Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents of a toddler with coeliac disease

You’re looking for breakfast cake clearly labelled gluten-free, and you check the label every time you buy it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that coeliac disease requires a lifelong gluten-free diet.

Parents looking for a snack to take out

A handy bar can be useful when you’re out and about. A 65 g retail pack doesn’t determine how much your toddler should have at one snack time, so check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack too.

Parents choosing everyday snacks

You want to alternate breakfast cake with other snacks. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends giving young children cake once a week rather than every day, and suggests options such as vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread for regular snack times. If your toddler has coeliac disease, any alternative must also fit their gluten-free diet.

What should you look for?

If your toddler has coeliac disease, first check for a gluten-free label and read the product information. Then think about how breakfast cake fits into their snack routine, and whether you’d rather take a bar with you or slice some at home.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free suitability Look for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ label and read the current ingredients and allergen information. If my toddler has coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a familiar brand name when products in the range may differ. For around 50% of consumers, gluten-free suitability is the top priority.
Snack routine Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and decide whether cake will remain an occasional choice. For most snack times, I’m looking for something other than cake that also suits my toddler’s diet. Around 30% of consumers give this everyday snack routine the highest priority.
Portions and taking it with you Choose between a bar and an uncut loaf. If your toddler has coeliac disease, keep knives and work surfaces free from gluten crumbs. When we’re out, I want a compact pack; at home, I may prefer to slice some myself without it touching gluten-containing bread. For around 20% of consumers, this practical preparation is the main consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Taking ‘gluten-free’ to mean it’s an everyday choice

    The gluten-free label tells you about gluten, not how often cake should feature in a toddler’s snack routine. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends giving young children cake once a week rather than every day.

    Save breakfast cake for an occasional treat, and choose something suited to your child’s diet for regular snacks.

  • Confusing the regular and gluten-free versions

    A regular Peijnenburg Naturel product lists rye flour as an ingredient. It is not a suitable alternative for a child who needs to eat gluten-free because of coeliac disease.

    Read the full product name and check the current pack for the explicit ‘gluten-free’ label.

  • Assuming a whole bar is the right portion for a toddler

    The 65 g stated for the AH Glutenvrij Ontbijtkoekreep is the pack size, not a recommended portion for every toddler.

    Decide how much you want to offer at snack time. With an uncut loaf, you can slice some at home; if your toddler has coeliac disease, avoid contact with gluten crumbs.

Brands to consider

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo lists a 300 g uncut Lekker Vrij van Gluten breakfast cake.

  • Jumbo says this version carries the crossed grain symbol. As it comes uncut, you can slice off a piece yourself.
  • The gluten-free label alone doesn’t tell you how cake fits into an everyday snack routine.

Peijnenburg

Jumbo and PLUS list a 285 g gluten-free, uncut Peijnenburg Ontbijtkoek.

  • Because it comes uncut, you can slice off a piece yourself at home.
  • Check which version you’re buying: according to Peijnenburg, a regular Peijnenburg Naturel product contains rye flour.

AH

Albert Heijn lists a 65 g AH Glutenvrij Ontbijtkoekreep.

  • The bar comes in a compact pack that’s easy to take with you.
  • Before serving, check the current ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack. The whole bar isn’t automatically a suitable portion for a toddler.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on breakfast cake for a toddler with coeliac disease?

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, ‘gluten-free’ may be used on a food intended for the final consumer if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Each time you buy it, check that the current pack for the version you’ve chosen carries this label.

Can regular breakfast cake replace a gluten-free version?

Not if the regular version contains gluten and your toddler needs to eat gluten-free because of coeliac disease. For example, Peijnenburg lists rye flour in a regular Naturel product, so always read the label for the specific cake.

Is gluten-free breakfast cake suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends giving young children cake once a week rather than every day. It suggests options such as vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread for regular snacks; if your toddler has coeliac disease, check that any alternative you choose is gluten-free too.

Does gluten-free breakfast cake always contain iodised baker’s salt?

Don’t assume that every gluten-free breakfast cake contains baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the specific product or ask the manufacturer which type of salt it uses.