Lunch box and on-the-go shoppers
Individually wrapped slices can go straight into a lunch box or bag, with no need to slice them first. According to Albert Heijn, the Peijnenburg naturel 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
Which format suits you?
Shoppers comparing nutritional values
If Dutch breakfast cake is an addition to your lunch, look beyond terms such as ‘zero’ or ‘wholemeal’. Compare sugar, fibre and ingredients on the same portion basis. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 11.2 g of sugar for a 30 g slice of Dutch breakfast cake; check the label for the amount in the variety you choose.
Households and teams sharing a pack
If you use several slices from one pack, you can divide up a larger pre-sliced cake yourself. According to Jumbo, the 550 g Peijnenburg naturel sliced cake yields around 18 slices. Consider how much you’ll actually use once the pack is open.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide between individual portions to take with you and a pack that you can slice yourself. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the options that suit you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional value per portion | Compare the portion size and the sugar and fibre per portion; also consider what else you eat for lunch. | If I’m having Dutch breakfast cake with lunch, I want to know what one slice adds and what else I’m eating. Around 36% of consumers would make the overall composition of their lunch their main consideration. |
| Individual portions | Check the number of pieces, the weight of each one and whether the slices are individually wrapped. | For a lunch box, I want to take a slice with me without having to cut it first. Around 29% of consumers would put portion convenience first. |
| Sharing | Check the total weight, the number of slices and the storage instructions once opened. | When we’re sharing a pack at home or at work, I want to decide for myself how many slices we use. This kind of shared pack would be the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current label to see which allergens the product contains or may contain, and which sweeteners have been used. | If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for me, I need to be able to identify them before choosing. That’s why around 14% of consumers would check the ingredients and allergen information first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘individually wrapped’ means it’s a complete lunch
An individually wrapped portion makes the serving size clear, but it doesn’t change the nutritional value of the Dutch breakfast cake. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends other foods, including wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit, when putting together a lunch.
Check the sugar and fibre per slice, then decide what else you’ll have for lunch.
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Taking ‘zero’ in the name to be a complete description of the ingredients
Snelle Jelle Zero Spiced Cake also contains sweeteners, including xylitol. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens for the specific variety, rather than relying on the name on the front of the pack.
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Looking only for ‘wholemeal’
The term ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you how much sugar or fibre your portion of Dutch breakfast cake contains, and it doesn’t make it a complete lunch.
Use the wholemeal claim as one point of comparison, and also check the nutrition table per 100 g and per portion.
Brands compared
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers both larger pre-sliced Dutch breakfast cakes and individual lunch portions. Albert Heijn lists a naturel 10-pack with ten individually wrapped 28 g slices; Jumbo lists a 550 g pre-sliced naturel cake.
- With these naturel products, you can choose between pre-wrapped portions and a cake you divide up yourself.
- The naturel 10-pack contains rye and gluten-containing cereals; check the label for possible traces of milk and nuts, too.
Snelle Jelle
Snelle Jelle offers spiced cake bars and varieties such as Zero Spiced Cake. Jumbo lists the Zero Spiced Cake in a pack of four.
- A bar format is a practical alternative to compare with pre-sliced Dutch breakfast cake.
- Zero Spiced Cake contains sweeteners; read the warning about excessive consumption and check the allergen information for this variety.
AH
AH offers pre-sliced Dutch breakfast cake, including a wholemeal 2-pack listed by Albert Heijn.
- The 2-pack is a multi-piece format to compare with individual portions and one larger cake.
- For a nutritional comparison, check the ingredients, portions and nutritional information on the current pack.
Dutch breakfast cake at Joybuy
These products show three ways to choose: a Dutch breakfast cake to take with you, a larger pre-sliced cake to divide up yourself, and a pack of six. For the variety you choose, check how the portions are wrapped and which nutritional information applies to your portion.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free, 250 g
A pack to consider if you want to take Dutch breakfast cake with you for lunch. Compare the sugar per portion and check the ingredients and allergens: the product name alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar your portion contains.
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g'woon wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
A pre-sliced pack for anyone who wants to take or share slices as needed. Compare sugar and fibre on the same basis, and check the weight of each slice on the pack if you want to use the values per portion.
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g'woon Dutch breakfast cake, 6 pieces
Six pieces to compare when planning several lunches. If you need to put them straight into a lunch box, check whether they’re individually wrapped, and check the portion size alongside the nutritional information.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dutch breakfast cake a complete lunch on its own?
No, one portion of Dutch breakfast cake isn’t a complete lunch on its own. When putting together a lunch, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods including wholemeal bread, vegetables, fruit and various toppings. So consider the whole meal, as well as the nutritional information for the Dutch breakfast cake you choose.
What’s the difference between individual portions and a pre-sliced cake?
Individually wrapped portions can be taken with you or shared without slicing; with a larger pre-sliced cake, you choose the number of slices you want. Albert Heijn lists a Peijnenburg naturel 10-pack with 28 g slices, while Jumbo lists a 550 g pre-sliced pack with around 18 slices.
What should I look for in Dutch breakfast cake with ‘zero’ in the name?
As well as the name, check the sugar per portion, the ingredients and any warnings. The Snelle Jelle Zero Spiced Cake listed by Jumbo contains xylitol; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Does all Dutch breakfast cake in the Netherlands contain iodine?
That doesn’t follow from the rules on baker’s salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products only if baker’s salt containing no more than 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt has been added. This condition doesn’t mean that baker’s salt is added to every Dutch breakfast cake; check the ingredients of the specific product.
How should I store pre-sliced Dutch breakfast cake once opened?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack. For the Peijnenburg naturel pre-sliced cake listed by Jumbo, the advice is to store it in a cool, dry, dark place, preferably in a sealed tin or container.