For everyday bread-based lunches at nursery, wholemeal or brown bread is the obvious choice: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends it for childcare because of its fibre content. Toast or a seeded cracker can add a satisfying crunch, but seeds alone don’t make a product wholemeal. Check the ingredients and allergens on each pack, and consider whether the texture is suitable for the children who will be eating it.
If you’re putting together a regular lunch menu, wholemeal or brown bread is a good starting point. This is the type of bread the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends for childcare; visible seeds are no substitute for checking the grain content.
If you need to take individual dietary plans into account, compare the label on the pack you’ve chosen with your setting’s policy. Check not only for wheat and other gluten-containing cereals, but also for sesame and any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
Crackers and toast need to be assessed separately for their texture and size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises staying close to young children while they eat. Choose a shape that suits their individual chewing ability.
For an everyday bread-based lunch, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal or brown bread. When assessing a crunchy product, also consider its ingredients, your allergen policy and how easily the children can eat it.
Choose this when: you’re planning everyday bread-based lunches in line with the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s recommendation for childcare.
Consider: it won’t give you the crunchy texture you might be looking for in seeded toast.
Choose this when: you’re looking for a crunchy change and can check the label to see which grain ingredients have been used.
Consider: even when made with wholemeal ingredients, a cracker isn’t automatically the same as wholemeal or brown bread as the basis for lunch.
Choose this when: a small, dry piece of toast suits a particular mealtime and the children at the table.
Consider: check the ingredients and brittle texture separately; sesame toast is not automatically a substitute for wholemeal bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday bread choice | Check which types of grain and flour are listed in the ingredients. Don’t assume a product is wholemeal just because it contains seeds. | For everyday lunch, I want to know whether a piece of toast would replace wholemeal or brown bread. Around 42% of consumers prioritise their everyday bread choice. |
| Allergen policy | Compare the current label, including ingredients and warnings about possible cross-contamination, with the individual dietary plan and your setting’s policy. | If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to choose based on the product name alone. Around 33% of consumers prioritise a suitable allergen choice. |
| Texture and serving | Consider whether the crunch and piece size suit the child’s individual chewing ability and the level of supervision during lunch. | When caring for a group of young children, I only want to serve a crunchy product if they can eat it safely. This is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
A piece of toast may contain sesame or linseed, but also include plain flour in the ingredients. For everyday lunches in childcare, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal or brown bread.
Read the ingredients list and check exactly which types of flour have been used, rather than judging by the visible seeds.
For the sesame products mentioned here, sesame is also relevant, as are other allergens or warnings about possible cross-contamination, depending on the product.
Compare the full allergen information on the current pack with the individual dietary plan. Check each new variant again, even if its name is very similar to the previous one.
The shape of a cracker or piece of toast can affect how easily a young child can eat it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends supervising children while they eat and adapting their food if you’re unsure whether they can chew it properly.
Choose a piece size that suits the child, make sure children eat calmly while seated, and opt for a softer lunch if you’re unsure.
An earlier product description may not match the pack you’re buying now. This is especially important when ingredients or allergens affect your choice.
Check the current pack before use, and repeat the check whenever the product or packaging changes.
The examples below are different types of crunchy products. Compare the specific variant and its label, not just the brand.
Melba Toast Sesame is a thin piece of toast for anyone considering a small, crunchy option.
Bolletje offers products including sesame crispbread and Bagel Crackers Sesame; these are separate product variants.
AH Scrocchi sesame linseed is a cracker to consider if you’re comparing crunchy products that list wholemeal ingredients.
Jumbo Party Toast with Sesame is an example of sesame toast, not an established everyday bread option for childcare.
These two Wasa sesame products are options if you’re looking for a crunchy change. When considering them for nursery lunch, compare them with the everyday bread choice, each child’s dietary plan and their ability to eat them.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a crunchy sesame product to add variety to lunch, rather than as an automatic replacement for everyday bread.
Before serving, check the grain ingredients, nutritional information and full allergen information on the pack. Also consider whether the texture is suitable for the children at the table.
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Worth considering as a thin, crunchy sesame option, provided its shape suits the children’s individual chewing ability.
Read the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information on the current pack. When serving a brittle product, consider the piece size and level of supervision during lunch.
Don’t automatically choose seeded toast for everyday bread-based lunches: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal or brown bread for childcare because of its fibre content. Toast can add variety if its ingredients, allergens and texture suit the children and your setting’s policy.
Yes. Read the full ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods; also check any warnings about possible cross-contamination against the individual dietary plan.
Take the warning into account when checking the product against the individual dietary plan and your setting’s allergen policy. You can’t assume that a product is suitable for every child based on its name or the warning alone.
It depends on the child’s individual chewing ability, the shape of the toast and the supervision they receive while eating. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends staying close by, ensuring children eat calmly while seated, and making food smaller or softer if you’re unsure whether a young child can chew it properly.
