A portion pack works well for afternoon coffee with older people if you want to hand out a sealed, measured amount each time. A roll is more suitable when several people are sharing at once and you can store the rest in an airtight container after opening. PLUS describes a Snack a Jacks bag as a portion pack, while it recommends storing its plain rice cakes in a sealed tin after opening the roll. Neither type of packaging guarantees that each individual rice cake has its own wrapper, so check this separately if it’s a requirement.
If you’re setting out rice cakes for several older people, a sealed portion for each coffee break can be handy. Check which part of the packaging actually stays sealed, rather than relying on the words ‘portion pack’ alone.
Plain rice cakes can differ in ingredients from snacks with a coating or added flavouring. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for each variety if this information matters to you and your guests.
If everyone is sharing a roll during one coffee break, individual bags may be less important. For a roll you don’t finish, follow the storage instructions: PLUS recommends keeping its plain rice cakes in a sealed tin after opening.
First decide whether you need sealed portions or can share a roll. Then compare the packaging and nutritional information for the specific rice cakes you plan to serve.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed portions | Check how many bags or individual packs there are, and whether each rice cake has its own wrapper. | If I’m handing out rice cakes at different coffee breaks, I don’t want to open a large pack every time. For around 46% of consumers, a sealed, measured portion is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and nutrition | Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g and per portion for each variety. | When choosing something for an older person, I want to know which ingredients and nutritional values apply to the variety being served. Around 36% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Stock and storage | Check how much the pack contains and how to store the product after opening. | When serving coffee to several guests, I want to be able to store any leftover rice cakes properly. Convenient storage matters most to around 18% of consumers. |
A portion pack can contain several rice cakes. Jumbo’s ‘3 x 3 pieces’ description also refers to smaller packs, not necessarily a wrapper around each individual rice cake.
Do you need rice cakes that are individually wrapped? Check that the packaging explicitly says each rice cake is wrapped separately.
Plain rice cakes and savoury or coated varieties don’t necessarily have the same ingredients, allergens or nutritional values. The packaging for the variety you choose is what matters.
Compare the ingredients list and nutritional information, including sugars, salt, fat, fibre and protein. Check the allergen information too if it’s relevant to your guests.
Albert Heijn sells a product called ‘AH rice cake portion pack’, as well as several other varieties of rice cakes.
Jumbo lists plain rice cakes and coated varieties, among other products, in packs of 3 x 3 pieces.
PLUS sells Snack a Jacks portion bags and plain rice cakes in rolls as two different packaging options.
Aldi lists Goud Gebakken rice cakes with sea salt: 17 pieces in a 130 g pack.
Lidl lists 155 g packs of rice cakes in cheese and barbecue flavours.
Bolletje sells Echte Beschuit Mono, which the brand says has individually wrapped rusks.
No. A portion pack can contain several rice cakes in one bag, whereas individually wrapped rice cakes each have their own wrapper. Check for this separately, even if you’re looking at a portion pack or a pack of 3 x 3 pieces.
Read the allergen information, ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warning on the pack you’ve chosen. Check each flavour separately: plain rice cakes may have different ingredients from a snack with added flavouring.
No. The ingredients in a single rice cake don’t tell you how it fits into someone’s overall diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that some older people may need additional dietary advice. Don’t base a specific food choice on the word ‘plain’ alone.
Follow the instructions on the packaging for the rice cakes you’ve chosen. PLUS recommends storing its plain rice cakes in a cool, dry place and transferring the opened roll to a sealed tin if you’re serving them over several coffee breaks.
