Anyone who wants to grab something on the way out in the morning
If slicing or packing something yourself isn't an option, individually wrapped portions are useful. For example, Jumbo lists a Lotus Biscoff pack with bags of two biscuits.
Who are these packs suitable for?
Families who keep a supply at home
A larger pack can see you through several snack times. Sliced breakfast cake makes it easy for everyone at home to grab a slice; with an unsliced pack, you portion it yourself.
Anyone who wants to compare labels
When choosing biscuits or breakfast cake for a quick breakfast, you may want to consider sugars, fibre, ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking beyond the front of the pack.
What should you look for in family packs?
First decide whether you want to take a portion with you straight away or grab something from a supply at home. Then compare the portion size and the label of the products that suit you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taking it with you straight away | Check how many bags or bars there are and how many biscuits or how much breakfast cake each portion contains. Jumbo lists ten bags of two biscuits in its Lotus Biscoff XL pack. | When I'm in a hurry, I want to take something with me without portioning it first. Being able to grab and go is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| A supply at home | Compare the pack weight and number of portions. Check whether the product is pre-sliced or whether you need to portion it yourself. | For several snack times at home, I want everyone to be able to grab a portion easily. A practical family-sized supply is the main priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars and fibre on the same basis, for example per 100 g and per portion. Also read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. | If biscuits or breakfast cake are a regular part of my breakfast, I want to know what's in a portion. Checking the label matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
Common considerations
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Confusing grab-and-go convenience with a complete breakfast
An individually wrapped portion is quick to grab, but the pack size says nothing about the make-up of your whole breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Wheel of Five as the basis for breakfast.
Think about what else you'll have for breakfast and compare the nutritional information for the biscuits or breakfast cake you plan to take with you.
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Going by a single word on the front of the pack
Terms such as wholemeal or no added sugars don't tell you everything about a product's nutritional value.
Check the ingredients, sugars and fibre for the exact product, and compare values per 100 g as well as per planned portion.
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Relying on memory when checking allergens
Biscuits and breakfast cake are made to different recipes. For example, the product information for Lotus Biscoff lists wheat and soya; you shouldn't assume this applies to other products.
Before buying, read the current ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you have chosen.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos biscuits in a range of multipacks and portion packs, including an XL pack that Jumbo describes as ten bags of two biscuits.
- The individual bags are easy to take with you without portioning anything yourself.
- Check how many bags you’ll be taking and read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety.
AH
Sliced breakfast cake, including plain and wholemeal varieties, designed to make it easy to grab a slice at home.
- Albert Heijn’s product pages list sliced varieties.
- Wholemeal on its own doesn’t tell you how much sugar a portion contains, so compare the nutritional information for each variety.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand breakfast cake comes in a range of sizes. The retailer lists, among others, a 475 g sliced pack and a 550 g unsliced pack.
- Choosing between sliced and unsliced makes it easier to work out how much preparation you’ll need to do at home.
- Check the number of portions in each pack and whether you’ll need to pack something yourself for taking on the go.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI breakfast cake, including a 485 g pre-sliced wholemeal variety and a sliced variety called Zero.
- Pre-sliced pieces make it easier to grab a portion quickly at home.
- Check the nutritional information and ingredients for the specific variety, rather than relying on its name alone.
Sondey
Lidl’s Sondey range includes a variety of biscuits, wafers and bars. These are different product types and should be considered separately.
- The range offers several types of biscuits and snacks to compare by pack size and ingredients.
- Check whether the size and portion format of each product suit your morning routine.
Joybuy products to grab or take with you
These products offer three different ways to have something ready to hand: speculoos biscuits with stated portion sizes, individually wrapped breakfast cake bars, and sliced breakfast cake for home. For the biscuits, check whether one bag is the portion you want to take with you.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas Biscuits, 8 pieces, 200 g
A supply of biscuits you can spread across several occasions. The pack states 200 g and eight portions; check how many biscuits are in each bag before choosing one as a portion to take with you.
Check the current label for ingredients and allergens.
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Snelle Jelle breakfast cake, Less Sugar-Free variety, 250 g
For anyone who wants to take an individually wrapped bar without having to slice anything. The pack contains five 50 g bars.
When comparing sugars, use the nutritional information on the pack rather than the variety name. Check the ingredients and allergens too.
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g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
For a supply at home that you can quickly grab a slice from. The breakfast cake is pre-sliced and the pack contains 485 g.
If you want to take a slice with you, check whether you’ll need to wrap it yourself. Compare sugars and fibre using the nutritional information on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Can a family pack of biscuits replace my whole breakfast?
Don’t think of biscuits only as a quick replacement for a complete breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal bread, yoghurt and fruit among its breakfast choices, so consider what else you’re eating alongside the biscuits and compare the nutritional information per portion.
What’s easier to take with you: individual bags or a large pack?
Individual bags or bars need less preparation when you’re on the go. A large pack is more suited to keeping a supply at home; check how many portions it contains and whether you’ll need to pack something yourself before you leave.
Is a label such as wholemeal or Zero enough to choose a breakfast cake?
No, that kind of label doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the ingredients and nutrition table too; compare the exact varieties on the same basis.
What should I check if allergens are important?
Read the allergen information and ingredients list on the current pack of the exact product. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, 14 specified allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.