Runner with coeliac disease
A clear gluten-free label matters more than the size or flavour. Regular breakfast cake made with rye is not an alternative; always check the latest allergen information too.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Runner looking for a small training snack
You’ll want to know how many carbohydrates are in your slice or bar, and whether that portion suits your planned training. The weight of a whole cake won’t tell you much.
Gluten-free athlete considering their overall diet
You have breakfast cake as a snack, without using it to replace other foods. The Dutch Coeliac Society also highlights the importance of fibre in a gluten-free diet; iodine should be considered as part of your overall diet.
What should you look for when choosing?
First check that the exact variant is gluten-free. Then look at the carbohydrates in the portion you actually eat, along with the other allergen and nutritional information.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing gluten-free | Check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the current packaging for the exact variant. | If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a similar-sounding product name when choosing a snack for training. Around 42% of consumers put this gluten check first. |
| Carbohydrates per portion | Compare the weight of your slice or bar with the stated carbohydrates per portion; don’t use the figures per 100 g as the portion value. | For a planned long run, I want to know what my portion contributes, without treating one slice as a complete nutrition plan. Around 33% of consumers put this question about portions first. |
| Other nutrients and allergens | Check for milk, lupin and any other allergens; consider fibre and iodine in the context of your overall diet. | If I eat gluten-free snacks regularly, I also want to keep an eye on other allergens and the rest of my diet. This broader consideration matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens
According to the product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, both the gluten-free breakfast cakes from Peijnenburg and Jumbo Lekker Vrij contain milk and lupin. Jumbo also lists the possible presence of other allergens.
When buying, read the full allergen information on the exact packaging, even if the gluten-free label is clear.
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Mistaking carbohydrates per 100 g for a training portion
Jumbo lists 18.6 g of carbohydrates per 25 g portion; Albert Heijn lists 70 g per 100 g for the gluten-free Peijnenburg variant. A 30 g slice cut from that cake contains around 21 g of carbohydrates.
Weigh or estimate the portion you actually eat, and test the amount and timing during training.
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Using breakfast cake instead of other gluten-free staples
Albert Heijn lists 1 g of fibre per 100 g for the gluten-free Peijnenburg variant. The Dutch Coeliac Society also recommends paying attention to getting enough fibre on a gluten-free diet.
Think of breakfast cake as a snack within your overall diet, not as a replacement for varied gluten-free meals.
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Assuming breakfast cake provides iodine
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies bread made with iodised baker’s salt as an important source of iodine, but also points out that baker’s salt is not required when baking bread. This tells you nothing about the iodine content of breakfast cake.
Check the relevant labels and consider iodine as part of your overall diet, rather than relying on the name ‘breakfast cake’.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
The 285 g gluten-free, unsliced breakfast cake is a variant you can cut into slices yourself.
- Albert Heijn lists 70 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fibre per 100 g for this variant.
- Check the current packaging for ingredients including milk and lupin, and weigh your own portion.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij
The 300 g gluten-free, unsliced breakfast cake lets you cut your own portion.
- Jumbo lists 18.6 g of carbohydrates per 25 g portion and displays the crossed grain symbol for this variant.
- Jumbo lists milk and lupin, as well as the possible presence of other allergens; check the label on the exact packaging.
AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn sells gluten-free breakfast cake bars, including a multipack, for anyone looking for a bar-sized portion.
- A bar is a different portion size from a cake you slice yourself.
- Before eating, check the nutritional and allergen information on the packaging of the bar you’ve chosen; don’t use the figures for an unsliced cake.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose breakfast cake if I have coeliac disease?
Choose a variant whose current packaging clearly states that it is gluten-free. Regular breakfast cake made with rye, wheat or barley is not a gluten-free alternative; also check the ingredients and other allergens for the exact variant every time.
Is one slice of gluten-free breakfast cake enough for a long run?
Don’t treat one slice as a complete nutrition plan for a long run. Jumbo lists 18.6 g of carbohydrates per 25 g portion for Jumbo Lekker Vrij; based on the figure from Albert Heijn, a 30 g slice of the gluten-free Peijnenburg variant contains around 21 g. Match your portions and timing to the training you’re doing.
When should I try a new portion of breakfast cake?
Test the portion and timing during a planned training session, not for the first time during the marathon. This also gives you a chance to see how the cake fits with what else you eat and drink.
Is gluten-free breakfast cake also free from other allergens?
No, the gluten-free label doesn’t mean that. The product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists milk and lupin for the Peijnenburg and Jumbo variants discussed here; check the full allergen information on the packaging you buy.
Can I count breakfast cake as a source of iodine?
Don’t assume so unless you have product-specific nutritional information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies bread made with iodised baker’s salt as an important source of iodine, but using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. So consider your iodine intake in the context of your overall diet.