For an occasional treat with your toddler, choose a family-size pack based on the portion you have in mind, the number of cakes and the ingredients – not just the pack size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing mainly foods from its Wheel of Five for everyday snacks, and considers cakes more of an occasional choice. When comparing egg cakes, check the sugars, fibre and allergens on the exact pack, especially if you plan to send one in with your child to nursery or school.
You’re looking for a pack to share, but don’t want cakes to become a regular daily snack. For babies and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing mainly foods from its Wheel of Five every day.
You want to know how a wholegrain egg cake compares with a standard variety for fibre, without overlooking the other nutritional information.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you buy, and find out in advance what the nursery or school’s policy is on snacks brought from home.
First, decide whether this is for an occasional treat. Then compare the labels and choose a number of portions that suits how you plan to use the pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Treat occasion | Decide how often you plan to give your child cake, and check the nutritional information for the portion you have in mind. | If cake can easily become a daily snack, I want to decide in advance when we’ll give it. For around 42% of consumers, this eating routine is their main concern. |
| Allergens and policy | Read the current label for the exact variety and ask the nursery or school what your child is allowed to bring. | Before packing a snack, I want to know which allergens are listed on the pack and what the nursery’s policy is. This is the main purchase concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portions and storage | Compare the number of cakes, the weight of each one, and the storage and resealing instructions. | I want to be able to share a pack without buying more cakes than we’ll use. For around 25% of consumers, portion and stock management matter most. |
For babies and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables or some wholemeal bread as snacks. It considers cake more of an occasional choice than something to eat every day.
Before you buy, decide when you plan to serve the cakes. For everyday snacks, choose a suitable alternative from the Wheel of Five.
According to Jumbo’s product information, Jumbo Eierkoeken Volkoren contains 3,9 g of fibre and 33,6 g of sugars per 100 g. The Bolletje variety with a milk coating has a different recipe and a different cake size. A claim on the front of the pack or a figure per cake won’t show you all these differences.
Check the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g and for the portion you plan to give your child.
The product information for Albert Heijn, Jumbo and the Bolletje variety reviewed lists wheat or other cereals containing gluten, egg, milk and soya, among other allergens. The Bolletje variety also warns that it may contain traces of nuts and sesame, among other things.
Check the current label every time you buy, and ask about the nursery or school’s allergen policy before sending a cake in with your child.
A pack with more portions is only a good choice if your family can use the cakes within their shelf life and follow the storage advice on the pack.
Choose a number of portions that suits how you’ll use them at home, and check the best-before date and storage instructions on the pack.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Eierkoeken is a standard variety in a 360 g pack containing 12 portions of 30 g.
According to Jumbo, Jumbo Eierkoeken Volkoren 300 g contains 10 portions and is a wholegrain option to compare within this category.
According to Jumbo’s product information, Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje comes in a pack of 10 individually wrapped cakes.
For everyday snacks for babies and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing mainly foods from its Wheel of Five, such as vegetables, fruit or some wholemeal bread. It considers cake more of an occasional choice than a daily staple.
Read the label on the exact pack before sending a cake in with your child. The Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje varieties reviewed list wheat or other cereals containing gluten, egg, milk and soya, among other things. The Bolletje variety also warns that it may contain traces of nuts and sesame, among other things. Check the nursery or school’s policy too.
Follow the instructions on the pack you buy and check the best-before date. Albert Heijn advises storing AH Eierkoeken in a cool, dry place away from light and resealing the pack carefully after use. Jumbo also advises storing Jumbo Eierkoeken Volkoren in a cool, dry place away from light.
