Seeded crispbread is only a suitable lunch option for a childcare setting if its ingredients meet the dietary and allergy requirements for the group. Then compare the wholegrain base and fibre content on the current packaging, and consider whether the crunchy texture is suitable for toddlers’ chewing abilities. A seed topping alone does not tell you whether these requirements are met.
Childcare staff and purchasing managers who need to check ingredients and allergens against the arrangements for each child. Wheat and sesame are among the ingredients to look out for in seeded crispbread; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists cereals containing gluten and sesame seeds as allergens.
Teams looking to choose a lunch base according to its grain ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g, rather than simply the number of seeds or the product name.
Groups where children’s chewing abilities and supervision during meals are important considerations. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises staying close to young children while they eat.
First, check that the product meets the arrangements for the group and for each child. Then compare the nutritional information and decide how to serve the crispbread to this age group.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and childcare requirements | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings about possible traces, and check it against the arrangements for each child. | When I’m buying for a child with allergy requirements, I want to avoid anything that conflicts with them, such as sesame or wheat; this is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Wholegrain base and fibre | Check the grain ingredients and compare the fibre content per 100 g. A seed topping does not prove that the grain base is wholegrain. | For a group that looks for wholegrain products, I want to know what the grain base is made from; around 29% of consumers prioritise this nutritional choice. |
| Ease of chewing and serving | Consider the crunchy texture and size of the pieces for each child. Make sure young children eat sitting down and under supervision. | For toddlers, I want to take account of what each child can chew; ease of eating is the top consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Up-to-date product information | Check the brand, variant and packaging again with each new order. Make sure any replacement product also meets the same requirements for the group. | If a chosen variant has to be replaced, I want to be able to keep following the group’s requirements; this purchasing confidence is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Sesame is an allergen in its own right. The Wasa and Albert Heijn sesame variants described here also contain wheat; the possibility of other allergens varies by product.
Before buying, compare the current allergen information with the arrangements for each child, even if a similar variant was suitable before.
Seeds on top of crispbread don’t tell you what the grain base is made from. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a cracker can only be called ‘wholegrain’ if it is made entirely from wholemeal flour.
Check the grain ingredients and compare the listed fibre and salt per 100 g when weighing up different variants.
Toddlers vary in their ability to chew, so ‘thin’ or ‘light’ doesn’t tell you whether a particular child will find a product easy to eat.
Agree on a suitable way to serve it for each group, break it into smaller pieces if needed, and make sure young children eat sitting down and under supervision.
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between product variants and may change when packaging is updated. An online product listing also doesn’t guarantee that the same item will be available with your next order.
Check the packaging again and assess any alternative before buying it for the group.
Wasa Sesame is a thin crispbread variant topped with sesame seeds, making it a useful option to compare the seed topping with the grain base.
AH Sesame Crispbread is an own-brand option to compare with other sesame crispbreads.
Bolletje High-Fibre Multiseed Crispbread is a product range to consider if your childcare setting wants to compare a wholegrain base with several types of seeds.
Ryvita Multi Seed Thins is a thin cracker with mixed seeds; the composition given here relates to the British product variant.
No, also check for sesame and any other allergens relevant to the child. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists both cereals containing gluten and sesame seeds as allergens; check the current product information against the childcare setting’s arrangements for each child.
No, the seeds don’t necessarily tell you anything about the grain base. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a cracker can only be called ‘wholegrain’ if it is made entirely from wholemeal flour, so check the description and ingredients on the packaging.
Choose a way of serving it that suits the child’s ability to chew, and make sure young children eat sitting down and under supervision. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises staying close while children eat and cutting food into smaller pieces if you’re unsure whether a child can chew it properly.
You can’t tell from the word ‘salt’ in the ingredients list alone. If the type of salt matters for your childcare setting’s dietary policy, check the specific product information or ask the manufacturer.
