Households looking to reduce waste
If toast regularly features on your table, you’ll want a pack that gets used up. So look beyond the quantity and consider the flavour, size and crunchiness your eater will accept.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents putting together a simple meal
Plain toast can be a base for familiar toppings, without introducing a new seasoning straight away. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that some children enjoy helping themselves and eating independently; smaller pieces can be practical, but they don’t guarantee that the food will be accepted.
Consumers who are also keeping an eye on fibre
If you’re choosing between white and wholegrain options, compare the wholegrain labelling and nutritional information on the pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible. Toast isn’t automatically an equivalent substitute for everyday bread.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which flavour and shape your eater is willing to try. Then choose a quantity that suits how often you use toast, and only after that compare options with a different composition.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Usable quantity | Check the pack weight and think about how often you’ll serve it. A larger pack won’t help if a lot of it is left over. | If toast isn’t eaten every day, I want a pack that gets used up before the contents are left untouched. For around 42% of consumers, reducing waste is the top priority. |
| Familiar flavour and shape | Compare plain and flavoured options, and note the difference between toast, Melba toast and mini crackers. | With a fussy eater, I don’t want to introduce an unfamiliar flavour and a different shape at the same time. A familiar flavour and texture are the main concern for roughly 33% of consumers. |
| Fibre and use as part of a meal | Look for an explicit wholegrain label and compare the nutritional information per 100 g. Also consider what else will be served with the meal. | If toast regularly serves as the base for a meal, I want to know which option fits with my usual preference for wholegrain. This matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Treating all crunchy options as the same kind of toast
Melba toast, toast cups and mini crackers differ in shape and how they’re used. A mini cracker won’t necessarily suit the same meal or toppings as a larger piece of toast.
Compare options for the same eating occasion, and try just one pack if the texture is unfamiliar.
-
Assuming all toast contains iodised baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether a product contains it just from its category.
Check the ingredients list on the pack if baker’s salt is relevant to your choice. Consider toast as part of your overall diet, not as an automatic replacement for ordinary bread.
-
Assuming online ingredient information is definitive
Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change. A product page you viewed earlier may therefore not match the pack you buy.
Check the label on the current packaging before use, especially if allergens or specific ingredients are important.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
The range includes plain mini crackers, toast and flavoured options.
- The different shapes let you choose between mini crackers and pieces of toast.
- A mini cracker isn’t a direct substitute for a larger piece of toast; check which shape suits the meal.
Van der Meulen
Melba toast, including plain and wholegrain options.
- The separate plain and wholegrain options make it easy to choose between the two.
- The wholegrain option is only right for this meal if your eater accepts its flavour and texture.
Haust
Toast and snack products, including Krokant Toast.
- Krokant Toast is a familiar type of toast to compare by shape.
- Don’t rely on the brand name alone: check that this particular shape and texture suit how you plan to use it.
Sun Snacks
The ALDI range includes Toast Cups Naturel and Melba Toast Naturel.
- The two products mentioned offer different toast shapes.
- Check which option is available in store and read the pack for the latest product information.
Bolletje
Represented in the supermarket results mentioned by Pepsels snacks.
- An option to look at if you’re specifically after a savoury snack.
- Pepsels aren’t plain toast, so they don’t automatically belong in the same meal comparison.
Toast and mini crackers on Joybuy
These products include two types of Melba toast and one plain mini cracker. Choose the mini cracker only if its smaller size suits the meal; product names and pack weights won’t tell you whether a fussy eater will eat the contents.
No image available
Conimex Delverde Melba Toast Round, 100 g
A round Melba toast to consider if this shape works with familiar toppings.
100 g pack. If you have allergies, check the ingredients on the pack. For young children, bear in mind that hard, crunchy foods can pose a choking risk.
No image available
Crispy Melba Toast, 240 g
Melba toast to compare if you regularly use this type as a base for toppings.
240 g pack. The listed ingredients and allergen information contradict each other; if you have allergies, check the packaging label before use.
No image available
Lu Mini Cracker Natural, 250 g
A plain mini cracker to consider if small crackers work for the meal you have in mind; this product isn’t labelled as toast.
250 g pack. Check the ingredients on the pack if allergens are relevant to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is wholegrain toast always the right choice for a fussy eater?
No, your choice also needs to suit what your eater is actually willing to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing wholemeal or brown bread instead of white bread more often. If you want to try wholegrain toast, check the label on the pack and, if the flavour or texture is unfamiliar, start with one pack.
Can I use mini crackers in the same way as toast?
You can if the smaller size suits the toppings and meal you’re making. Mini crackers and toast are different products, so focus on whether your eater accepts the shape and texture rather than treating them as interchangeable.
Does toast in the Netherlands automatically contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, you can’t assume that every type of toast does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on the relevant pack if this matters to your choice.
Is online allergen information enough to choose toast?
Use it to narrow down your options, but also read the label on the pack before use. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change. This is especially important when allergens determine your choice of product.