For an everyday snack for a toddler, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables or a wholegrain product instead of biscuits or chocolate. For an occasional treat, the actual portion, ingredients and allergens in the chosen pack are what matter. A Dutch egg cake is not automatically suitable as a daily snack, and a box of chocolates is more of a gift than a snack for a toddler.
They want something for home, on the go or nursery that works for an everyday snack break. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread, among other options, for young children and toddlers.
They want to hand out something sweet for a birthday or visit, while keeping an eye on the portion and avoiding making treats an everyday habit.
They need to check the allergens listed on the chosen pack and find out what rules the school, nursery or childminder has for food brought in from home.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday snack | Decide whether this is an everyday snack or an occasional treat. For an everyday snack, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables or a wholegrain product. | For an everyday snack, I want to choose something that fits into my toddler’s daily diet, without making biscuits a regular habit. Around 46% of consumers put this daily choice first. |
| Allergens and rules | Read the label on the exact product, including any warning about possible traces. Ask the school or nursery what rules apply to food brought in from home. | If my child has a food allergy or I’m packing food for nursery, I want to make sure the product is suitable for their allergy and follows the group’s rules. For around 36% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Treat and portion | Compare the nutritional information for the actual portion, not just per 100 g. Decide for yourself how much of a Dutch egg cake or chocolate to hand out. | For a birthday, I’m looking for a small treat that I can hand out thoughtfully, rather than a large pack my toddler can help themselves to. A special-occasion choice is the most important consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
Its texture doesn’t tell you anything about its nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 230 kcal and 28.6 g of sugars for an extra-large 75 g Dutch egg cake.
For everyday snacks, choose from the options the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests for toddlers, and treat a Dutch egg cake as an occasional sweet extra.
The allergens listed vary from product to product. The Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje Dutch egg cakes described here contain egg and wheat, among other things; the Verkade chocolate described here lists milk and soya.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the pack of the exact variety you plan to give your child.
A sharing box doesn’t determine how much chocolate a toddler will get. The nutritional information for a chocolate bar or box should also be considered in relation to the amount actually given.
Save chocolate for a planned, occasional gift or treat, and decide on the portion before handing it out.
Albert Heijn says that the ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information for its Dutch egg cakes may change. So a pack you bought before may not carry the same information as the one you’re buying now.
Read the current label again, especially if an allergy or a school or nursery rule is a factor.
The AH Eierkoeken pack described here contains 12 cakes weighing 30 g each.
The Jumbo variety described comes in a pack of four Dutch egg cakes, weighing 300 g in total.
Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek as a light, crisp variety topped with sugar.
The Verkade Reep Wit described here is chocolate for a gift or sharing occasion, not a box of chocolates or a Dutch egg cake.
Don’t make a Dutch egg cake an everyday staple. For snacks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends that young children and toddlers mainly have foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread.
Neither is an obvious choice for an everyday snack for a toddler. If you want to give your child something sweet occasionally, compare the portion and label of the specific products. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 230 kcal and 28.6 g of sugars for an extra-large 75 g Dutch egg cake, while chocolate’s nutritional values need to be considered by type and portion.
Check the label of the Dutch egg cake you choose for all allergens that are relevant to your child. For the varieties described here, Albert Heijn and Jumbo list egg, milk, soya and wheat, among other things; Bolletje also lists possible traces of hazelnut, other nuts and sesame in its Brosse Eierkoek.
Yes, the amount of caffeine varies by type of chocolate and portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives examples of around 7 mg in two squares of dark chocolate weighing 14 g in total, and around 2 mg in the same amount of milk chocolate. For a treat, also check the ingredients and portion size of the product you choose.
