For a daily snack for a baby or toddler, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread. Save taaitaai biscuits for the occasional treat. A small biscuit from a bag is not the same as an individually wrapped bar. If you want to take taaitaai with you, decide on a small portion yourself and check the label and the rules at your childcare setting or school.
For an everyday snack for a baby or toddler, you’ll want to choose something other than biscuits. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread among the snacks included in the Dutch Wheel of Five.
For the occasional biscuit treat, you may want to be able to choose a small portion. A bag containing several biscuits lets you do that, but you’ll still need to portion them out yourself.
You’ll need to consider the allergy arrangements for your child or the group, as well as the setting’s rules. So check the label on the exact packet you’re taking in, and ask about the arrangements in place.
First decide whether you’re looking for a daily snack or an occasional biscuit treat. Then check that the packaging suits your child, where the snack will be eaten and whether you want a single portion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Daily or occasional | For an everyday snack, choose something from the Dutch Wheel of Five. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping taaitaai biscuits as an occasional treat. | If I prepare something for my toddler every day, I don’t want biscuits to become a regular snack without realising it. Around 30% of consumers give this daily choice the highest priority. |
| Allergens and arrangements | Read the current label on the exact product, and ask the childcare setting or school which rules apply. | When I send something in for a group, it needs to meet the allergy requirements for my child and the rules at the setting. For around 50% of consumers, checking this comes first. |
| Individual portion | Check whether the biscuit is actually individually wrapped; a small shaped biscuit in a bag is not an individually wrapped bar. | When we’re out and about, I want to be able to take one portion without having to divide up an open bag myself. For around 20% of consumers, this convenience is their main priority. |
A small biscuit isn’t automatically individually wrapped. The Albert Heijn, PLUS, ALDI and Dirk packs mentioned are bags or multi-portion packs.
Is a sealed, single portion important when you’re out and about? Check the type of packaging before you buy.
The ingredients and allergens listed vary by product. Wheat and rye, for example, are relevant to the Bolletje and PLUS versions described here; the product name doesn’t tell you which allergens are listed on your packet.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the version you’ve bought, and check that it meets the individual allergy requirements.
A biscuit’s size doesn’t change the difference between a biscuit and a daily snack. For babies and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks from the Dutch Wheel of Five.
Save taaitaai for an occasional biscuit treat. For everyday snacks, choose options such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread.
According to parents’ organisation VOO, schools can set their own rules for treats. The rules at your childcare setting will also determine what you can send in.
Before packing anything, ask what rules apply to snacks, treats and allergens in that particular group.
These product listings are mainly here to help you compare packaging types. Always check the latest information for the exact version before buying.
Albert Heijn describes Bolletje taai taai as a 350 g bag containing around 37 portions of approximately 9.5 g each.
The Jumbo De Originele Taai Taai described here comes in a 500 g pack.
PLUS describes Ambachtelijke taai taai koeken as a 250 g bag.
ALDI describes taaitaai biscuits in novelty shapes in a 500 g pack.
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Mini taai taai in a 500 g pack.
If Lidl stocks a taaitaai version, use the information on the in-store packaging to guide your choice.
These two products are crackers and crispbread for anyone looking for a wholegrain alternative for an everyday snack. They are not taaitaai bars. Before serving them, consider whether the texture is suitable for your child’s chewing ability. If you’re taking them to childcare or school, check the packaging and the setting’s rules.
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A cracker to consider if you’re looking for a snack instead of taaitaai. The pack contains 300 g. Choose the portion yourself, check the latest label and make sure the texture is suitable for your child. The crackers are not confirmed to be individually wrapped.
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Crispbread to consider for an everyday snack instead of an occasional biscuit treat. The pack contains 265 g. Check the portion size and allergens on the latest label. Also make sure the texture is suitable for your child, and check whether the pieces are individually wrapped if that’s important when taking them with you.
Not as a regular daily snack: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks from the Dutch Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers. Save taaitaai for an occasional biscuit treat.
Decide on a small portion in advance, rather than sending the whole bag. Check the portion information on the exact pack, as biscuits and packaging vary between versions.
That depends on the rules at the setting and the allergy requirements for your child or the group. Check before packing or handing out taaitaai; according to VOO, schools can set their own policies on treats.
You can’t assume this of all taaitaai biscuits: the Bolletje, Jumbo and PLUS versions described list wheat, rye or cereals containing gluten. For any other version, check the allergen information on the actual packet.
Ingredients and allergen information can change when a product is updated. So check the packet you’re buying now, especially if you need to take an individual allergy or childcare requirements into account.
