Families who slice it at home
An unsliced cake is a good choice if you regularly prepare snacks and want to decide how thick each slice should be.
Which packaging works best for you?
Parents who want a portion to take with them
A sliced cake or individually wrapped portion makes it easier to get a snack ready for a journey, school or childcare. Before packing it, check the label and the rules at the setting.
Parents with questions about the label
If sugar, fibre, ingredients or allergens affect your choice, compare the nutritional information and allergen details for the specific product.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to slice it at home or take a portion with you. Then check the label. If it’s for school or childcare, local rules matter too.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Size for home | Check whether the cake is unsliced and whether you want to cut your own slices. | If I regularly prepare a snack at home, I want to decide on the portion myself. Around 36% of consumers put portioning at home first. |
| Getting a portion ready quickly | Check whether the cake is sliced or individually wrapped, and look at the stated portion size. | For a school bag or a busy mealtime, I want to be able to grab a slice without having to cut it. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugar, fibre and salt per 100 g, and also consider the size of the slice you’ll give your child. | I want to know what the portion I’ve chosen contains, rather than relying only on claims on the front of the pack. The label is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens and rules at the setting | Read the allergen information on the current pack and ask about the rules at your child’s school or childcare setting. | If I pack breakfast cake for my child, it needs to meet the relevant allergen requirements and local rules. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Treating a claim on the front as the whole story
A claim such as ‘wholemeal’ or ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients in the breakfast cake or the portion you’re giving your child.
As the Voedingscentrum advises, check the ingredients and nutritional information too. Compare similar products per 100 g, and also read the information per portion.
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Assuming every variety has the same allergen profile
PLUS lists rye and cereals containing gluten in its plain breakfast cake. Peijnenburg also states that its individually wrapped plain slices may contain milk and certain nuts. Allergen information therefore varies by product.
Read the packaging of the variety you’re actually giving your child, and check with the school, after-school club or childcare setting if necessary.
Brands to compare
Peijnenburg
Offers plain breakfast cake in sliced form, as well as individually wrapped portions.
- Peijnenburg states that its plain sliced cake contains 18 slices in a 550 g pack.
- For its individually wrapped plain slices, the brand states that they may contain milk, hazelnuts, almonds and other cereals containing gluten. Check the current label.
PLUS
Offers plain breakfast cake in both sliced and unsliced varieties.
- The unsliced plain variety comes in a 550 g pack, so you can cut your own slices.
- PLUS lists rye and cereals containing gluten for this variety, and states that it may contain wheat, barley and oats.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI stocks this brand’s sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a sliced variety called Zero, among other products.
- Each of the sliced varieties mentioned comes in a 485 g pack.
- Consider any claim on the front alongside the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details on the pack.
Tastino
A Lidl range with several types of breakfast cake, including a sliced wholemeal variety.
- Lidl states that its sliced wholemeal variety comes in a 485 g pack.
- Check the packaging of the variety you choose in store.
Jumbo
Offers several breakfast cake varieties, including an unsliced product labelled gluten-free.
- The unsliced variety labelled gluten-free comes in a 300 g pack.
- If you have a specific dietary or allergen requirement, check all the information on the pack you choose.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
If you want to get a slice ready quickly, this sliced breakfast cake could be just what you need. If you’re taking it with you, also check the packaging and the rules at your child’s school or childcare setting.
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g'woon Wholemeal Breakfast Cake Sliced, 485 g
If you want to get a slice ready quickly, this breakfast cake is already sliced and comes in a 485 g pack. Before serving, check the nutritional information and allergen details on the current pack, especially if you’re packing a slice for school or childcare.
Frequently asked questions
Which breakfast cake packaging is best for regular use at home?
An unsliced cake is a good choice if you want to cut your own slices; a sliced variety saves time when you’re getting a snack ready. Choose the format that suits the occasion, and check the nutritional information and allergen details for the variety you choose.
Can breakfast cake be a child’s everyday snack?
Treat breakfast cake as a sweet snack, and keep an eye on the portion and what else your child eats that day. For children aged 4 to 12, the Voedingscentrum suggests vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread as everyday snack options.
Can my child take breakfast cake to school if there are allergen rules?
Ask the school or childcare setting about its rules and check the current label on the breakfast cake. PLUS lists rye and cereals containing gluten in its plain variety; Peijnenburg also states that its individually wrapped plain slices may contain milk and certain nuts.
Does ‘no added sugars’ tell me enough about a breakfast cake?
No. That claim alone doesn’t give you a complete picture of the nutritional value or ingredients. As the Voedingscentrum advises, check the back of the pack too and compare the information per 100 g and per portion.
How should I store an opened breakfast cake?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal it properly after use. PLUS recommends storing its unsliced plain variety in a cool, dry place away from light; Jumbo says to store its plain breakfast cake in a cool, dry place.