Choose a family pack of stroopwafels as a store-cupboard treat to share with your family now and then, rather than as an everyday snack for your toddler. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre generally recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for young children and toddlers between meals, and suggests having biscuits once a week rather than every day. When choosing biscuits for the tin, compare the number of waffles, the net weight and the storage instructions. Decide separately how much to give your toddler, and check the current label.
You’re looking for something to enjoy together now and then, without a pack in the biscuit tin automatically becoming an everyday snack for your toddler. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests giving biscuits to young children and toddlers weekly rather than daily.
If several family members are sharing the same pack, the net weight, number of waffles and storage instructions are more useful points of comparison than simply the ‘family pack’ label.
If wheat, gluten, milk or soya are a concern, you’ll want to check the information on the specific pack before giving your toddler a stroopwafel.
First, decide whether stroopwafels are right for an occasional treat. Then choose a pack to suit how your family will share it, and check the size and label of the waffles you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Occasion and amount | Check the nutrition information per portion and decide on the amount separately from the pack size. For one standard stroopwafel weighing 39 g, Jumbo lists 179 kcal and 14 g of sugars. | If you want to offer a treat now and then, you won’t want the size of your stock to dictate how much is eaten at one sitting. This is the main consideration for around 50% of consumers. |
| Family supplies | Compare the net weight, number of pieces and storage instructions for the same type of product. ALDI lists 12 pieces and 378 g; PLUS lists 480 g for a different pack. | If you’re sharing the pack with several family members, you’ll mainly want an amount that suits how your family uses it. This is the most important consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Size and labelling | Compare the stated portion size of standard and mini stroopwafels. If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack. | If the size matters for your toddler, or an allergen is a key concern for your family, you’ll want to check the specific product first. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
A family pack tells you how much you’re buying, not how much to serve at one treat time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests giving biscuits to young children and toddlers once a week rather than every day.
Compare packs for sharing with the family, then decide separately when to offer a treat and how much to serve.
A smaller product doesn’t prove that a toddler can eat it easily. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends staying nearby while children eat.
Make sure your child sits calmly while eating, stay with them and break off a smaller piece if you’re unsure whether they can chew it properly.
Ingredients and allergens can vary between versions or change over time. Stroopwafels checked for this article include wheat, milk and soya on their labels.
If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, check the label on the pack you’re about to use every time, including any warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
Compare specific versions rather than using a brand name as a guide to portion size or suitability for toddlers.
Daelmans lists a range of flavours and sharing-size packs on its own website.
The AH stroopwafels checked for this article come in a 390 g pack; Albert Heijn lists portions of 39 g.
Jumbo lists, among other products, standard butter stroopwafels in a 468 g pack and mini stroopwafels in a 300 g pack.
PLUS lists standard stroopwafels in 400 g and 480 g packs, as well as mini stroopwafels in a 300 g pack.
Lidl Netherlands lists Sondey butter stroopwafels in a pack of 12, weighing 480 g.
This pack of standard stroopwafels is worth considering when comparing supplies for an occasional treat to share. Decide separately how much to give your toddler, regardless of the number of waffles in the pack.
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A pack for families who enjoy stroopwafels together now and then. Decide separately how much to give your toddler, and check the current label for nutrition information, ingredients and allergens before serving.
No, not as a regular everyday snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre generally recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for young children and toddlers, and suggests having biscuits once a week rather than every day. Keep treats small, whatever the pack size.
No. ‘Mini’ only describes the product’s size; it doesn’t guarantee that a child can chew the waffle properly. Stay nearby while your child eats, make sure they sit calmly and break off a smaller piece if you’re unsure.
Check the allergen information on the current pack of the version you’ve chosen. Products checked from brands including Jumbo and PLUS list wheat, milk and soya; don’t assume they have the same ingredients as another brand or an earlier purchase.
Follow the storage instructions on the specific pack and close the packaging as directed. For the stroopwafels checked, Jumbo recommends storing them in a cool, dry place, while PLUS recommends storing one version in a dry, dark place. Also check the best-before date on your own pack.
