For snack time with a fussy child, choose partially wholemeal toast if you’re looking for a step between white and fully wholemeal. If fibre content is the deciding factor and your child accepts the toast, compare wholemeal varieties. If a familiar taste matters more, plain toast could be an option. Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging for each variety, and ask about the rules at school or childcare before packing it.
Partially wholemeal toast can be a stepping stone when a child is used to white toast but isn’t yet willing to eat fully wholemeal. Compare the ingredients and fibre content of the specific varieties: Jumbo’s listing for Melba Multigrain Toast includes both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour.
Before packing it, consider both the ingredients in the toast and the rules at the school or childcare setting in question. Also check the current packaging for warnings about possible cross-contamination.
When you serve toast with a topping, the portion size and topping both affect what your child ultimately eats. For the toast itself, compare the nutritional information per 100 g, including fibre and salt, and consider how many pieces you serve.
First decide whether the main priority is getting used to more wholemeal, whether your child will accept the toast, or checking allergens. Jumbo’s product listings show why the variety matters: Melba Original contains 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g, Melba Multigrain 7.5 g and Melba Wholemeal 9.7 g.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gradually choosing more wholemeal | Check which grains are listed in the ingredients, the stated wholemeal percentage and the fibre per 100 g. Multigrain does not automatically mean fully wholemeal. | If your child is used to white toast, you may want to offer a stepping stone rather than switching straight to fully wholemeal. For around 40% of consumers, making this gradual change is the main priority. |
| Taste and texture | Compare plain, partially wholemeal and wholemeal varieties separately, and check their fibre content too. | Your fussy child also needs to be willing to eat the toast, so a familiar variety may be more important for now. For around 30% of consumers, acceptance is the top priority. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the ingredients and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the pack. Also check the rules at school or childcare. | If you’re packing toast and allergens are a concern, check that the specific variety meets the relevant requirements before you pack it. For around 30% of consumers, this check matters most. |
Multigrain toast can also contain white flour. Jumbo’s listing for Melba Multigrain Toast includes 45% wholemeal wheat flour as well as wheat flour.
Read the ingredients and compare the fibre per 100 g. If you’re looking for fully wholemeal toast, check that the variety you choose really fits the bill.
As well as wheat and other gluten-containing grains, other allergens or warnings may be relevant for each toast variety. For example, Jumbo lists soya as an ingredient in Melba Original and warns that it may contain traces of sesame.
Check the full label on the pack you choose, and discuss any questions about allergens in line with individual advice and the rules at school or childcare.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), using baker’s salt when baking bread is not compulsory. So don’t assume a toast product contains it without checking the label.
If baker’s salt is important to your comparison, check whether it appears in the ingredients for the specific toast variety.
Albert Heijn notes that a product’s ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. An online product page you viewed earlier may therefore not match the pack you buy.
Check the packaging again before buying and before packing it for school or childcare.
The original, multigrain and wholemeal varieties listed by Jumbo let you compare different grain compositions within this product range.
A brand to look at if you’re after small wholemeal toast pieces to serve with toppings.
Bolletje lists products including crackers and crispbreads: alternatives to consider if toast isn’t the right shape for snack time.
No, multigrain doesn’t automatically mean that toast is fully wholemeal. Jumbo’s listing for Melba Multigrain Toast includes 45% wholemeal wheat flour as well as wheat flour. Check the ingredients for the variety you buy.
Baker’s salt matters if you want to know whether a bread product contains iodised salt, but don’t assume it’s included. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), baker’s salt isn’t compulsory in bread; check the ingredients on the label for the specific toast variety.
Read the current ingredients list and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on the pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly identifiable in the ingredients list. If you’re packing it for school or childcare, also check the rules that apply there.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the toast you’ve chosen. For Melba Multigrain Toast, Jumbo says to store it in a cool, dry place; check the instructions on your own pack.
