Families with a fussy eater
You’re looking for crispbread you can serve in small portions, perhaps with a familiar topping. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against forcing a child who doesn’t want to eat.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers stocking up for breakfast and lunch
You want enough at home for several meals without opening more than you can store. AH, Jumbo and ALDI each list a 375 g wholegrain pack; check how many pieces or portions each product contains.
Households with an allergy or dietary requirement
Compare the current ingredients and allergen information before choosing a variety. Crispbread labelled gluten-free may still contain other allergens: for example, the Wasa Sesame & Sea Salt variety contains sesame.
What should you look for when buying?
First, check whether the eater likes the taste and texture. Then check for any dietary restrictions, and only after that compare pack sizes and nutritional information.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taste and texture | Check the ingredients and try a small portion before buying a large pack. | If a child rejects a new flavour or a firm texture, I want to know whether this crispbread will be eaten at all. Around 33% of consumers put acceptance by the fussy eater first. |
| Stocking up and storage | Compare the weight with the number of pieces or portions, and check how to reseal the pack after opening. | I want enough in stock for several breakfasts and lunches, without leaving an opened pack unused for too long. For around 27% of consumers, this is the top priority when buying to stock up. |
| Wholegrain and nutritional information | Check the wholegrain claim and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | If crispbread is often on the menu, I want to compare the ingredients of different varieties. Around 20% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information; don’t assume that ‘gluten-free’ also means sesame-free. | If I need to follow a specific dietary restriction, I first need to know whether the variety I’ve chosen is suitable. Around 20% of consumers put suitability first. |
Common mistakes
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Buying a large pack before trying the flavour
A pack with lots of portions isn’t much use if your fussy eater won’t eat the crispbread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends offering small portions without putting pressure on them.
First, try a few pieces with a familiar topping. Only then choose a larger pack if it gets eaten at home.
Anything left uneaten can contribute to food waste.
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Treating ‘wholegrain’, ‘high-fibre’ and ‘brown’ as the same thing
These terms don’t mean the same thing about a product’s ingredients. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a cracker can only be called wholegrain if all the flour used is wholegrain.
Read the product description and ingredients list, and compare nutritional values such as fibre and salt per 100 g.
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Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens
Wasa Gluten- & Lactose-Free Sesame & Sea Salt contains 9% sesame seeds. So the gluten-free claim doesn’t tell you whether the product is suitable for someone with a sesame allergy.
Check the full, current allergen information on the pack for the variety you choose.
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Assuming all crispbread is made with iodised baker’s salt
Not all crispbread has to be made with iodised baker’s salt. So if the type of salt used matters to you, don’t rely on the product category alone.
Check the ingredients list on the specific pack for terms such as baker’s salt or iodised table salt.
Brands to consider
Wasa
The range includes wholegrain rye crispbread and a separate gluten- and lactose-free variety.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Wasa Wholegrain has three ingredients and contains 20 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The regular wholegrain variety contains rye and gluten. The separate Sesame & Sea Salt variety contains 9% sesame seeds, according to Jumbo.
Bolletje
The wholegrain crispbread variety reviewed is individually wrapped in fours.
- Albert Heijn lists 16 pieces and 14 g of fibre per 100 g for Bolletje Wholegrain High-Fibre Crispbread.
- This variety contains wheat, rye, barley and sesame, among other ingredients; check the label if you need to avoid an allergen.
AH
The own-brand range includes a 375 g pack of wholegrain crispbread.
- Albert Heijn lists 25 portions and 12 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Wholegrain Crispbread.
- The ingredients include wholegrain wheat, wholegrain rye, wheat gluten and sesame.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes a 375 g pack of wholegrain crispbread, labelled as 5 × 5 pieces.
- The pack’s five groups of five pieces make it easier to plan your supplies.
- Check the label on the pack you choose for nutritional values, ingredients and allergens.
Goud Gebakken
ALDI lists a 375 g pack of wholegrain crispbread under this own-brand label.
- The product listing states that the pack contains 25 pieces, so you know the quantity in advance.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack before choosing this variety to meet a dietary requirement.
Crispbread on Joybuy
These packs, ranging from 260 g to 375 g, offer different quantities for breakfast or lunch. Weight alone doesn’t tell you how many portions a pack contains, so check separately if you’re planning meals in advance.
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Wasa Lightweight crispbread 300 g
A 300 g pack to consider if you’re looking for crispbread to enjoy over several meals.
Check the number of pieces and the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack if these are important to your choice.
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Wasa Wholegrain crispbread 260 g
An option to try in small portions if the eater enjoys the mild rye flavour.
The Wasa Wholegrain variety reviewed has three ingredients and contains 20 g of fibre per 100 g. At 260 g, this pack is smaller than the 375 g packs mentioned.
This wholegrain rye variety contains gluten; also check the current label for information about other allergens.
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g'woon Wholemeal crispbread 375 g
The 375 g pack is an option if several family members eat crispbread and you want to stock up.
Check the number of pieces or portions when planning meals. If you need to avoid an allergen, read the current pack carefully: the available ingredient and allergen information for this variety does not fully match.
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Bolletje Whole Grain crispbread 265 g
The pack is divided into four, which may suit you if you prefer to open a smaller section at a time.
Albert Heijn lists 16 pieces and 14 g of fibre per 100 g for the wholegrain variety reviewed. At 265 g, this pack is smaller than a 375 g pack.
Check the current allergen information, including for cereals containing gluten and sesame.
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Wasa High-Fiber crispbread 300 g
A 300 g pack to compare if you’re looking for crispbread to enjoy over several meals.
Check the nutritional information per 100 g on the current label, and check the number of pieces if you’re planning by portion. Also read the allergen information before choosing a variety to meet a dietary requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I start if my child is a fussy eater?
Start with a small portion of crispbread with a taste and texture that may feel familiar, and serve it with a familiar topping if you like. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against forcing a child to eat. Wait until you know whether they’ll eat the product before buying a larger pack.
How can I recognise wholegrain crispbread?
Look for ‘wholegrain’ in the product description and read the ingredients list. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a cracker can only be called wholegrain if all the flour used is wholegrain; a brown colour or a fibre claim doesn’t mean the same thing on its own.
How should I store an opened family pack?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and seal it tightly after opening. For its 375 g pack of crispbread, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dark, dry place and keeping it in a sealed tin after opening.
Is gluten-free crispbread suitable for someone with a sesame allergy?
No, don’t assume so: according to Jumbo, Wasa Gluten- & Lactose-Free Sesame & Sea Salt contains 9% sesame seeds. Check the current allergen information on the pack for every variety you choose.
Does all crispbread contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the product category alone. Check the ingredients list on the specific pack if the type of salt used matters to your choice.