Parents of fussy eaters
Looking for a taste and texture their child will enjoy, and perhaps a way to move from familiar plain rusks to wholemeal ones.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents weighing up the grain base
Want to use chocolate sprinkles as a topping while choosing between plain and wholemeal rusks. The Voedingscentrum highlights the difference in fibre between white and wholegrain products.
Parents packing food for school
Need to take account of the latest allergen information for both the rusks and chocolate sprinkles, as well as the rules at the school or after-school club.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, choose a rusk base your child will eat. Then decide which chocolate sprinkles and how much to use, and check both labels before packing.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Grain base and topping | Check whether the rusks are labelled wholemeal and, if needed, compare the fibre per 100 g. Also consider the portion of chocolate sprinkles. | If you want to try a wholemeal base, you may not want to use more of the sweet topping by default. For around 36% of consumers, the grain base is the most important factor. |
| Allergens and school rules | Check the latest ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on both packs. Also ask about the rules at the school or after-school club. | If a child has a food allergy or there are rules about food brought in from home, the combination must meet those requirements. For around 29% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Taste and texture | If you like, try a different type of rusk or a different kind of chocolate sprinkles first, so you can tell which change your child accepts. | For a fussy eater, a familiar taste may matter more than switching to wholemeal straight away. Taste is the first consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Compare the number of rusks and the weight of the chocolate sprinkles with how often you use the combination. | If you only prepare rusks with chocolate sprinkles occasionally, choose a pack size to suit. For around 14% of consumers, this practical consideration comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Thinking wholemeal rusks mean you can use lots of chocolate sprinkles
A wholemeal base does not change the make-up of the topping. The Voedingscentrum describes chocolate sprinkles as a topping high in sugars and saturated fat.
Choose wholemeal rusks if your child will eat them, and use a small amount of chocolate sprinkles rather than covering the rusk thickly.
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Assuming the product name tells you about allergens
Whether a combination is suitable for a child with an allergy depends on the two products you choose. Product information can also change, as Albert Heijn notes for its rusks.
Check the current packaging of both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles every time you buy them, and check the school or after-school club's policy when packing.
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Choosing a large pack of a new flavour
Chocolate sprinkles your child does not like could go uneaten, even if the pack fits in with your usual shopping.
Try an unfamiliar flavour in a pack size that suits how often you use chocolate sprinkles.
Buying a large amount could lead to waste if the flavour goes uneaten.
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Expecting every rusk to contain the same amount of iodine
The product category alone does not tell you how much iodine an individual rusk contains.
Check the ingredients on the pack you have chosen or ask the manufacturer whether baker's salt is used, if this matters to your choice.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
For anyone looking to vary the flavour or pack size of their chocolate sprinkles.
- Jumbo lists, among other options, dark chocolate sprinkles and a dark chocolate and vanilla mix from De Ruijter.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each variety; the range alone does not tell you enough.
Venz
For families considering different flavours of chocolate sprinkles.
- Albert Heijn lists, among other options, milk, dark and XXL varieties from Venz.
- A different flavour or shape does not tell you about the allergens in the pack you choose.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket own brand to consider when comparing plain and wholemeal rusks.
- The rusk range shown includes both AH plain rusks and AH wholemeal rusks.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so check the latest packaging.
Goud Gebakken (ALDI)
A wholemeal rusk option to consider as a base for a separately chosen topping.
- ALDI describes Goud Gebakken wholemeal rusks as a pack of 13.
- Check the packaging of the variety you buy for ingredients and allergens.
Rusks and chocolate sprinkles on Joybuy
For rusks with chocolate sprinkles, choose a wholemeal rusk as the base and chocolate sprinkles as a separate topping. The right combination also depends on your child's taste preferences and the labels on both products.
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Bolletje wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces
A wholemeal rusk base for anyone wanting to try this flavour with separately chosen chocolate sprinkles.
The pack contains 13 pieces. Check the latest allergen information before use.
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Venz chocolate and vanilla sprinkles, 400 g
An option if your child would like to try a mix of chocolate and vanilla flavours on separately chosen rusks.
The pack contains 400 g. Choose how much to use, and read the labels for both the topping and the rusks.
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De Ruijter Intense dark chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
A chocolate sprinkles option to consider if your child already likes the intense dark chocolate flavour described.
The pack contains 200 g; choose rusks separately. Check the latest allergen information for both products.
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De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
A dark chocolate sprinkles option for rusks, if your child likes the flavour.
The pack contains 390 g; choose rusks separately. Read the allergen information for both products before packing them together.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose wholemeal rather than plain rusks?
Choose wholemeal rusks if your child will eat them and you want to take the grain base into account. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholegrain products contain more fibre than white grain products. This does not change the make-up of the chocolate sprinkles you add on top.
Do rusks with chocolate sprinkles contain gluten?
It depends on the rusks and chocolate sprinkles you choose. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information on both packs. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on prepacked foods.
Can I pack rusks with chocolate sprinkles for school?
Only if the combination suits your child's needs and the rules at the school or after-school club. Ask about the rules and check the allergen information on both packs before packing.
How much sugar is in a portion of chocolate sprinkles?
Based on the average nutritional values from the Voedingscentrum, a 15 g portion of chocolate sprinkles contains 9.4 g of sugars. Check the nutritional information on the pack you buy, paying attention to the stated portion size.
Do rusks always contain the same amount of iodine?
No. Do not assume a set iodine content based on the product name. Check the ingredients on the rusks you have chosen or ask the manufacturer whether baker's salt is used, if this matters to your purchase.