A individually wrapped spiced breakfast cake bar is handy if you want to take a single portion in your gym bag. Whether it suits you around a workout also depends on when you eat it and what you prefer. Compare the sugar and fibre content per 100 g and per bar, and check the ingredients and allergens for the variant you choose.
If you don’t want to pack a whole spiced breakfast cake or cut one up while you’re out, individually wrapped bars are practical. For example, Jumbo lists a Peijnenburg pack containing four individually wrapped 28 g bars; ALDI lists six individually wrapped mini cake bars.
If you’re keeping an eye on sugar or fibre, you can compare the nutritional values per 100 g with those of other variants. Then check the amount per bar: a different portion size changes what you’re actually taking with you.
If you need a gluten-free option or have a food allergy, the exact variant matters more than the brand name. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, even if a bar is marketed as gluten-free.
First decide whether you’re mainly looking for a portion that’s easy to take with you, or whether the timing, nutritional information or an allergen will determine your choice. Then check the packaging of the exact bar you want to buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A single portion | Check whether the bars are individually wrapped and how many grams each bar weighs. | If you want to take a bar straight from your bag after exercising, you won’t want to divide up a large cake first. Convenience is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Sugar and fibre | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check the amount per bar. If a sugar claim is made, read the ingredients list too. | If you’re choosing between standard and sugar-related variants, you’ll want to know what’s in your portion rather than relying on the front of the pack alone. This comparison is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| When you’re training | Choose a portion to suit when you plan to eat it, and try a new bar during a regular training session first. | You may want something small before exercising, but not a portion that leaves you feeling uncomfortable. For around 21% of consumers, when they eat it is the most important factor. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen statement for the exact flavour and pack; check a gluten-free variant for other allergens too. | If you need to avoid a particular ingredient, the bar you choose should suit that need, whatever the brand. This is the main selection criterion for around 14% of consumers. |
‘Less sugar’ and ‘no added sugars’ don’t mean the same as sugar-free. Comparing only the front of the pack can also hide differences in portion size.
Compare the sugar and fibre content per 100 g, then check what’s in one bar. For variants containing sweeteners, check the ingredients and any usage warnings too.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it’s best not to eat a large meal just before exercising. How a particular bar sits at that time can vary from person to person.
Choose a portion to suit the time since your last meal, and try an unfamiliar bar on a regular training day first.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a bar is also free from other ingredients you need to avoid. The ingredients can also vary between variants.
Check the full allergen information on the packaging of the exact bar every time you buy it.
These brands give you a few options to compare in terms of packaging and variants. Always assess nutritional information and allergens for each product individually.
Peijnenburg sells spiced breakfast cake in larger packs and as bars. Jumbo lists a plain variant with four individually wrapped 28 g bars.
Snelle Jelle offers spiced cake and breakfast cake bars with different sugar and protein claims.
The AH own brand includes a plain pack of six breakfast cake bars, as well as a separate gluten-free breakfast cake bar.
PLUS offers plain breakfast cake bars and a pack labelled ‘30% less sugar’.
ALDI lists Goud Gebakken mini cake bars in spiced cake or breakfast cake variants, with six individually wrapped pieces.
This spiced breakfast cake variant is a handy snack to take with you. Check whether the pack contains individual portions and compare the sugar information on the label.
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For anyone who wants to take spiced breakfast cake with them and compare variants by sugar content; the wording in the product name is no substitute for the nutrition table.
Pack size according to the product name: 250 g. Check the pack for the portion size, sugar content per 100 g and per bar, and allergens before choosing.
A small portion may suit you if you want something to eat, but don’t automatically have a large amount just before exercising. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large meal immediately before exercise, so try an unfamiliar bar on a regular training day first.
Not necessarily. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who exercise don’t need special protein bars as part of a varied diet. Consider a protein variant in the context of what else you eat during the day, rather than judging it by the wording on the pack alone.
No. ‘Less sugar’ doesn’t mean that a spiced breakfast cake bar contains no sugars. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then check how much sugar is in the bar you’re actually taking with you.
Don’t assume so: spiced breakfast cake can contain rye, and rye contains gluten. If you need a gluten-free option, choose a variant whose current packaging confirms this, and check the other allergens too.
