For a daily lunch that prioritises fibre, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown or wholemeal bread; a croissant is better as an occasional alternative. If you do choose a croissant, compare the nutritional values per 100 g as well as the weight of each one. Seeds or a larger size don’t automatically make it a suitable choice for the kind of lunch you have in mind.
They want to choose brown or wholemeal bread more often, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for lunch, but they sometimes enjoy a croissant too. For them, it’s important to understand the difference between a seeded croissant and a wholemeal lunch staple.
They want to enjoy a croissant now and then, so they look at the weight of each one, its nutritional value and what they eat with it.
They may be looking for a product made with plant-based ingredients, or a croissant explicitly suitable for a gluten- and wheat-free diet. The ingredients and allergen information for the specific product remain the deciding factors.
First decide whether the croissant is an occasional alternative to your usual lunch or needs to meet a specific dietary requirement. Then compare products on a like-for-like basis: per 100 g for nutritional values and per croissant for portion size.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and type of flour | Compare fibre per 100 g and check whether wholemeal flour is actually listed as an ingredient; seeds alone don’t prove that it is. | If you want to prioritise fibre at lunchtime, visible seeds on a croissant aren’t enough to go on. For around 50% of consumers, fibre is the main consideration. |
| Portion, fat and salt | Check the weight of each croissant and compare fat, saturates and salt per 100 g for the exact products. | A larger croissant might appeal if I want to add a filling, but I also want to know how large my portion will be. This trade-off is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Diet and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information, including any details about what the product may contain; explicitly check that it meets any dietary requirements. | If I want to avoid animal-derived ingredients or need a gluten- and wheat-free croissant, the product name alone isn’t enough. For around 20% of consumers, checking dietary suitability or allergens is the main concern. |
According to Albert Heijn, the AH Meerzaden croissant contains 3.6 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 2.3 g for the AH Luxe roombotercroissant. That difference doesn’t mean the seeded version is wholemeal. A larger croissant mainly means a larger portion.
Compare fibre, fat and salt per 100 g, read the ingredients and check the weight of each croissant. For a typical lunch that prioritises fibre, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown or wholemeal bread.
Jumbo states that its Plantaardig croissant may contain milk. The nutritional information also lists 11.2 g of saturates and 1.38 g of salt per 100 g.
If you have a dietary requirement or allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the specific packaging, as well as the product name.
The Consenza croissants reviewed are marketed as suitable for a gluten- and wheat-free diet, but contain egg and soya. According to the product information, they also contain 13.9 g of saturates and 1.35 g of salt per 100 g.
First check that the stated dietary suitability meets your requirements. When choosing a croissant for lunch, also compare the other allergens and nutritional values.
PLUS lists iodised salt in the ingredients of its long-life, bake-at-home butter croissants. This ingredient listing doesn’t automatically apply to another version.
If iodised salt is important to you, read the ingredients list on the croissant you’re actually choosing.
Ingredients, size and nutritional values can vary between croissants from the same brand. So compare the specific product, not just the brand name.
Its range includes a Meerzaden croissant and a Luxe roombotercroissant, allowing you to compare two different recipes.
It offers bake-at-home croissants in different sizes, as well as a version made with plant-based ingredients; the right choice depends on the specific packaging and ingredients.
Its range includes a small butter croissant and long-life butter croissants that you can bake at home.
The croissants reviewed are explicitly marketed as suitable for a gluten- and wheat-free diet.
The pistachio croissants reviewed are dough to shape and bake at home, not ready-to-eat croissants.
For a daily lunch that prioritises fibre, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends brown or wholemeal bread rather than making a croissant your regular staple. If you fancy a croissant now and then, consider the portion and what else you’re having for lunch.
No. Size alone tells you nothing about the nutritional value per 100 g. For example, Jumbo lists packs of six croissants weighing 240 g and 340 g in total. So check both the weight of each croissant and the nutritional information for the version you choose.
No. Don’t assume a croissant has the same ingredients as another product. PLUS lists iodised salt in its long-life, bake-at-home butter croissants; for another version, check its own ingredients list.
Not necessarily. Jumbo states that its Plantaardig croissant may contain milk. Check the current allergen information on the packaging, even if the product name says it’s plant-based.
Not if the packaging says the dough must be baked first. The Danerolles pistachio croissants reviewed are explicitly labelled as not suitable for eating raw. Follow the cooking instructions on the packaging.
