Parents who want to start with a familiar taste
A pre-sliced piece makes it easy to offer a small portion. If you’re choosing Dutch breakfast cake for a fussy eater, you can also compare the sugars and fibre on the label.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Families looking to avoid added sugars
Ingredients still matter when choosing wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake with no added sugars. The Peijnenburg variety we looked at contains xylitol and polyols, and carries a warning against excessive consumption.
Parents who want to keep snacks small
For families who want to avoid a large snack reducing their child’s appetite at mealtimes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises avoiding large snacks and offering small portions to children who eat little.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether a familiar, pre-sliced wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake or a variety with no added sugars better suits your child’s eating preferences. Then compare the nutritional information and decide how substantial the snack should be.
Regular wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake
A good choice when: A familiar breakfast-cake flavour and a pre-sliced piece are the priority.
The trade-off: The Albert Heijn and Jumbo wholemeal own-brand products we looked at contain 34 g and 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
Wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake with no added sugars
A good choice when: Avoiding added sugars matters more than having a familiar sweet taste.
The trade-off: The Peijnenburg variety we looked at contains xylitol; according to Jumbo’s product information, excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Taste and portion | Check whether the Dutch breakfast cake is pre-sliced, and read the ingredients list if another sweetener could affect your choice. | I want to offer my child a small piece of a familiar product without putting them under pressure. For around 40% of consumers, this first step comes first. |
| Sugars and fibre | Compare ‘of which sugars’ and fibre per 100 g; to compare per slice, use the portion size shown on the packaging. | If I’m choosing between regular wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake and a variety with no added sugars, I want to know what’s actually in it. Around 40% of consumers give this nutritional profile top priority. |
| Where it fits into the day’s eating | Decide in advance whether the slice is a small snack, rather than a replacement for bread or a meal. | We don’t want a snack to take away our appetite for the next meal. For around 20% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘wholemeal’ means ‘low in sugars’
The proportion of wholemeal rye flour doesn’t tell you how much sugar a product contains. According to the product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS, the wholemeal Dutch breakfast cakes we looked at contain 34 g, 35.5 g and 34.1 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.
As well as the ingredients list, check ‘of which sugars’ and fibre in the nutrition table.
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Seeing a slice of Dutch breakfast cake as a meal replacement
Dutch breakfast cake isn’t the same as wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables among everyday food choices for children, and advises against large snacks when a child eats little.
Keep Dutch breakfast cake as a small addition, and don’t automatically let a slice take the place of breakfast, bread or a main meal.
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Overlooking warnings and allergens
According to Jumbo’s product information, the Peijnenburg variety we looked at contains xylitol, with warnings about excessive consumption and pets. The own-brand varieties we looked at list rye and gluten; some products also mention wheat.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information each time you buy, especially if cereal ingredients or xylitol are relevant to your household.
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Assuming Dutch breakfast cake contains baker’s salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre refers to bread made with baker’s salt in its guidance on iodine. That doesn’t mean Dutch breakfast cake is automatically the same as this bread.
Check the ingredients of the Dutch breakfast cake rather than assuming it contains baker’s salt based on the product category.
Brands and product ranges compared
These examples cover specific wholemeal Dutch breakfast cakes; the details don’t automatically apply to every product from a brand. Always compare nutritional values on the same basis, preferably per 100 g.
Peijnenburg
According to Jumbo’s product information, Peijnenburg Wholemeal with No Added Sugars is a pre-sliced variety containing 40% wholemeal rye flour.
- The nutritional information lists 4.9 g of sugars and 17 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The variety contains xylitol and 24 g of polyols per 100 g. The label warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.
Albert Heijn
AH Wholemeal Dutch Breakfast Cake, Sliced is a 485 g pack containing 41% wholemeal rye flour, according to Albert Heijn.
- The product information lists 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Albert Heijn also lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g. The product contains rye and gluten; read the label if these ingredients are relevant to you.
Jumbo
Jumbo Wholemeal Dutch Breakfast Cake is a 280 g pack containing 35.9% wholemeal rye flour, according to Jumbo.
- Jumbo lists 8.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The product information lists 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g and identifies rye, gluten and wheat as ingredients to be aware of.
PLUS
PLUS Wholemeal Dutch Breakfast Cake, Sliced is a 485 g pack containing 41% wholemeal rye flour, according to PLUS.
- PLUS lists 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The stated sugar content is 34.1 g per 100 g. The product contains rye and gluten, and may contain wheat, barley and oats; check the packaging when you buy it.
Dutch breakfast cake at Joybuy
This pre-sliced wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake is a good fit if you’re looking for a small piece. Check the current packaging if the sugar or fibre content, or the allergen information, will determine your purchase.
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g'woon wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
The pre-sliced format is practical if you want to start with a small piece. Before comparing nutritional values with other products, check whether they’re listed per 100 g or per portion on the packaging. Also check the ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Can wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake replace a sandwich?
No. Don’t automatically treat wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake as a substitute for wholemeal bread or a complete meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal bread as a breakfast and lunch option for children; the regular wholemeal Dutch breakfast cakes we looked at also contain 34 g and 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g respectively, according to Albert Heijn and Jumbo.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean Dutch breakfast cake contains no sugars?
No. According to Jumbo’s product information, Peijnenburg Wholemeal with No Added Sugars contains 4.9 g of sugars and 24 g of polyols per 100 g; the variety contains xylitol. When comparing products, check both ‘of which sugars’ and the ingredients list.
What should I look out for in Dutch breakfast cake containing xylitol?
For the Peijnenburg variety we looked at, Jumbo’s product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and that xylitol is not suitable for animals. Read the warning on the current packaging and keep the product out of reach of pets.
Does wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake automatically contain baker’s salt?
No. Don’t assume a product contains baker’s salt just because it’s described as ‘wholemeal’ or belongs to this product category. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses iodine in relation to bread made with baker’s salt; for a specific Dutch breakfast cake, check the ingredients on the packaging.
How can I offer a slice of Dutch breakfast cake to a fussy eater?
Start with a small portion and don’t pressure them to eat it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises avoiding large snacks for children who eat little, so there’s room for their usual meals.