Parents who want to pack an extra quickly
There’s no need to slice pre-sliced pieces at home. If you want to be able to take a slice with you straight away, individually wrapped pieces are another option; either way, check the weight per portion.
Who is sliced ontbijtkoek practical for?
Parents who want to compare fibre content
Peijnenburg lists 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g for its sliced wholemeal variety, compared with 3.1 g per 100 g for the plain sliced variety tested. This difference can help you choose between types of ontbijtkoek; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit should still be part of the recommended lunch essentials.
Parents who need to check allergens or school rules
Rye, wheat and warnings about the possible presence of other allergens vary by product. Read the label on the pack you’re putting in the lunchbox and check the rules at your child’s school.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide what place ontbijtkoek will have in the school lunch. Then compare the packaging and nutritional information that best match your main concern.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Its place in the lunch | Check that a slice remains an extra alongside the lunch essentials. Compare fibre per 100 g if you’re choosing between plain and wholemeal. | If I pack ontbijtkoek, I want to make sure bread, vegetables and fruit don’t disappear from the lunchbox. For around 33% of consumers, these lunch essentials come first. |
| Added sugars and sweeteners | Read the exact product claim, the sugar content per 100 g, the ingredients and any warnings. | I want to avoid added sugar, but I also want to know which sweeteners are in the slice. Around 27% of consumers give this consideration top priority. |
| Packaging and portion size | Check the weight per slice and choose between a pack of slices to portion at home and individually wrapped slices. | On busy mornings, I want to pack a suitable portion without having to slice it. For around 20% of consumers, this convenience matters most. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the ingredients list and any warnings about possible allergen presence on the current label; also check the school’s rules. | Before I pack anything, I need to know whether the ingredients are suitable for my child and comply with the class rules. This check comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Treating a slice of ontbijtkoek as a lunch essential
A slice is quick to pack, but it doesn’t replace the lunch recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, which includes wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit.
Pack the lunch essentials first, then decide whether a slice of ontbijtkoek would make a suitable extra.
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Assuming ‘wholemeal’ or ‘zero’ means allergen-free or sugar-free
The wholemeal ontbijtkoek tested contains rye. What’s more, a claim about no added sugars doesn’t mean a product is sugar-free; the zero varieties tested contain sweeteners.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional values for the variety you’ve chosen, even if the front of the pack looks familiar.
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Comparing sugar per slice without checking the slice weight
Jumbo gives a serving size of 25 g for its plain sliced variety; the Peijnenburg plain sliced variety tested has 28 g slices. So the figures per slice aren’t based on the same amount.
Compare products per 100 g first, then check how many grams you’ll actually be packing.
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Relying only on the allergen information on a product page
Online ingredient and allergen information can be contradictory. This is especially important when rye or other gluten-containing grains are a concern.
Check the current label on the physical pack before packing it, and take the school’s rules into account.
Brands and ranges compared
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers plain, wholemeal, zero and individually wrapped varieties of ontbijtkoek, among others. Compare the specific variety, not just the brand name.
- Peijnenburg lists 12 slices and 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g for its sliced wholemeal variety; the plain 10-pack contains individually wrapped 28 g slices.
- According to the product information, the sliced wholemeal Zero variety contains sweeteners and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The gluten-free plain variety is unsliced.
Jumbo (huismerk)
The sliced plain variety is an option if you want to portion slices from one pack at home.
- Jumbo lists its sliced plain variety as a 475 g pack containing 19 portions of 25 g.
- According to Jumbo, this variety contains rye and wheat and may contain milk and nuts; check the pack if these allergens are relevant.
Albert Heijn (huismerk)
Albert Heijn lists plain, wholemeal and zero varieties among its 485 g sliced own-brand options.
- You can compare the nutritional information and ingredients for each of these varieties side by side.
- Check the information for the individual variety or the physical pack for allergen and nutritional details.
Lidl (winkelassortiment)
Lidl lists a 485 g plain sliced ontbijtkoek as an in-store product.
- The sliced format is convenient if you want to add pieces to a lunchbox at home.
- Check the pack in store for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information before comparing this variety with another.
Sliced ontbijtkoek on Joybuy
This sliced wholemeal ontbijtkoek is an option if you’re looking for a slice to pack as an extra in a school lunch. Before packing it, check that the portion, ingredients and school rules are suitable.
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g'woon wholemeal ontbijtkoek, sliced, 485 g
For anyone who wants to pack a pre-sliced wholemeal variety as an extra.
485 g pack. Check the allergens on the physical label and see how much a slice weighs before deciding on the portion size.
Frequently asked questions
Can ontbijtkoek be the main part of a school lunch?
It’s best to pack sliced ontbijtkoek as an extra rather than as a replacement for the lunch essentials. For school lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit, among other things.
Does sliced wholemeal ontbijtkoek always contain more fibre?
You can’t assume that’s true for every brand. Among the Peijnenburg varieties tested, the sliced wholemeal variety lists 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g, while the sliced plain variety lists 3.1 g. For another pack, compare the nutritional information per 100 g again.
Is ontbijtkoek with a zero claim sugar-free?
A claim about no added sugars doesn’t mean the ontbijtkoek is sugar-free. Check ‘of which sugars’ on the label, and read which sweeteners and warnings apply to the variety you’ve chosen.
What should I look for if gluten needs to be avoided?
Don’t assume that ‘wholemeal’, ‘plain’ or ‘zero’ means gluten-free. The regular sliced varieties tested contain rye or other gluten-containing grains, so check for an explicit gluten-free product description and read the current label before choosing a pack.
Do school rules affect what I pack?
Yes. Check the rules at your child’s school or in their class before packing ontbijtkoek. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises parents to check the school handbook, website or app; you should also check the product label yourself.