Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents who want to pack something occasionally

A small amount of breakfast cake can be handy if a larger opened pack is likely to be left uneaten. Also check whether the ingredients suit your child and meet the school or childcare setting’s rules.

Parents choosing an everyday snack

For a regular snack, the type of food matters more than the pack size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread as snacks for babies and toddlers.

Households comparing portions and labels

A pre-sliced piece makes the portion easy to see, but the wording on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients or nutritional value. Compare the information on the pack of the product you’re buying.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether breakfast cake is right for this snack occasion. Then compare how much you’ll need to open and read the label before packing anything.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Everyday snack Decide whether you’re looking for something to give every day or only want to serve breakfast cake occasionally. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread as snacks for babies and toddlers. If I’m packing something every day, I don’t want to choose based on convenient packaging alone. For around 31% of consumers, choosing an everyday snack comes first.
Amount per pack Compare the total weight and number of slices with how much you’re likely to use. Jumbo lists a sliced Peijnenburg variety weighing 265 g and containing nine slices. We only eat breakfast cake occasionally at home, so I want to avoid having a large pack left over. For around 25% of consumers, minimising the amount left once a pack is opened matters most.
Allergens and childcare rules Read the allergen information on the pack you buy and ask the school or childcare setting what’s allowed. The 265 g Peijnenburg variety lists rye. Before I pack anything, I want to know whether it meets the allergen requirements for my child and their group. For around 25% of consumers, checking this is the top priority.
Portion and ingredients Check the amount per slice, the ingredients and any warnings; don’t judge a product solely by a sugar claim on the front of the pack. I want to know how much I’m packing and what’s in this particular variety. Around 19% of consumers prioritise checking portions and labels.

Common misconceptions

  • Assuming a small pack is an obvious everyday snack

    A smaller pack doesn’t make breakfast cake one of the snacks the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends most for babies and toddlers.

    Save breakfast cake for the occasional treat and choose an everyday snack from the options recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread.

  • Looking only for ‘no added sugars’

    For the 265 g Peijnenburg variety, this claim doesn’t give you the full picture of the ingredients. The product information also lists xylitol and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients, nutritional information and warnings on the pack of the variety you buy.

  • Treating online allergen information as definitive

    The 265 g Peijnenburg variety lists rye; choosing a small pack doesn’t remove an allergen restriction or override the childcare setting’s rules.

    Check the label on the pack you buy and ask the setting which products you’re allowed to send in.

Brands compared

Peijnenburg

Jumbo lists a sliced 265 g Peijnenburg breakfast cake with nine slices, alongside larger loaves and individually wrapped slices.

  • The 265 g pack means you open less at once than you would with a larger loaf.
  • This variety lists rye. For the no added sugars version, check the ingredients and warnings too; the features of that variety don’t automatically apply to other Peijnenburg products.

PLUS

PLUS lists its own 550 g plain breakfast cake, unsliced, making it a different packaging option from a small pre-sliced pack.

  • The larger pack may suit a household where several people eat it and the loaf will be finished within its storage period.
  • If you only use it occasionally in a small household, you’ll be opening 550 g at once. The label lists rye and cereals containing gluten; compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you buy.

Tastino

Lidl Netherlands listed Tastino breakfast cake in 465–550 g packs during an in-store promotion running from 28 September to 4 October 2026.

  • The pack sizes listed give you a way to compare larger packs of breakfast cake.
  • Check which variety is currently available in store and read its label; the promotion period mentioned has ended.

Breakfast cake on Joybuy

This 250 g pack of breakfast cake is worth comparing if you don’t want to open a large loaf for occasional use. Before packing anything for a toddler, consider the portion you want to give and check the current label separately.

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g

A 250 g pack to consider if you only get through breakfast cake occasionally. Check the current label for the portion size, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information; don’t assume the variety is nutritionally suitable for a toddler based on its name.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is breakfast cake suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler?

Not as a regular choice, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. It recommends mainly foods from the Wheel of Five as snacks for babies and toddlers, such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread, and advises keeping biscuits and cakes to small amounts and not giving them every day.

Does the 265 g Peijnenburg breakfast cake contain gluten?

The variety checked lists rye and cereals containing gluten. Check the pack of the exact variety you’re buying, especially if you need to follow allergen requirements.

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean you can give your toddler as many slices as they like?

No. For the 265 g Peijnenburg variety, the product information lists xylitol and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the portion size and nutritional information on the pack too.

Can you send breakfast cake to school or childcare?

First, ask about the food and allergen rules at the specific setting. Also check the label on the breakfast cake you’ve bought before packing it.