A croissant can make a special addition to a school lunch, but don’t use it as a regular substitute for wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends saving croissants for an occasional treat. Before packing one, check the portion size, the ingredients and allergens in your chosen variety, the storage instructions and the school’s rules.
You’re looking for something celebratory for an unusual school day, without making a croissant the regular basis of lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says croissants are for an occasional treat and recommends wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit, among other things, for an everyday school lunch.
You want to know which allergens a particular croissant contains before buying it, and whether it complies with the school’s rules. Check the label or ask for allergen information before buying an unpackaged product. Don’t rely on a name such as ‘plant-based’ or ‘premium’.
Your choice depends on how much time you have before leaving to pick up a croissant, bake it if necessary, let it cool and pack it. If you’ve chosen a bake-at-home variety, follow the instructions on that specific pack.
First, check that the croissant suits the child and complies with the school’s rules. Then choose a portion size and product type that fit with the rest of the lunch and the time you have in the morning.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Read the allergen information for your chosen variety and check the school’s policy. If the croissant is unpackaged, ask for this information before buying it. | If allergens or school rules determine my choice, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. This is a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| The rest of the lunch | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, then consider the croissant as part of the whole lunch. | I want to pack something special without letting a croissant replace the usual lunch every time. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| The occasion and portion size | Choose a size that suits the occasion and compare the ingredients and weight of specific varieties. ‘Premium’ doesn’t tell you anything about the taste on its own. | For a special school day, I’m mainly looking for a treat-sized portion. This occasion takes priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Preparation and storage | Check whether the croissant is ready to eat or needs baking. Follow the storage instructions, including for any filling. | On a busy morning, lunch needs to be ready on time and easy to take with you. Around 19% of consumers put this practical consideration first. |
A special name or a stated butter percentage doesn’t tell you where a croissant fits into the whole school lunch. For an everyday school lunch, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit, among other things, and says croissants are for an occasional treat.
Check the portion size and nutritional information for your chosen croissant, then decide what else to pack.
The name ‘butter’ or ‘plant-based’ doesn’t give you the full picture of the allergens in a particular croissant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on prepacked products. Information must also be available before purchase for unpackaged products.
Read the current allergen information, look out for warnings about possible cross-contamination and check the school’s rules.
Preparation instructions apply to a specific variety. The oven instructions given for the PLUS and Délifrance bake-at-home croissants examined are different.
Read the instructions on the pack you’ve bought and allow time for the croissant to cool before packing it.
A filling that can spoil quickly changes how you need to store the lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using a small cool bag for food that spoils quickly.
Follow the storage instructions for each ingredient. If the filling spoils quickly, keep it cool on the way to school and while it’s there.
Albert Heijn’s range includes fresh, bake-at-home, frozen and mini croissants.
Jumbo offers standard, butter, plant-based and frozen croissants, among other varieties.
Lidl lists a butter croissant from its in-store bakery as a product available in store only.
ALDI lists an individual butter croissant from its bakery section.
For its 180 g pack of butter croissants, PLUS lists the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions, among other details.
Dirk lists a butter croissant weighing 65 g per piece.
These croissants come in different pack sizes for a special lunch. If you’re specifically looking for a butter croissant, check the ingredients for each variety: not every product in this selection is described as a butter croissant.
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A multipack that you can split between lunches for a special occasion. Check the preparation method and allergens on the pack before packing one.
Pack size: 4 pieces, 180 g.
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A single croissant for anyone who wants to pack just one. The name doesn’t confirm that it’s a butter croissant, so check the ingredients and allergens. Look out for the E102 and E110 listings and the corresponding warning on the pack.
Weight: 85 g.
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A multipack to consider if you have time to bake them at home. Check the instructions on the pack. If you’re looking for a butter croissant, check the ingredients too. Read the allergen information and any warnings about possible cross-contamination before packing one.
Pack size: 4 pieces.
It’s best not to make a croissant the regular basis of a school lunch. For an everyday lunch, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit, among other things, and says croissants are for an occasional treat. If you’re packing a special lunch, think about what else you’ll include too.
Only if that particular croissant complies with the school’s rules and suits the child’s needs. Check the allergen information and any warnings about possible cross-contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for unpackaged products must also be available before purchase.
No. That description doesn’t confirm that a croissant is free from gluten or other allergens. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen. If the product is unpackaged, ask for this information before buying it.
Use a small cool bag for a filling that spoils quickly. This follows the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice for food that spoils quickly. Also follow the storage and use instructions for the ingredients.
No, that isn’t guaranteed by the rules on baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through the use of baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list to see which salt is listed for the specific croissant.
