If the wholegrain base matters to you when having chocolate sprinkles for lunch, choose wholegrain rusks and decide how much topping to use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that chocolate sprinkles are high in sugar and saturated fat; choosing a wholegrain base doesn’t change that. You can round out your lunch with vegetables, fruit or another topping.
You want to keep enjoying rusks with chocolate sprinkles, but would also like to make room for another topping, vegetables or fruit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends considering both the grain base and the toppings you choose for lunch.
You compare rusks by checking whether they’re labelled wholegrain and looking at their fibre content. Make sure you compare like with like on the label, for example per 100 g.
You’re looking for a rusk you enjoy eating, without assuming that a white-and-wholegrain mix automatically contains more fibre or tastes better.
Compare the rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately: the wholegrain label tells you about the base, while the amount of topping and the nutritional information for your chosen sprinkles should be considered separately.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain base and fibre | Look for the wholegrain label and compare fibre per 100 g; to check the fibre in each rusk, also look at its weight. | If the grain base is my main priority, I want to know how much fibre the rusk contains. Around 42% of consumers are said to put this need first. |
| Chocolate sprinkles and portion size | Compare the sugars and saturated fat on the label, and consider how much chocolate sprinkles you actually use. | I want something sweet on my rusk, but I’d like to choose the amount of topping myself. This is said to be the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Taste, texture and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on both packs, and choose a texture you’ll enjoy eating. | For a fussy eater, an enjoyable taste or texture matters a lot, although it doesn’t tell you anything about the nutritional value. This is said to be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
The rusk base and the topping are separate choices. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that chocolate sprinkles are high in sugar and saturated fat, even when you sprinkle them over wholegrain rusks.
So consider how much chocolate sprinkles you use and what else you eat with your lunch, rather than judging it on the rusk alone.
The cocoa percentage doesn’t tell you how much sugar or saturated fat your chosen chocolate sprinkles contain. Albert Heijn’s product information lists at least 52% cocoa solids for De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur and at least 32% for Venz Hagelslag Puur.
Use the cocoa percentage to distinguish between varieties, but also read the nutritional information and serving size on the label.
Rusks can also contain ingredients that matter to some consumers, including cereals containing gluten, egg or sesame. The chocolate sprinkle varieties discussed here contain milk and soya.
If you have an allergy or food intolerance, check the latest allergen information for both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles.
The taste and texture of a mix don’t automatically tell you how much wholegrain or fibre it contains. Nor can you tell from the name whether a fussy eater will enjoy it.
Check the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact product. If you’re unsure about the taste, a smaller pack may be a practical choice.
Worth considering if you’re mainly comparing the rusk base. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Bolletje Vezelrijk boeren beschuit volkoren is 100% wholegrain.
AH Beschuit volkoren is a supermarket own-brand option for anyone specifically looking for wholegrain rusks.
De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur is a chocolate sprinkle variety to consider if you want to compare stated cocoa percentages. Albert Heijn’s product information lists at least 52% cocoa solids.
Venz Hagelslag Puur is another dark chocolate sprinkle variety. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, it contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
These are wholegrain rusks you could consider as a base for rusks with chocolate sprinkles. Choose the chocolate sprinkles separately, and consider the topping and portion size as part of your lunch too.
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For anyone looking for a wholegrain rusk base and wanting to choose their own topping.
The pack contains 10 pieces. Choose your chocolate sprinkles separately and, if you have an allergy, check the latest packaging for both products.
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For anyone who wants to use wholegrain rusks as a base for lunch with their choice of topping.
The pack contains 13 pieces. Compare fibre using the nutritional information on the packaging, and check the ingredients too if you have an allergy.
Yes, you can choose wholegrain rusks as your base, but consider the chocolate sprinkles separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the sugar and saturated fat in chocolate sprinkles. If you like, vary your toppings and round out lunch with vegetables or fruit, for example.
The average portions given by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre provide 106 kcal together: 39 kcal for one 10 g wholegrain rusk and 67 kcal for 15 g of chocolate sprinkles. The amount in your lunch will depend on the products you choose and how much topping you use.
No. The description ‘dark’ or the cocoa percentage doesn’t tell you how much sugar and saturated fat a particular variety contains. Compare the nutritional information on the packs using the same units, and consider the portion you use.
Check both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles. The products discussed here include ingredients such as cereals containing gluten, egg, sesame, milk and soya. The allergens present vary by product and are listed on the latest packaging.
