If you’re looking for an everyday snack for a toddler, it’s better to choose fruit, vegetables or some wholemeal bread, in line with the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice. A stroopwafel is better suited to an occasional treat. If you choose one, check the portion size, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging. If Fairtrade matters to you, also check exactly what the certification applies to: it says nothing about the nutritional value of the biscuit.
For regular snack times, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers, such as fruit, vegetables or some wholemeal bread. A stroopwafel isn’t the best choice as a regular staple.
For an occasional sweet treat, it helps to check the nutritional information for the portion you’ll actually serve. The size of a biscuit alone doesn’t tell you how much energy that portion provides.
If trading conditions for ingredients matter to you, check the certification on the current packaging. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background may apply to one certified ingredient rather than the whole stroopwafel.
First decide whether you’re looking for an everyday snack or an occasional treat. If you choose a stroopwafel, check the portion details and the information on the pack before making your decision.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday snack | Distinguish between an everyday snack and a treat. For everyday snacks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five. | If I want to pack something for my toddler every day, I’m looking for an option that suits a regular snack time. This everyday choice is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Treat portion | Check the weight and nutritional information per portion, and decide how much you’ll actually serve. Jumbo lists 111 kcal per 24 g portion for its Mini Stroopwafels. | For an occasional treat, I want to be able to judge the size of the piece I’m serving, even if the pack says ‘mini’. Around 30% of consumers give portion control top priority. |
| Information on the label | Check whether Fairtrade applies to the product or to an ingredient. Also read the current ingredients list and allergen information. | If certification or an allergen affects my choice, I want to be able to see exactly what applies on the pack. Clear labelling is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Fairtrade relates to the conditions for certified ingredients, not the nutritional value of a stroopwafel. Certification doesn’t make a biscuit suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler.
For an everyday snack, choose a suitable option first. Consider Fairtrade separately if you’re thinking about an occasional treat.
‘Mini’ doesn’t tell you how much energy the portion listed on the label provides. Jumbo lists 111 kcal per 24 g portion for its Mini Stroopwafels.
Compare the nutritional information with the amount you actually want to serve, rather than relying on the product name.
Ingredients and warnings can vary between products or change over time. So an old pack isn’t a substitute for checking the pack you’re buying now.
If you have an allergy, check the current ingredients list, allergen information and any cross-contamination warning on the packaging.
Fair Trade Original is a brand that appeared on a product page for mini stroopwafels at Jumbo.
Daelmans makes regular stroopwafels; a pack described by Albert Heijn contains ten biscuits weighing 29 g each.
Jumbo sells mini stroopwafels under its own brand.
Albert Heijn sells regular stroopwafels under its own brand.
Don’t choose a stroopwafel as an everyday snack. For babies and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or some wholemeal bread. A stroopwafel is better seen as an occasional treat, in which case you should pay attention to the portion size.
Not necessarily. According to Milieu Centraal, a Fairtrade logo with a white background may mean that only one ingredient is certified. Check the logo and accompanying text on the current packaging to see exactly what the claim applies to.
Check the packaging for the specific product’s allergens. The stroopwafels described here include wheat, milk and soya, among other ingredients. Each time you buy them, also check for any cross-contamination warnings, as ingredients and labelling can change.
