If you want a wholemeal grain base for lunch, choose a pancake mix labelled as wholemeal; multigrain does not automatically mean wholemeal. For a fussy eater, it also matters whether they enjoy the cooked pancake. So, as well as checking the mix, consider what you’ll use in the batter and as a topping, and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
You’re looking for a pancake mix with a clearly stated wholemeal base. The product description and ingredients list can help; only compare fibre content when the nutritional information is given on the same preparation basis.
You want to serve a familiar pancake while deciding whether a wholemeal, multigrain or plain mix will suit your eater. Trying a small batch can tell you more about the taste and texture than the name on the packet.
You need to know what’s in the mix and what you’ll be adding to the batter yourself. When you buy it, check the up-to-date packaging for ingredients, allergens and any warnings about cross-contamination.
First decide what matters most for your lunch: the grain base, the taste for a fussy eater, the ingredients or how easy it is to prepare. Then look at which mix and recipe are right for you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients list. Only compare fibre per 100 g when the information is given on the same preparation basis. | If I mainly want a wholemeal grain base, I won’t assume that ‘multigrain’ tells me what the mix is made from. For around 36% of consumers, a wholemeal base comes first. |
| Taste and texture | Consider making a small batch and choose a topping your eater will enjoy. | There’s little point choosing a different mix for my lunch if the eater won’t touch the pancake. For around 29% of consumers, whether it tastes good is the main concern. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergens and warnings on the packet; remember to include milk, eggs or substitutes in the recipe too. | If ingredients are my deciding factor, both the mix and the prepared batter need to suit me. Around 21% of consumers put these checks first. |
| Ease of preparation | Check which ingredients the instructions call for in addition to the mix, and whether using water would work for your plans. | I want to make lunch with just a few extra ingredients, so I check the preparation instructions. For around 14% of consumers, convenience matters most. |
A mix can contain several grains and still be made mostly from wheat flour. For example, Albert Heijn lists 78% wheat flour in the ingredients for Koopmans Meergranen.
If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal, check for the wholemeal label. If you’d rather try different grains, check the ingredients of the particular multigrain mix.
Nutritional information for a dry mix and for a cooked pancake is not based on the same thing. Milk, eggs, cooking fat and any substitutes also contribute to the finished dish.
Read the preparation instructions before choosing, and when comparing nutritional values, check whether both refer to the dry mix or the prepared product.
A wholemeal mix doesn’t tell you everything about the finished lunch. The World Cancer Research Fund Netherlands suggests fruit as an alternative to syrup or icing sugar, and vegetables as a possible savoury filling.
Choose the topping at the same time as the mix, so you can decide whether the whole lunch is something your eater will enjoy.
Ingredients and warnings can vary from product to product and may change. A label on the mix also doesn’t automatically tell you what’s in the batter you make with it.
Check the current packaging every time you buy it, including any warnings about possible cross-contamination if these are relevant to you.
Koopmans offers wholemeal, multigrain and original pancake mixes. The right option depends on the grain base you want and the preparation instructions.
Albert Heijn’s own brand includes wholemeal, multigrain and plain mixes.
Jumbo lists the types of grain used in its wholemeal mix, along with their individual proportions.
PLUS offers wholemeal, plain and complete pancake mixes, among others, with different preparation instructions.
No. ‘Multigrain’ doesn’t mean that all the flours used are wholemeal. For example, according to Albert Heijn, the ingredients list for Koopmans Meergranen includes 78% wheat flour. If you specifically want a wholemeal mix, check the product label and ingredients.
It depends on the mix and what you add to the batter. Alongside the standard recipe with milk and eggs, Albert Heijn provides instructions for making AH Volkoren with a plant-based drink and apple purée or an egg substitute. Check the ingredients and allergens in both the mix and anything you add.
The ingredients and warnings apply to the specific product you buy and can change. The mixes mentioned may contain ingredients such as wheat, oats, milk or eggs, and may carry warnings about possible cross-contamination. So, check the current packaging, even if you’ve used that variety before.
Fruit is one option for a sweet pancake; for a savoury filling, you could try vegetables and herbs. The World Cancer Research Fund Netherlands suggests these as alternatives to things like syrup or icing sugar. Choose something your eater will enjoy, and think about the lunch as a whole, not just the mix.
Don’t eat the batter raw. The instructions for Koopmans Meergranen say to heat the batter thoroughly; follow the preparation instructions on the packet you’re using.
