Choose a lower-sugar biscuit for your toddler only as a planned, occasional treat: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises giving young children biscuits weekly rather than daily. Compare the sugar claim with the reference product named, and check the current packaging for nutritional values, ingredients, allergens and any warnings before packing it.
You’re looking for an occasional biscuit for your toddler, but want to know what a claim such as ‘less sugar’ is being compared with. A lower sugar value doesn’t automatically make a biscuit suitable as a daily snack; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises giving young children biscuits weekly rather than daily.
If you’re packing a snack for childcare or a toddler group, check the allergens on the current packaging and ask what rules apply to food brought in from home. Don’t assume a biscuit contains or doesn’t contain gluten based on its name.
You want to know what replaces the sugar in a specific product and whether there’s a warning on the packaging. For example, Albert Heijn states that excessive consumption of AH Ontbijtkoek zero may have a laxative effect; this warning doesn’t automatically apply to other products.
First decide whether you’re looking for a daily snack or an occasional biscuit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists options such as fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread and wholemeal crackers for snacks. If you choose a biscuit, check the specific label and consider where you plan to give it to your child.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and frequency | Compare the sugar value per 100 g with a suitable standard product and decide what portion you plan to give. | If I want to give my child a biscuit occasionally, I want to be able to compare the sugar content without making it a daily snack. Around 42% of consumers prioritise this combination of sugar choice and frequency. |
| Allergens and childcare rules | Read the current allergen information and ask which snacks are allowed at the childcare setting or toddler group. | If I pack a snack, it needs to meet both the allergen requirements and the childcare setting’s rules. Around 33% of consumers put this first when choosing. |
| Zero-sugar products and sweeteners | Check the ingredients and any warnings; compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per intended portion. | If I’m considering a zero-sugar option, I want to know what it contains and how much my toddler will actually have. This is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Choosing a lower-sugar biscuit doesn’t change how often you should give your child biscuits. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises giving young children biscuits once a week rather than once a day.
Save biscuits for occasional treats. If you’re looking for something for a daily snack, consider options such as fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread or a wholemeal cracker in a shape that suits your child’s eating skills.
‘Less sugar’ and ‘light’ are relative claims. On their own, they don’t tell you how much sugar your toddler will get in a portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that ‘light’ can refer to energy, fat or sugar compared with a similar product.
Check what the claim refers to, and compare the nutritional values per 100 g as well as the amount you plan to give.
Sweeteners can replace some or all of the sugar. For AH Ontbijtkoek zero, Albert Heijn includes a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging of the product you choose. Don’t increase the portion just because of the sugar claim.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of pre-packed foods. The allergens in one biscuit tell you nothing about those in another variety.
Check the packaging of the product you’re actually packing, and ask the childcare setting or toddler group in advance about its rules for snacks brought from home.
Regular speculoos biscuits are an option if you’re deliberately looking for a standard biscuit treat, rather than a product specifically made with less sugar.
The range includes several products with sugar-related claims, including AH Digestive 0% suiker and AH Ontbijtkoek zero. Ontbijtkoek is a different type of product from a biscuit.
Jumbo lists Ontbijtkoek Minder Suiker in a pack of six and as a sliced variety. If the packaging format matters for packing a snack, compare the correct variety.
ALDI lists Koekhappers in a lower-sugar variety; the product information says it contains six individually wrapped biscuits.
Lidl lists Ontbijtkoek zero as a product available in store only; it isn’t a biscuit variety.
This biscuit bar is labelled Less Sugar and can be considered when comparing options for an occasional treat. Check the nutritional information, portion and texture for your toddler, and confirm the childcare setting’s rules before packing it.
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For anyone looking to compare a biscuit bar labelled Less Sugar for an occasional treat.
Pack of 6. Check the current packaging for the sugar value per 100 g, what the sugar claim is based on and the allergens.
Before serving, check that the portion and texture are suitable for your toddler. Ask the childcare setting about its rules before packing it.
Don’t make biscuits a standard daily snack just because they have a lower-sugar claim. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises giving young children biscuits weekly rather than daily, and lists options such as vegetables, fruit, wholemeal bread and wholemeal crackers for snacks.
These claims need to be compared with another product; looking only at the front of the pack isn’t enough. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that ‘light’ can mean less energy, fat or sugar. Check what the specific claim refers to, and also read the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion.
Check the packaging of the biscuit you’ve chosen for gluten if your child needs to avoid it or the childcare setting has rules about it. Not all biscuits automatically contain gluten; also ask what requirements the childcare setting has for snacks brought from home.
No. The ‘zero’ label doesn’t determine whether a product is suitable for a toddler or for daily use. Read the ingredients, check the intended portion and look for any warnings. For example, Albert Heijn includes a warning about excessive consumption on AH Ontbijtkoek zero.
Check the current packaging of the product you’re buying. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information listed online may change. This is especially important if you’re choosing the biscuit because of a specific ingredient or allergen.
