For a toddler’s breakfast, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal or brown bread. If you’d like to choose sourdough for a special breakfast, check whether it’s wholemeal too and whether your toddler enjoys its crust and texture. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for every loaf, and ask about the school or childcare setting’s rules before packing bread to take in.
You want a simple slice of toast for breakfast and are mainly looking at whether it’s labelled wholemeal or brown, its fibre content and a texture your toddler enjoys. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal and brown bread as options for children aged 1 to 3.
For a relaxed family breakfast, you might want to serve a wholemeal sourdough loaf or rolls to bake at home. A pronounced crust or extra preparation time is only practical if the bread suits both your toddler and your morning routine.
If you need to watch out for specific ingredients or possible cross-contamination, the latest packaging and allergen information are essential. If you’re taking bread to school or childcare, check their rules too.
Start with the type of bread and what your toddler enjoys eating. Then compare the allergen information and consider whether you have time to prepare a special loaf for breakfast.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and taking bread in | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, including any cross-contamination warnings. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information and check the school or childcare setting’s rules. | I want to know exactly what’s in the bread before giving it to my child. For around 31% of consumers, checking allergens and rules about bringing food in would be their main concern. |
| Wholemeal bread and fibre | Check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal or brown, and compare the fibre per 100 g if this is listed. Sourdough alone doesn’t tell you whether the bread is made with wholemeal flour. | For an everyday slice of toast, the type of bread matters more to me than a rustic appearance. So for around 25% of consumers, wholemeal or brown bread would be the priority. |
| Crust and texture | Look for a fine or coarse texture and try a suitable portion. A firm-looking crust may not be comfortable for your toddler to eat. | My toddler sometimes leaves bread with coarse pieces, so I want to find out which texture works first. Ease of eating would be the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Special breakfast | Check whether the bread is ready to serve or needs to be defrosted or baked first. Also consider the type of bread and its allergens, not just how it looks. | On a relaxed morning, I’d like to serve something different and may have time to prepare it. For around 19% of consumers, a special breakfast occasion would be the main reason for choosing it. |
Bread can be made with sourdough without being wholemeal. For young children, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre specifically recommends wholemeal and brown bread.
First, check how the bread is labelled and read its ingredients. Then compare the flavour, crust and preparation method.
As well as wheat, bread can contain other gluten-containing cereals or allergens such as sesame. Some products also carry warnings about possible cross-contamination.
Read the full, up-to-date allergen information every time you buy bread. If it’s unpackaged, ask the seller what information they can provide.
A special loaf isn’t much use at breakfast if your toddler leaves the crust or coarse texture uneaten. A finer wholemeal loaf may be more practical.
Start with a small portion, cut to a suitable size, and see how your toddler gets on with it.
Bread that needs baking takes preparation. For example, according to the product information, PLUS wholemeal sourdough rolls take 6 to 8 minutes to bake.
Check the preparation and storage instructions before choosing bread to bake on a morning when you’re short on time.
These examples show some of the bread types you can compare. Always check the ingredients and allergens for the specific product.
The Liefde & Passie range includes a Dutch wholemeal sourdough loaf for anyone looking to combine wholemeal bread and sourdough for a special breakfast.
Jumbo has an online category featuring different types of wholemeal bread, including fine and coarse varieties.
Lidl describes its wholemeal kids’ bread, made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour, as an option for anyone looking for a finer texture.
ALDI lists Fijn Volkoren sliced bread as an option for anyone looking for a simple wholemeal sandwich.
PLUS offers organic wholemeal sourdough rolls to bake at home for a breakfast when you have time to prepare them.
Dirk describes a range of breads, including wholemeal bread from the Bakker van der Akker range, as an option for breakfast or lunch.
These products offer different types of bread for a toddler’s breakfast: a round wholemeal loaf for a planned occasion, Lebanese wholemeal bread and rye bread. Check the latest packaging for each product and decide for yourself whether the texture suits your toddler.
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An option for a planned breakfast if your toddler enjoys bread with a firmer texture.
The loaf weighs 550 g. According to Lekhaven’s product information, you can leave it to defrost at room temperature for four hours or put it in the fridge the evening before. Check the full preparation instructions and the latest allergen information before serving.
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A different type of bread for anyone who doesn’t want a traditional sandwich at breakfast; see whether your toddler enjoys its shape.
The product name states that it’s wholemeal bread, and the packaging says 6 P. Check the latest ingredients and allergens, including any mentions of soya or milk.
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A rye bread option if you’d like to try a different type of bread at breakfast; check whether your toddler enjoys its texture.
The pack size is 500 g. Before serving or packing the bread, check the latest packaging to see which cereals and allergens are listed.
No. Sourdough alone doesn’t tell you whether bread is wholemeal or which allergens it contains. For a toddler’s breakfast, first check the type of bread, its latest ingredients and whether your child enjoys its texture.
For pre-packed bread, read the latest allergen information on the label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergen information must be provided. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask what allergen information is available before you buy. Also look for information about possible cross-contamination.
Check both the label on the bread you’ve chosen and the rules at the relevant school or childcare setting. Especially if gluten or other allergens are a concern, the product name alone isn’t enough to tell you whether the bread can be taken in.
Iodised salt is salt with iodine added to it. The label doesn’t tell you how much iodine is in a single slice of bread; check the ingredients and available nutritional information for the bread you choose.
