For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts or peanuts. Nut butter is not automatically low in calories: compare the nutritional values per 100 grams and work out how they relate to the amount you actually use. If you’re mainly looking for a light snack, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests vegetables and fruit as suitable choices.
You want to offer nuts to your toddler, but are looking for an alternative to whole nuts. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter rather than whole nuts for children under 4 because of the risk of choking.
You want to know how much energy the amount of nut butter you use provides and whether it’s suitable for snack time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 128 kcal per 20 grams as a reference for nut butter. This is not a recommended portion for toddlers, nor a value that applies to every individual product.
A known allergy or an agreement with a school or childcare setting may determine which products are suitable. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists peanuts and nuts separately as allergens. Check the policy at your child’s school or childcare setting too.
For children under 4, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter with no added sugar or salt instead of whole nuts. Also compare the energy per 100 grams and work out how much it provides for the amount you actually use.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Form and texture | Choose a spread rather than whole nuts; check whether the variety contains pieces. | If you’re looking for a smooth option for a toddler and want to avoid whole nuts, texture is a priority. Around 36% of consumers say safe texture is their top priority when buying. |
| Energy per portion | Compare kcal per 100 g and calculate the energy in the amount you use. | If you want to know how much energy the amount served on a plate or on bread provides, check both the portion and the value per 100 g. Around 29% of consumers prioritise energy and portion size. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients and check for added sugar and salt. | If you’re looking for nut butter for a young child and ingredients are a deciding factor, check the ingredients list. Around 21% of consumers say simple ingredients are their top priority when buying. |
| Allergens and setting policies | Check the allergen information, warnings about cross-contamination and any rules set by the school or childcare provider. | If your child has a known allergy or their school or childcare setting has specific rules, these may determine your choice. Around 14% of consumers prioritise allergy-related requirements or setting policies. |
Unsalted tells you about the salt content, not the form or the risk of choking. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends nut butter rather than whole nuts for children under 4.
Check the form and choose a spread for your child instead of whole nuts or peanuts.
‘100%’ describes the ingredients, while the energy value is something else. A small portion of an energy-dense product doesn’t make the product itself low in calories.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 grams and work out how they relate to the amount you use. Don’t describe nut butter as low in calories without evidence.
Lidl and ALDI describe ranges with different texture options. The range name alone doesn’t tell you whether a particular jar contains pieces.
Read the variety name and product information, and check the packaging before choosing.
Nut butter still contains nuts or peanuts. Local rules may also apply to products in spread form.
Check the ingredients and allergen information, and ask what rules apply at your child’s school or childcare setting.
Duyvis Unsalted Peanuts illustrate the difference between whole peanuts and nut butter for a toddler.
AH 100% Almond Nut Butter is an option for anyone looking for almond butter instead of whole nuts.
Jumbo’s 100% Peanut Butter range includes smooth and crunchy varieties, as well as a mixed nut butter.
Lidl describes its 100% smooth peanut butter in a 600 g jar and lists varieties with and without pieces separately.
According to ALDI, the HELAES 100% peanut butter range is made from peanuts and includes smooth and crunchy varieties.
PLUS 100% peanut butter is a own-brand product listed on the official product page in a 350 g jar.
These products are peanut butters in spread form, with differences in ingredients and texture. For toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a spread with no pieces and no added sugar or salt. Check the product information for each variety.
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A spread for anyone looking for peanut butter instead of whole peanuts; check the packaging to see whether this variety contains pieces.
The product information states that it contains 100% peanuts, with no added sugar or salt.
Contains peanuts; not suitable for anyone with a peanut allergy.
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A spread for anyone looking for peanut butter instead of whole peanuts; check the packaging for details of this variety’s texture.
The product information states that it contains 100% peanuts, with no added sugar or salt.
Contains peanuts; not suitable for anyone with a peanut allergy.
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This variety contains pieces of peanut, so it isn’t in line with choosing a smooth peanut butter for a toddler.
The product information lists pieces of peanut and salt, and says there is no added sugar.
Contains peanuts; not suitable for anyone with a peanut allergy.
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A spread for anyone looking for peanut butter instead of whole peanuts; check whether this variety contains pieces.
The product information states that it contains 100% peanuts, with no added sugar or salt, and provides 639 kcal per 100 g. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal per 100 g for the claim ‘low energy’.
Contains peanuts; not suitable for anyone with a peanut allergy.
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This variety contains pieces of peanut, so it isn’t in line with choosing a smooth peanut butter for a toddler.
The product information states that it contains 79% peanuts, with added sugar and salt.
Contains peanuts; not suitable for anyone with a peanut allergy.
No. ‘100%’ describes the ingredients, not a low energy value. For solid foods, the European Commission sets a maximum of 40 kcal (170 kJ) per 100 grams for the claim ‘low energy’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 128 kcal per 20 grams as a general nutritional reference for nut butter.
No. The 20-gram amount is a reference used for nutritional values by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not a recommendation for a toddler’s snack. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a suitable amount depends on factors including age and sex.
Multiply the kcal per 100 grams shown on the label by the number of grams you use, then divide the result by 100. EU nutrition declarations list average values, so compare products on the same basis.
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists peanuts and nuts separately. An allergy to one type of nut doesn’t automatically mean an allergy to all nuts. Ask a healthcare professional to assess whether products are suitable for your individual circumstances.
Allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed products. Since 1 January 2026, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has also checked that warnings about cross-contamination are used correctly. This requirement for businesses doesn’t guarantee that a product is suitable for every child with an allergy.
