Parents looking for a simple breakfast cereal
If you’d like to offer an alternative to bread now and then, look for wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum for children aged 1 to 3.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Families looking to use up a large pack
A larger pack is a good fit if your family eats the product regularly and can store it according to the instructions once opened.
Parents who need to check allergens or childcare rules
If an allergy or dietary requirement is relevant, check the information on the exact pack you’ve chosen. If the food is going to nursery or school, you’ll also need to follow that setting’s rules.
What should you look for when buying?
First, choose a grain and product format that suits your toddler’s breakfast. Then check that the pack size works for how often your family will use it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain base and ingredients | Check the type of grain and the ingredients list for added sugar and salt. | If I’m offering breakfast cereal as an alternative to bread, I want to choose a simple wholegrain option. This is the main consideration for an estimated 33% of consumers. |
| Preparation and texture | Compare porridge with crunchy breakfast cereals and check how the product is prepared. | On a busy morning, breakfast needs to be practical for me, and I want my toddler to be able to eat the format I serve. This routine is the deciding factor for around 27% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Check the pack contents, storage instructions and how often your family eats the product. | A large pack isn’t much use to me if there’s a lot left over once it’s been opened. Around 20% of consumers prioritise using up the whole pack. |
| Allergens and taking food with you | Read the latest allergen information and ask the nursery or school about its rules. | If allergens or rules about food brought from home are a factor, I want to know before I buy. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all breakfast cereals are alike
For toddlers, the Voedingscentrum specifically recommends wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt as an alternative to bread. A product name or attractive pack doesn’t tell you whether a particular variety fits the bill.
Compare the ingredients list and nutritional information for each product.
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Choosing a large pack without considering how much you’ll use
A larger pack won’t help if your family rarely eats the cereal or can’t store it properly once opened.
Choose a size that suits how your family eats at home, and follow the storage instructions on the pack.
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Assuming oats are automatically gluten-free
If you need to avoid gluten, the name of the grain alone isn’t enough to assess a product.
Check the grains, allergen information and any gluten-free labelling on the specific pack.
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Sending breakfast in from home without checking first
The allergen information on the pack doesn’t replace a nursery or school’s rules about food brought from home.
Ask what rules apply first, then check the label on the product you’re packing.
Brands to consider
Quaker
The range includes porridge oats and crunchy Cruesli varieties; consider these as different product formats.
- Albert Heijn describes the 600 g Quaker Havermout value pack as a product made from 100% wholegrain cereals.
- For a Cruesli variety, check the ingredients, texture and allergens separately. The qualities of porridge oats don’t automatically apply to crunchy muesli.
Brinta
An option if you’re considering a warm wheat-based cereal breakfast.
- Albert Heijn describes Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt, 500 g, as being made from 100% wholegrain wheat.
- Wheat isn’t suitable for someone with a wheat allergy or following a gluten-free diet. Check the other ingredients in the pack you choose, too.
Albert Heijn
The own-brand range offers several types of breakfast cereal, including porridge oats and crunchy varieties.
- The different product formats give you the flexibility to compare ingredients and pack sizes for each variety.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Chocosmaak kussentjes contain 20 g of sugars per 100 g, as well as milk and cereals containing gluten. So don’t treat the own-brand range as a single product.
Kellogg's
Worth considering for crunchy breakfast cereals and packs with individual portions.
- The Kellogg's Variety Pack described by Albert Heijn contains eight individual portions.
- Albert Heijn lists 20 g of sugars per 100 g for Kellogg's Oaties Original Crunch and 25 g per 100 g for the Variety Pack. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety.
Nestlé
This brand also offers baby cereal products, including Baby Cereals Multigranen 6m+.
- The age label makes it clear which product range you need to check the label for.
- Don’t assume a baby cereal is directly comparable to a large pack of porridge oats for a toddler’s breakfast. Follow the age and preparation information for the variety you choose.
Breakfast cereals on Joybuy
These products include two crunchy muesli varieties and one wheat cereal breakfast. Only Holie's Chocolate Chunks is listed here as a multipack. For all three, check that the ingredients, texture and pack size suit your toddler and family.
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Holie's Crunchy Muesli Chocolate Chunks, 6 × 400 g
For families who eat crunchy muesli regularly and can use six separate packs; check whether the texture is suitable for your toddler.
Multipack of 6 × 400 g. Check the latest label for oats, spelt, wheat and other allergen information.
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Brinta wholegrain cereal breakfast, 500 g
For anyone considering a warm wheat cereal breakfast, provided wheat and gluten aren’t a concern for the child.
500 g pack. If you’re choosing a cereal with no added salt, the salt listed in the ingredients is an important difference; check the latest label.
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Holie's Crunchy Muesli Mixed Nuts, 400 g
For anyone considering crunchy muesli; check the nuts and hard pieces before serving this variety to a toddler.
One 400 g pack. Check the latest label for almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, spelt, wheat and other ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
What breakfast cereals can I give a toddler aged 1 to 3?
The Voedingscentrum recommends porridge oats, muesli and other wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt as an alternative to bread. Choose a format your child can eat, and check the ingredients for the specific variety.
When is a large pack useful for a family with a toddler?
A large pack is most useful when its contents suit your toddler’s breakfast and your family eats the product regularly. Check how to store it once opened, too, so you don’t end up with more than you need.
Should I check the pack for gluten and other allergens?
Yes, especially if an allergy or dietary requirement is relevant. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack every time you buy it. If gluten needs to be avoided, don’t rely on the name of the grain alone when it comes to oats.
What should I do if there’s a warning about possible cross-contamination?
If allergens are a concern for your child, take the warning into account when assessing the specific product. A statement about possible cross-contamination won’t, by itself, answer every situation; follow any dietary or medical advice you’ve been given.