If making wholegrains the focus of your lunch matters most, choose a mix that clearly lists wholemeal flour. Multigrain does not automatically mean wholemeal; if you want seeds in the mix, check that the seeds you’re looking for are on the current ingredients list. Also check what you need to add when preparing it, as the mix on its own does not make a complete lunch.
You’re looking for a clearly identifiable wholemeal grain base, while also considering the fibre content and the rest of your lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholegrain products as part of a fibre-conscious lunch.
You want to see seeds in the mix itself, perhaps because you enjoy their flavour or texture. A multigrain name doesn’t confirm that seeds are included; check the ingredients list to be sure.
You want to know in advance what you’ll need to add to the mix. The preparation instructions for AH Volkoren and Koopmans Meergranen both call for milk and eggs; Koopmans Meergranen also requires butter or oil for cooking.
First decide whether the grain base, seeds in the mix or ease of preparation matters most to you. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the options that match your preference.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal grain base | Check which flour appears first in the ingredients list. Compare fibre per 100 g on a like-for-like basis: dry mix with dry mix, or prepared product with prepared product. | I mainly want to choose a mix that clearly lists wholemeal flour for my lunch. For around 50% of consumers, a wholemeal grain base is the top priority. |
| Seeds in the mix | Look for the seeds you want in the current ingredients list. If you have a relevant allergy, also check the allergen information. | If I want seeds in my pancake, a multigrain name alone isn’t enough. Around 33% of consumers give the presence of seeds the highest priority. |
| Preparation | Check which ingredients you need to add and how many pancakes the stated method makes. | I want to know in advance what I’ll need to make the batter for lunch. Ease of preparation is the deciding factor for around 17% of consumers. |
The name doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a mix contains. Albert Heijn lists 74% wheat flour in AH Meergranen, alongside smaller amounts of wholemeal barley and oat flour.
Check the ingredients list if a wholemeal grain base is your main priority.
The ingredients lists shown for AH Meergranen and Koopmans Meergranen do not mention seeds. Several types of grain do not confirm that the mix contains seeds.
Look for the seeds you want on the current label and, if you have an allergy, check the allergen information too.
Nutritional values per 100 g of dry mix are not directly comparable with values per 100 g of prepared product. The ingredients you add also affect the nutritional value of the finished pancake.
Check what the nutritional information applies to before comparing different options.
Your choice of milk or an alternative, eggs, cooking fat and toppings all affect what ends up on your plate. Alongside wholegrain products, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends vegetables and other lunch components when putting a lunch together.
So consider the full preparation and toppings, not just the name on the pack.
The wholemeal and multigrain mixes offer different grain bases for making pancakes at home.
Albert Heijn offers its own-brand wholemeal and multigrain mixes, so you can compare their ingredients individually.
Lidl Netherlands’ Belbake multigrain pancake mix comes in a 120 g pack.
ALDI describes its 400 g Albona pancake baking mix as a multigrain mix.
This organic buckwheat pancake mix is an option if you’re specifically looking for a mix made with buckwheat.
No, the mix is just the base for the pancakes. Alongside wholegrain products, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends vegetables and other lunch components; so also consider what you add to the batter and what you serve on top.
No. According to Albert Heijn, AH Meergranen contains 74% wheat flour, alongside smaller amounts of wholemeal barley and oat flour. Check each product’s ingredients list if you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal grain base.
Before using a mix, check the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings on the pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists, among other things, cereals containing gluten, milk, eggs, nuts and sesame seeds as allergens that consumers must be informed about. Ingredients you add yourself matter too.
For AH Volkoren, Albert Heijn describes a preparation option using a plant-based drink instead of milk, and apple purée or an egg substitute instead of an egg. Check the current pack and the ingredients in your substitutes if allergens are a concern for you.
Follow the preparation instructions and don’t eat Koopmans Meergranen batter raw. Albert Heijn’s product information says the batter must be thoroughly heated.
