped slice, a bar or a small pack containing two biscuits can go straight into a lunchbox. Check how many pieces and how many grams the packaging defines as a portion.
Who might find individual portions useful?
Parents checking allergens and school rules
For them, the choice is about more than the brand or flavour: the allergen information for the exact variant and any school rules need to be suitable. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergen information for prepacked foods to appear on the label.
Families who want to compare nutritional values
They look at sugars, saturated fat and fibre per portion actually packed, rather than relying only on a claim on the front of the pack. What else is in the lunch matters too.
What should you consider when choosing?
Start with allergens and school rules. Then compare the portion you’ll pack and its nutritional information; flavour can be the deciding factor after that.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Set portion | Check how many pieces are in each pack and the weight of the portion. | I want to pack a biscuit without having to divide up a larger pack. For around 31% of consumers, having a convenient portion is the priority. |
| Allergens and school rules | Check the current label for allergens present or that may be present, and ask about the school’s rules. | If allergens need to be taken into account at home or at school, I want to know whether this variant is suitable before packing it. For around 25% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars, saturated fat and fibre per portion you’ll pack, not just per 100 g. | A biscuit is an addition at most; I want to weigh up its nutritional value alongside the rest of the lunch. For around 25% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| Flavour and texture | Check that your chosen soft, crunchy or chocolate variant is also suitable in terms of portion size and labelling. | Once the other requirements are met, I choose something the student enjoys eating. For around 19% of consumers, that preference is ultimately the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Treating a fibre claim as an overall assessment of the lunch
A claim on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you how much sugar or saturated fat is in the portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the ingredients and nutrition table too.
Compare the nutritional information per portion and decide how the biscuit fits alongside the rest of the lunch.
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Assuming every variant from a brand contains the same allergens
Plain biscuits, speculoos and chocolate variants can have different ingredients and allergen information. The brand name alone isn’t a reliable way to check.
Check the label of the exact flavour and pack every time you buy it, including any statements about the possible presence of allergens.
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Treating two biscuits and a large bar as the same portion
For the products described by Albert Heijn, a Peijnenburg slice weighs 28 g, while a portion of AH Kruidkoekreep weighs 65 g. A pack containing two biscuits needs to be compared separately.
Check how many pieces you’re packing and read the nutritional values for that amount.
Brands to consider
These examples show differences in product types and portion packaging; check the current label for each variant you choose.
Peijnenburg
Breakfast cake for anyone looking for a soft, individually wrapped slice.
- According to Albert Heijn, the Ontbijtkoek naturel 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped slices weighing 28 g each.
- This variant contains rye and cereals containing gluten; it may also contain milk and nuts.
LU
Biscuit portions and biscuit bars in a range of packaging and ingredients.
- According to Jumbo, Time Out Naturel is packed as two biscuits per portion. The label checked lists 1.5 g of fibre and 7 g of sugars per 29 g portion.
- For the individually wrapped Time Out Choco Chip, Jumbo lists 11 g of sugars and 3.4 g of saturated fat per 28 g bar. Allergens vary by variant.
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos for anyone who’d rather pack a crunchy biscuit portion than a bar.
- According to Jumbo, the XL pack discussed contains ten sachets, each with two biscuits.
- The variant described contains wheat and soya, so it isn’t suitable if these ingredients need to be avoided.
AH
Kruidkoekreep as an alternative to a small portion of biscuits.
- Albert Heijn lists a 65 g portion for the Kruidkoekreep naturel 6-pack.
- The variant described contains rye and cereals containing gluten; check the pack for information about possible allergens too.
Biscuits on Joybuy
These products offer different ways to add a biscuit to a school lunch: grain biscuits, a chewy biscuit bar, chocolate biscuits and biscuit sticks. Check how much you’ll actually pack from each product and always read the current label and check the school’s rules.
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Liga Evergreen grain biscuits with berry flavour – 250 g
An option if you’d rather pack biscuits than a bar. Check the pack to see how many biscuits make up a portion, and read the allergen information.
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Holie's Chewy Bar Cookie Dough – 11 pack x 3 bars
A chewy biscuit bar for anyone who wants to pack a single bar. Check how the pack format translates into an individual portion, how much it weighs and which allergens are listed on the label.
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LU Time Out Natural – 171 g
A grain biscuit option if a small biscuit portion suits you better than a bar. Check the pack for the weight and nutritional information of the portion you’ll be packing, as well as the current allergen information.
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LU Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits – 150 g
For anyone who wants to pack chocolate biscuits instead of a biscuit bar. Check how many biscuits are in a portion and its nutritional information, and read the label for allergens too.
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Glico Pocky Cookie Bar Chocolate Flavor – 47 g IN
Chocolate-flavoured biscuit sticks for anyone looking for something other than a single bar. Check how many sticks make up the portion you’ll pack, the nutritional values for that amount and which allergens are listed on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Are the allergens in a prepacked biscuit bar listed on the label?
Yes. In the Netherlands, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergen information for prepacked foods to appear clearly on the label. Read the physical label on the exact variant you’re packing.
Can a biscuit bar replace a whole school lunch?
No. Treat a biscuit bar as a possible addition and put the rest of the lunch together separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that snacks can contain a lot of sugars or saturated fat, so compare the nutritional value of the portion you choose.
Can I pack a biscuit containing gluten for school?
That depends on the student’s allergen needs and the rules at the school or in the classroom. Check the ingredients on the exact pack and ask about the rules before packing the biscuit.
What should I do if the online ingredients list differs from the packaging?
Use the information on the current pack of the biscuit you want to take. Albert Heijn warns that ingredient, nutritional and allergen information can change, and recommends reading the packaging before use.