Individually wrapped portions are handy for a lunchbox if you don’t want to pack them yourself. If you’re mainly sharing breakfast cake at home, you can serve slices from a pre-sliced pack. Whichever you choose, check the portion size, nutritional information and allergens on the current packaging, and ask about the school or childcare setting’s rules before packing anything.
An individually wrapped slice doesn’t need to go into a separate bag or container. For example, Jumbo lists a Peijnenburg pack containing ten individually wrapped 28 g slices. Check that the portion and ingredients are suitable for what you want to pack.
For a shared meal, you can hand out slices from a pre-sliced pack. Decide in advance how much you want to serve, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging once it’s opened.
If you’re keeping an eye on sugars, fibre, wholemeal ingredients or allergens, compare the nutritional information for the exact variant. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that allergens must be clearly shown on the label.
First, decide whether you’ll be taking it out with you or sharing it at home. Then compare the actual portion size and the label of the variants that suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions for when you’re out | Check how many pieces are individually wrapped and how much each one weighs. | If I’m packing breakfast cake for school or childcare, I don’t want to have to wrap it myself. Portion convenience is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Nutritional composition | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; check separately whether the packaging says wholemeal. | I want to know what’s in the slice I’m serving, even if the front of the pack makes a sugar claim. This is the first consideration for roughly 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the allergen information on the exact pack and ask the school or childcare setting what rules apply. | Before I pack anything, I need to know whether it meets the rules on allergens. This check matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Sharing at home | Check whether the pack is pre-sliced, how much it contains and how to store the product after opening. | If several family members are having a slice at home, I want to be able to serve them from one pack. Sharing at home is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For example, the label on a Peijnenburg variant at Jumbo lists naturally occurring sugars.
Compare the sugars per 100 g and per portion for the exact variants you’re choosing between.
Individually wrapped slices save you the effort of packing portions when you’re out. For a shared meal, you can also serve slices from a pre-sliced pack.
Choose a format based on where you’ll usually eat the breakfast cake and how many portions you’ll use after opening.
Ingredients and warnings about possible traces vary between variants. For example, PLUS lists rye and possible traces of wheat, barley and oats for its pre-sliced plain breakfast cake.
Read the current packaging for the product you’ve chosen, and check the school or childcare setting’s rules before packing it.
A conveniently wrapped slice doesn’t tell you how it fits in with other eating occasions. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks mainly from the Dutch Wheel of Five.
Consider breakfast cake alongside the other snacks your child has, and vary their choices with suitable alternatives.
Jumbo lists both individually wrapped slices and a pre-sliced pack in this breakfast cake range.
ALDI lists pre-sliced breakfast cake from this brand in Zero and wholemeal variants, both weighing 485 g.
PLUS lists pre-sliced breakfast cake in plain and Zero variants, both weighing 485 g.
PLUS’s breakfast cake range also includes smaller multipacks of Snelle Jelle spiced cake bars.
These products offer options for taking a portion with you or sharing breakfast cake at home. Before choosing a product for a lunchbox, check how the pieces are divided up in each pack.
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An option to consider if you want to take breakfast cake with you. Check how the portions are divided up on the packaging and compare the sugars per portion; the variant name doesn’t mean the product is sugar-free.
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A pre-sliced pack for serving portions at home. If allergens are a concern, read the current label for this variant carefully. If you want to pack a set portion, check the weight of each slice yourself too.
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A pack to consider when sharing breakfast cake at home. Before using it as a lunchbox portion, check whether the six pieces are individually wrapped, and read the ingredients and allergens on the label.
No. Individually wrapped portions are easier to take with you, but that doesn’t determine whether the breakfast cake is suitable for the portion you want or fits in with other eating occasions. For children aged 4 to 12, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks mainly from the Dutch Wheel of Five.
No. A product with no added sugars may contain naturally occurring sugars. So check the nutritional information for the exact variant per 100 g and per portion, rather than relying only on the wording on the front of the pack.
That depends on the school or childcare setting’s rules and the product you want to pack. Ask which rules apply and read the label on the current packaging, including any warnings about possible traces of allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that allergens must be clearly shown on the label.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the breakfast cake you’ve chosen. PLUS says to store its pre-sliced plain pack in a cool, dry, dark place; reseal an opened pack as directed on the label.
