Picnickers keeping an eye on fibre
You want breakfast cake to share, but you also compare the flour used and the fibre content. Check the ingredients and nutrition information for the variety, not just the front of the pack.
Who is this choice for?
Families with fussy eaters
You’re looking for something easy to eat, without losing sight of the differences between plain and wholemeal breakfast cake. A preference for one flavour doesn’t tell you how much fibre or sugar a product contains, so compare both figures on the label.
Picnickers handing out individual portions
If everyone gets their own portion, individually wrapped bars may be more practical than a pack to share. Sliced pieces are a good fit when you’re sharing one pack. Pack any chilled extras separately in a cool bag, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
What should you look for?
First decide whether flour type and fibre, easy sharing in the park or a familiar taste matters most to you. Then compare packs and nutrition information on the same basis: per 100 g and, where stated, per portion.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal flour and fibre | Check which flour has been used and compare the fibre per 100 g. Also check the portion size if you’ll be handing out slices. | When sharing a pack, I mainly want to know how much wholemeal flour and fibre the breakfast cake contains. This is the top priority for around 45% of consumers facing this choice. |
| Portions and portability | Compare a pack of sliced cake with individually wrapped bars. Check how many slices or bars you’ll need. | If everyone is bringing or being given their own snack in the park, I want to hand out portions without having to cut anything there. Around 33% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Taste and nutrition information | Compare the sugar and fibre per 100 g, and read the warnings on the pack for varieties containing sweeteners. | For a fussy eater, I want to start with a flavour they’re likely to accept, without skipping the nutrition information. This taste consideration comes first for around 22% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a dark-coloured cake is wholemeal
The colour doesn’t tell you which flour has been used or how much fibre the cake contains. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product can only be described as ‘wholemeal’ if all the flour used is wholemeal flour.
Read the ingredients list and compare the fibre per 100 g in the products you’re considering.
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Relying on the word ‘zero’ alone
A variety labelled this way may contain sweeteners. The product information for the Peijnenburg and Snelle Jelle varieties with xylitol reviewed here warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Xylitol is also a risk to animals if ingested.
Read the ingredients and warnings for your chosen variety, and keep products containing xylitol out of pets’ reach.
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Overlooking allergens in a simple snack
Ingredients vary between breakfast cakes. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information for the Bolletje plain variety reviewed here lists rye, lupin and wheat.
If you have an allergy, check the current packaging for every variety you take with you, even if you already know the brand.
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Taking chilled toppings with the cake without keeping them cool
Products that need to stay chilled require different transport arrangements from the breakfast cake itself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using a cool bag for chilled picnic food.
Pack the breakfast cake separately, and only take chilled products out of the fridge just before you leave so you can carry them in a cool bag.
Brands to consider
The differences below relate to specific varieties. A brand name on its own doesn’t tell you anything about the nutritional value of another variety.
Peijnenburg
A sliced wholemeal variety to compare if flour type and fibre matter to you.
- According to the product information at Jumbo, the variety reviewed contains 40% wholemeal rye flour, 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugar per 100 g.
- This variety contains xylitol. Read the warnings about excessive consumption and keep the cake out of animals’ reach.
AH
The AH Wholemeal Breakfast Cake, Sliced variety reviewed comes in a 485 g pack, with 30 g portions listed.
- Albert Heijn lists 41% wholemeal rye flour and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The label also lists 34 g of sugar per 100 g. Compare this figure per 100 g with other varieties.
Jumbo
The Jumbo Wholemeal Breakfast Cake variety reviewed comes in a 280 g pack.
- Jumbo lists 35.9% wholemeal rye flour and 8.2 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The same product information lists 35.5 g of sugar per 100 g and ingredients including rye and wheat. If you have an allergy, check the current packaging.
Bolletje
A plain variety to consider if a fussy eater would rather start with a familiar type of breakfast cake.
- Bolletje says the sliced plain variety reviewed is moist thanks to its long baking process. Taste and texture are still a matter of personal preference.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists 35 g of sugar and 3.3 g of fibre per 100 g, and names rye, lupin and wheat.
Snelle Jelle
According to Albert Heijn, the Zero Spiced Cake reviewed contains four individually wrapped 42 g bars.
- The individual wrapping makes it easy to give one bar to each person.
- This variety contains xylitol, rye and cereals containing gluten. The product information also says it may contain milk, hazelnuts and almonds.
Breakfast cake and bars at Joybuy
These products include a sliced breakfast cake to share, a spiced cake bar and a breakfast cake with a stated number of pieces. Choose the format that suits your picnic, and check the current packaging for nutrition information and allergens.
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g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
The sliced pack is handy for sharing pieces from one pack at your picnic.
If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, especially for rye. Only compare fibre and sugar once you know whether the nutrition information is given per 100 g or per portion.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free, 250 g
A spiced cake bar to consider if you want to take or hand out individual portions. A spicy flavour won’t appeal to every fussy eater.
Before comparing sugar and fibre, check the unit shown in the nutrition information. If you have allergies, also check the current ingredients and warnings on the packaging.
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g'woon breakfast cake, 6 pieces
The stated pack size of six pieces makes it easier to work out how many portions you’ll need for your picnic.
Check the packaging to see how the pieces are wrapped and how much each one weighs. Also read the current allergen information and check the unit used for the nutrition values before comparing with other products.
Frequently asked questions
Is breakfast cake made with a mix of white flour and wholemeal flour the same as wholemeal breakfast cake?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product can only be called ‘wholemeal’ if all the flour used is wholemeal flour. A blend may still list a proportion of wholemeal flour, so check the ingredients list rather than judging by the colour.
Should I choose a sliced pack or individual bars?
A sliced pack is ideal for sharing; individually wrapped bars work well if everyone is bringing or being given their own portion. If you’re also taking products that need to stay chilled, use a cool bag, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Can I ignore the warnings on breakfast cake labelled ‘zero’?
No. The product information for the Peijnenburg and Snelle Jelle varieties with xylitol reviewed here warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the ingredients, portion size and warnings for each product, and keep products containing xylitol out of animals’ reach.
How can I find out what type of salt is used in breakfast cake?
Check the ingredients list for the specific breakfast cake, or ask the manufacturer for product information if you want to know whether iodised baker’s salt has been used. Don’t assume that every breakfast cake has the same ingredients.