Don’t make chocolate spritz biscuits a daily snack for a toddler: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks from the Dutch Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread. If you’re planning an occasional biscuit treat, consider how much you’ll actually give and check the current packaging for allergens. If you’re taking them to childcare or school, ask about their rules too.
If you’re looking for something to serve at a regular snack time, distinguish between an everyday choice and a treat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread as examples of snacks from the Dutch Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers.
For an occasional biscuit treat, compare the stated serving with the amount you actually plan to give. Calories per 100 g won’t tell you how many calories are in an individual biscuit.
For childcare or school, check both the allergens listed on the current packaging and the rules in place there. Chocolate spritz biscuits from brands including Jumbo and PLUS list several allergens, which vary by product.
First decide whether you’re looking for a daily snack or an occasional biscuit treat. For a biscuit, the actual portion and the current packaging will help you decide whether that particular option is right for the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday or occasional | Choose a snack from the Dutch Wheel of Five for everyday use. Treat chocolate spritz biscuits as an occasional treat, in line with the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice. | I’m looking for something I can give my toddler more often, not a biscuit for a special occasion. Daily use would be the main purchasing consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portion size | Compare the calories per biscuit or stated serving with the amount you actually give. Jumbo lists 65 kcal per 13,3 g serving for Spritsen met Pure Chocolade; Verkade lists 90 kcal per biscuit for Nobo Sprits Melk. | I want to give my child a biscuit now and then, but know in advance how much they’ll have. A small portion would be the main consideration for around 45% of consumers. |
| Allergens and rules | Check the current packaging for ingredients including wheat or gluten, milk, soya, egg and any mention of nuts or sesame. Before packing them, also check the rules at your childcare provider or school. | If I’m packing something for childcare, I want to know which allergens are listed on the packaging and what’s allowed there. Whether the product can be taken in would be the main concern for around 22% of consumers. |
A treat isn’t a replacement for an everyday snack from the Dutch Wheel of Five. For babies and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread.
Save biscuits for an occasional treat, and choose a suitable option from the Dutch Wheel of Five for regular snack times.
The amount actually eaten can be very different from 100 g. Albert Heijn lists a 36 g serving of AH Choco spritsen and 537 kcal per 100 g; that works out at around 193 kcal for the stated serving.
Check the serving size on the packaging and decide how much you’ll actually give. Only compare servings when it’s clear what they include.
Allergen information varies between products. For example, Albert Heijn lists wheat, milk and soya for Verkade Nobo sprits dubbel chocolade, and states that it may contain nuts and sesame.
Read the packaging of the product you’re buying now, and check the information against the child’s allergies and the rules at their childcare provider or school.
ALDI lists Biscotto roomboter-sprits met chocolade. The name doesn’t tell you which ingredients, allergens or serving information are shown on the packaging for that version.
Read the label in store before deciding whether this option is right for the occasion.
Verkade offers several chocolate spritz biscuit varieties, including Nobo Sprits Melk and Nobo sprits dubbel chocolade. Check the information for each variety rather than assuming they’re interchangeable.
Jumbo Spritsen met Pure Chocolade is a 200 g own-brand option, with a stated serving size you can assess for an occasional biscuit treat.
PLUS Chocolade sprits Fairtrade is a 200 g own-brand option for anyone who wants to compare the label on a pack of chocolate spritz biscuits.
Biscotto is the brand of roomboter-sprits biscuits for which ALDI lists both a plain and a chocolate version.
No, don’t make them a regular snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks from the Dutch Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread. Treat a biscuit as an occasional treat.
Compare the calories per biscuit or stated serving with the amount you actually give. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests less than 75 kcal as a guide when giving a young child a small treat. Jumbo lists 65 kcal per 13,3 g serving for Spritsen met Pure Chocolade; Verkade lists 90 kcal per biscuit for Nobo Sprits Melk.
That depends on the child’s allergies and the rules at their childcare provider or school. Check the local policy first and read the current label: various chocolate spritz biscuit varieties list ingredients such as wheat or gluten, milk and soya, while other allergens vary by product.
The packaging you buy gives you the information for that particular purchase. Ingredients and allergen information can change; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory allergen labelling requirements for prepacked foods in the Netherlands. So check the current packaging every time, especially if allergens are a concern.
