Choose gingerbread if you want to portion it yourself for several snack breaks or take some with you. A box of chocolates is better suited to giving as a gift or sharing. For both options, check the portion size, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging.
You may want to portion snacks at home or take something with you without having to cut it there and then. Albert Heijn lists a sliced Peijnenburg variety, while Jumbo also offers portion packs of gingerbread from the same brand. The packaging determines how much portioning you’ll need to do yourself.
You may be looking for individually wrapped chocolates or a selection of flavours to share. According to Albert Heijn’s product listings, the Merci Gift Box contains 32 individually wrapped chocolates, while Tony's Chocolonely's Tiny's gift box contains 22 pieces in ten flavours.
You’ll need to consider ingredients, sugars, fibre and allergens. The wording on the front doesn’t tell you everything about a portion or a selection of flavours, so compare the nutritional information and allergen details on the packaging of the product you’re buying.
First decide whether you mainly need portions for several occasions or want something to share or give as a gift. Then compare the packaging and labels of products suited to the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Portioning | Check the number of slices or pieces, the weight per portion and whether you’ll need to cut the cake yourself. | If I’m planning snacks for home and on the go, I want to know in advance how many portions I can divide it into. For around 40% of consumers, this practical aspect of portioning comes first. |
| Gifting and sharing | Check the number of chocolates, the selection of flavours and whether the pieces are individually wrapped. | When visiting someone, I want to be able to give or share something without having to cut slices first. Around 30% of consumers give sharing or gifting the highest priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen. | If I’m buying for others, I want to know whether the ingredients are suitable for them. For around 20% of consumers, checking this is their first concern. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion. If a product claims to have no added sugars, check the ingredients too. | When I include a treat in my snack plan, I want to be able to assess the nutritional value of the portion. Around 10% of consumers put this consideration first. |
The Merci, Tony's Chocolonely and Celebrations selections reviewed contain or may contain allergens, depending on the box and flavours. So a selection of flavours won’t necessarily be suitable for everyone.
Ask about allergies in advance and check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact box you’ve chosen.
The Peijnenburg Zero variety listed by Albert Heijn also contains xylitol and other polyols. The packaging warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g, along with the ingredients and any warnings, rather than relying on the wording on the front.
You can’t tell which salt has been used in a particular gingerbread just from its product category.
Check the ingredients if the salt used is important to your choice.
A pack of sliced gingerbread, individually wrapped cake portions and a box of chocolates are all portioned in different ways. For example, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 11.2 g of sugars for an average 30 g slice of gingerbread. This figure doesn’t apply to every variety or portion.
Decide how many people and snack occasions you need to cater for, then compare the nutritional information for the portions you’ll actually be serving.
Gingerbread in a range of formats, including sliced cake and portion packs.
Chocolate for gifting or sharing.
A chocolate gift with small pieces in a range of flavours.
A selection box of small chocolate portions for sharing or giving as a gift.
These products suit two choices for the autumn half-term: gingerbread-style snacks for several occasions, and chocolate packs to share or give as a gift. Check the portion format and label of each product individually.
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A gingerbread-style option if you want to take a snack with you or plan portions in advance.
Pack weight: 250 g. Check the portion size, ingredients and nutritional information on the label; don’t judge the sugar content by the product name alone.
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A chocolate gift to consider when sharing or giving a present is the priority.
Pack weight: 288 g. If you want to hand out the chocolates individually, check whether they’re individually wrapped, and check the allergen information.
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A small chocolate collection for saying thank you or sharing.
Pack weight: 125 g. If you’re sharing the contents with several people, check the number of pieces, whether they’re individually wrapped and the allergen information.
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A selection of chocolates to share during the holiday.
Pack weight: 143 g. Check the number of pieces and packaging format before planning portions. If you’re sharing them, check the allergen information too.
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A gingerbread-style option if you want to divide six pieces across several snack occasions.
The product name states that there are 6 pieces. Check the weight per piece and whether they’re individually wrapped, and check the current label if you have allergies.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the variety you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the rules for allergen labelling. With a selection of chocolates, consider the contents of the whole box, not just one flavour.
No. The packaging or product category alone doesn’t tell you how a snack fits into a child’s diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as snacks for children aged 4 to 12. If you’re planning a treat, check the portion size and nutritional information for biscuits and chocolate.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn recommends storing Peijnenburg plain sliced gingerbread in a dry, dark place, and keeping the Merci Gift Box away from heat. Check the instructions again for other products or varieties.
When you buy a product, check the packaging for the latest ingredients, allergen details and nutritional information. Albert Heijn warns that this information may change. This is particularly important if you’re buying for someone with an allergy.
You can’t tell from the name gingerbread alone. Check the ingredients on the specific pack if the type of salt used is important to your choice.
