Choose Melba toast if you’re looking for thin toast to top, or consider mini crackers if smaller portions suit your lunch better. For a regular work-from-home lunch, also check the pack size, fibre, salt and allergens: wholemeal varieties aren’t automatically lower in salt.
If you often have toast for lunch while working from home, it’s useful to check how many lunch portions you’ll get from a pack as well as its size. Don’t compare Melba toast and mini crackers as if they had the same shape and serving size.
If toast is a regular lunch staple, you can compare the fibre and salt content per 100 g of specific products. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety, too.
If you want to top a few crunchy pieces at your desk for a quick lunch, shape, portioning and storage instructions all matter. A larger pack is only practical if you’ll use it.
First decide whether you want to use Melba toast or small crackers. Then compare the pack size and nutritional information of the products you’re considering for lunch.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Check the net weight and, where stated, the number of portions. | If you regularly have lunch at your desk, you’ll want a pack that suits how often you’ll use it; this could be the main consideration for roughly 50% of these consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen information. | If toast is a regular on the table, I want to be able to see what the variety I’ve chosen contains. These label details could be a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Shape and portions | Check the size of the toasts, how they’re portioned and the storage instructions. | For a quick lunch, I want pieces that suit my toppings and preferred portion size; this could be the main reason for their choice for roughly 20% of consumers. |
The shape and portioning can vary. As a result, a product may not suit the toppings or the amount you want for lunch.
First choose the product shape that works for your lunch, then compare packs within that category.
The nutritional information for the Van der Meulen Melba toast volkoren product reviewed lists 1,9 g of salt per 100 g. The wholemeal label alone doesn’t tell you how much salt a product contains.
Check the salt content per 100 g on the pack, and bear in mind how much toast and topping you use.
Ingredients can vary from product to product; the product name alone won’t tell you which type of salt has been used.
If iodine content matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the exact pack.
AH Melba toast naturel is a Melba toast sold in a 240 g pack. Albert Heijn also provides nutritional and allergen information for this product.
Jumbo Mini Crackers Naturel are small crackers, divided into eight portions, rather than Melba toast.
Sun Snacks Melba Toast Naturel from ALDI is a Melba toast sold in a 240 g pack.
Van der Meulen Melba toast volkoren is a wholemeal Melba toast variety with sesame.
Bolletje’s range includes crackers, crispbread and rusks, among other products. These are alternatives if you’re not specifically looking for Melba toast.
This selection includes one Melba toast, along with a variety of crackers and crispbreads for a lunch with toppings. Check the product format and pack weight before choosing.
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An option if you want to use rye crackers as a crunchy lunch base. The pack contains 235 g; compare the nutritional information and allergens on the label before choosing.
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Choose this product format if you’re specifically looking for Melba toast for lunch. The pack contains 100 g; check that the ingredients and allergens suit your needs.
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These crackers are an alternative if you’re not looking for Melba toast. The pack contains 300 g; if fibre and salt matter to your choice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
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An option if you’d prefer wholemeal crispbread for lunch instead of thin Melba toast. The pack contains 375 g; check the label for the nutritional and allergen information for this variety.
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These corn crackers are an option if you want to portion out individual crackers for lunch. The product name states that there are 18; check the pack for the weight, nutritional information and allergens.
Not always: their shape and portioning can vary. Before comparing two packs, check which size suits your toppings and preferred lunch portion.
No. Van der Meulen Melba toast volkoren lists 1,9 g of salt per 100 g; check the salt content of the specific product and consider how much you use.
Check the allergen information for the exact variety. The AH Melba toast naturel product reviewed contains wheat, barley and soya and may contain sesame; the Van der Meulen Melba toast volkoren product reviewed contains sesame, wheat and soya, among other ingredients.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack. Albert Heijn recommends storing opened AH Melba toast naturel in a sealed tin; Jumbo recommends keeping its Mini Crackers Naturel in a cool, dry place.
Don’t assume that every product does. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, read the ingredients list on the exact pack or ask the manufacturer about that variety.
