Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents comparing ingredients

You want to know which flour a breakfast cake contains and how much fibre and how many sugars are listed on the label before packing it in your child’s lunchbox. Compare the values per slice too if portion sizes differ.

Parents who want to pack a portion quickly

You’re looking for a slice that needs little preparation. A pre-sliced cake or individually wrapped portion may be more practical than a whole, unsliced cake.

Families checking allergens and school rules

Before packing it, check for rye, wheat, other gluten-containing cereals and any ‘may contain’ statements. Also check the school or childcare setting’s rules on food in lunchboxes.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing breakfast cake for a school lunchbox, first decide which feature matters most to you. Then compare the exact variants on the same nutritional basis.

What to consider What to check when buying Who does this matter most to?
Fibre and ingredients Check the flour in the ingredients list and compare fibre and sugars per 100 g and per slice. If I’m choosing breakfast cake for the lunchbox based mainly on the flour and ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the front of the pack alone. Around 33% of consumers prioritise fibre and ingredients.
Sugars and sweeteners Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion; look for sweeteners and usage warnings. When a variant is labelled ‘zero’, I want to know which sugars and sweeteners it actually contains. For around 27% of consumers, this is the most important consideration.
Portion and convenience Check whether the cake is pre-sliced or individually wrapped, and how many grams are in a portion. On busy school mornings, I want to pack a portion without having to slice it first. Around 20% of consumers give this convenience top priority.
Flavour and variety Check the exact flavour variant, and read its nutritional information and allergen details too. For a special back-to-school occasion, I’m mainly looking for a different flavour, not necessarily a different nutritional profile. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘zero’ means ‘contains no sugars’

    The claim ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean the total amount of sugars is zero. According to Jumbo, its sliced breakfast cake contains maltitols; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per portion. If the variant contains sweeteners, check the ingredients and warnings too.

  • Assuming ‘luxury’ means better nutrition

    A flavour addition, such as the pieces of ginger in Koek & Bakker’s luxury breakfast cake, doesn’t tell you anything by itself about the amount of sugars or fibre.

    Choose a flavour variant if flavour is what you’re looking for, and check its nutritional information and allergens on the label.

  • Checking only whether it ‘contains gluten’

    An allergen statement may also say that a product may contain milk, nuts or other gluten-containing cereals. This information can vary between variants.

    Before packing it, read the full ingredients and allergen information on the pack, and take the school or childcare setting’s rules into account.

Brands compared

These brands offer different breakfast cake variants. Always compare the specific product rather than assuming the same features apply to the whole brand.

Peijnenburg

Offers, among other products, wholegrain breakfast cake and individually wrapped slices.

  • For its Volkoren Gesneden variant, Peijnenburg lists 37% wholegrain rye flour and 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The plain variety with ten individually wrapped slices contains 28 g slices; check the allergen information for this variant too.

Jumbo

Offers a sliced breakfast cake variant for anyone wanting to compare the statement about added sugars with the nutritional information table.

  • For the sliced variant reviewed, Jumbo lists 5.8 g of sugars and 17.4 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • This variant contains maltitols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI lists both pre-sliced breakfast cake and an unsliced ginger variant from this brand.

  • According to ALDI, the pre-sliced wholegrain variant comes in a 485 g pack; the luxury ginger variant contains pieces of ginger.
  • The ginger variant’s flavour description is no substitute for comparing its nutritional information and allergens.

PLUS Korenlanders

Offers an unsliced plain baker’s breakfast cake for anyone who wants to cut their own slices.

  • PLUS lists a pack size of 500 g for this product.
  • For this variant, PLUS lists a Nutri-Score of D, 38.5 g of sugars and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g, with wheat and rye as allergens.

Tastino

A Lidl brand with breakfast cake variants for anyone looking to browse the in-store range.

  • When choosing a Tastino variant, look for the product format and flavour you want for the school lunchbox.
  • Check the latest in-store information and the label of your chosen variant before comparing it with other products.

Breakfast cake at Joybuy

If you’re looking for breakfast cake for a school lunchbox, check the portion, nutritional information and allergens on the pack before packing this variant.

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g

A breakfast cake variant to assess for portion size and ingredients before packing it in a school lunchbox.

250 g pack. To compare sugars, fibre and any sweeteners, read the nutritional information on the pack and check the latest allergen details, including information about rye and the possible presence of milk or nuts.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is premium breakfast cake automatically a better choice for every school day?

No. ‘Premium’ or ‘luxury’ doesn’t automatically describe the nutritional value. Compare the ingredients, sugars, fibre and allergens of the exact variant. A distinctive flavour may simply be the reason you choose that cake.

Can breakfast cake containing gluten go to school?

That depends on which allergens are relevant to the child and on the school or childcare setting’s rules. Before packing breakfast cake, read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the exact pack.

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean breakfast cake contains no sugars?

No. The claim doesn’t automatically refer to all the sugars in the product. Check ‘of which sugars’ in the nutritional information table. For variants with sweeteners, also check the ingredients and usage warnings.