Who is this choice relevant to?

Teams choosing a regular lunch staple

For staff deciding what to serve regularly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal and brown bread for nursery lunches.

Teams with allergen procedures

For staff who need to check a specific product against known allergies and the nursery’s procedures. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on labels.

Teams serving chocolate sprinkles occasionally

For staff who want to include an occasional sweet treat without making chocolate sprinkles a standard topping. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating sweet toppings in moderation.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what your regular lunch staple will be. Then check each bread and chocolate sprinkle product against the nursery’s allergen procedures and food policy.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Regular lunch staple Check whether the bread is wholemeal or brown. If you want to know whether it was baked with baker’s salt, check the label or ask the baker. For a lunch that’s served regularly, I want to choose a type of bread that the Netherlands Nutrition Centre considers a suitable staple. This bread choice is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Allergens and nursery procedures Read the allergen information on the current packaging and check that the chosen product meets the group’s requirements. If a child has a known allergy, I want to know which ingredients and allergens are listed on that particular product before serving it. This check matters most to around 33% of consumers.
Occasional sweet treat Check whether chocolate sprinkles are allowed under the food policy and what portion is suitable for the planned treat. I want to serve chocolate sprinkles occasionally without making them the usual topping. Around 17% of consumers give this limited variety top priority.

Common nursery lunch mistakes

  • Treating chocolate sprinkles as a standard topping

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places sweet toppings outside the Dutch Wheel of Five. Chocolate sprinkles are no substitute for wholemeal or brown bread as a regular lunch staple.

    First choose the usual bread and topping options for the group. Then decide whether an occasional serving of chocolate sprinkles fits the food policy.

  • Assuming all chocolate sprinkles have the same allergens

    According to Jumbo’s product information, De Ruijter Mix Puur en Vanille 390 g lists milk, wheat and soya among its allergens. The information for Venz Puur Chocolade Hagelslag 400 g is different: it lists milk and soya, and may contain lactose.

    Check the current packaging for the exact product and record its details in line with the nursery’s procedures.

  • Relying on a product photo instead of checking the packaging

    If a child has a relevant allergy, your assessment needs to be based on the ingredients and allergens in the product you have chosen, not just its name or image. When buying from Lidl, it’s important to check the physical packaging.

    Read the label before serving the product to the group.

  • Taking ‘medium sliced’ as a complete product specification

    A label describing slice thickness doesn’t tell you whether you’re choosing rusks or bread, whether the bread is wholemeal, or which allergens are listed on the packaging.

    When ordering, specify the product type, the portion you need and any allergens relevant to the group separately.

Chocolate sprinkle brands as a reference

Compare specific products by checking their packaging: ingredients and allergens can vary from one product to another.

De Ruijter

Jumbo describes De Ruijter Hagelslag Mix Puur en Vanille in a 390 g pack.

  • For this mix, Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat as allergens.
  • Don’t use the allergen information for this mix as a guide to other De Ruijter products.

Venz

The Venz Puur Chocolade Hagelslag product reviewed comes in a 400 g pack.

  • For this dark chocolate variety, Jumbo lists milk and soya; it may contain lactose.
  • Check the current label for this product too before choosing it for a group.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s own-brand product, Jumbo Chocolade Hagelslag Puur, comes in a 380 g pack.

  • Jumbo states that this product may contain milk.
  • Check whether the possibility of milk being present is compatible with the requirements of the children concerned.

Lidl

Lidl lists milk chocolate sprinkles among its products.

  • The physical packaging lets you check the specific product in store.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information before using the product at the nursery.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are chocolate sprinkles suitable as an everyday topping at nursery?

Don’t make chocolate sprinkles the standard topping for nursery lunches. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre places sweet toppings outside the Dutch Wheel of Five and recommends wholemeal and brown bread as lunch staples. Check whether an occasional serving of chocolate sprinkles is allowed under the nursery’s food policy.

Do I need to check for gluten in chocolate sprinkles?

Yes. Check the packaging to see which cereals containing gluten are listed as ingredients, and make sure the label meets the requirements for the child concerned. De Ruijter Mix Puur en Vanille 390 g, as described by Jumbo, lists wheat. Don’t assume the same applies to all chocolate sprinkles.

Why should I ask whether bread was made with baker’s salt?

Baker’s salt is worth checking if you want to know whether the bread was baked with salt that has iodine added to it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies bread made with iodised baker’s salt as an important source of iodine in the Netherlands. Check the label or ask the baker which salt was used for that bread.