Older people who want to consider fibre
You’re looking for something crunchy to enjoy with your coffee and want to compare wholegrain products and their fibre content on the packaging.
Who might this choice be relevant for?
Fans of a sweet biscuit with coffee
You want to serve a digestive biscuit as a conscious choice, without confusing it with toast or treating its name as a nutritional claim.
Older people with chewing or swallowing difficulties
If someone coughs while eating, chokes or feels that food is getting stuck, texture matters more than choosing between toast and biscuits. Thuisarts advises contacting your GP about swallowing problems.
What should you look for when choosing?
Toast, Melba toast or rusks
Choose this if: you want a crunchy base for toppings and are looking for a wholegrain option.
Bear in mind: these products are brittle, so check the exact variety and its nutritional information.
Digestive biscuit
Choose this if: you want a sweet biscuit to enjoy with coffee, rather than a base for toppings.
Bear in mind: compare sugars, fats, salt and serving size on the packaging; the name says nothing about its nutritional value.
An adapted texture
Discuss this if: someone has difficulty chewing or swallowing, or often coughs while eating.
Bear in mind: Thuisarts describes soft, minced or liquid food as possible adaptations. Ask a professional to determine what is suitable for that person.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain and fibre | Look for the wholegrain label and compare fibre per 100 g and the ingredients list. | I want to choose a grain product to have with coffee whose wholegrain status and fibre content I can check. Around 30% of consumers put this need first. |
| Nutritional value of biscuits | Compare sugars, saturated fat and salt per 100 g; also consider the portion you’ll serve. | If I serve a sweet biscuit, I want to know what that portion contributes. For around 30% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
| Serving with toppings | Choose between toast, Melba toast and rusks, and consider the size and how easily they break when adding toppings. | I’m mainly looking for a crunchy base that works well with the topping I’ve chosen. Around 20% of consumers put this need first. |
| Chewing and swallowing | Look out for coughing or choking while eating, and follow any existing advice about food texture. | If the person I’m buying for has difficulty swallowing, I don’t want to choose a brittle product without suitable advice. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Taking the name digestive as a nutritional claim
A digestive is a biscuit, not proof that it has an effect on digestion. Ingredients and nutritional values vary from product to product.
Compare biscuits for fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt, and consider how many you’ll serve.
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Assuming multigrain or a brown colour means wholegrain
The colour or mention of different grains doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a product contains.
Look for an explicit wholegrain label, and also compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
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Serving a brittle product despite swallowing difficulties
Coughing while eating, choking or feeling that food is getting stuck are reasons not to choose a food texture on your own.
Thuisarts advises contacting your GP about swallowing problems. Discuss any changes to the food with a professional, based on the advice for that person.
Brands to consider
Bolletje
Worth considering if you’re looking at rusks as a crunchy base to have with coffee.
- Bolletje says its Volkoren Beschuit is made with 100% wholegrain cereals.
- Check the ingredients, fibre and salt on the packaging for each variety; rusks are still a brittle product.
Van der Meulen
A producer of Melba toast; Albert Heijn lists a plain variety, among others.
- Melba toast makes a crunchy base for a small topped snack.
- Check the individual variety: plain, wholegrain, sesame and multigrain products don’t have the same ingredients.
Albert Heijn
A retailer with its own-brand range, including Melba toast and digestive biscuits.
- Product information can help you compare varieties within the same product category.
- Before serving, check the current packaging for ingredients and nutritional information.
Verkade
A brand to consider if you’re specifically looking for a digestive biscuit to have with coffee.
- Albert Heijn describes Verkade Digestive Original as wheat biscuits, not toast.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional value of the variety you choose; the product name isn’t a health claim.
Products for your coffee break
This selection of Joybuy products includes digestive biscuits and related crunchy crackers and crispbreads. Crackers and crispbreads aren’t the same as toast, Melba toast or rusks. First decide which type of product you want, and if someone has swallowing difficulties, check whether a crunchy texture is suitable.
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McVities Digestive Original, 400 g
A digestive biscuit for anyone looking for something sweet with their coffee, rather than toast to add toppings to. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the portion you plan to serve.
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McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate, 266 g
A digestive biscuit with dark chocolate for serving as a sweet treat. Check the portion size and compare the sugars and fats on the packaging.
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Wasa High-Fiber Crackers, 300 g
A cracker to consider if you’re looking for a crunchy grain product. It isn’t toast or a rusk, so compare the fibre content and check the wholegrain label on the packaging.
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McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate, 266 g
A digestive biscuit with milk chocolate for a sweet coffee break, not for use as toast for toppings. Check the portion size and compare the nutritional value with other biscuits.
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g'woon Wholegrain Crispbreads, 125 g
A crunchy grain product to consider as a base for toppings, but it isn’t Melba toast or a rusk. Check the wholegrain label and nutritional information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is a digestive the same as toast?
No. Albert Heijn describes Verkade Digestive Original as wheat biscuits, while toast and Melba toast are generally chosen as crunchy bases for toppings. Decide how you want to use the product before comparing varieties.
Does the word digestive mean anything about digestion?
No, the product name doesn’t prove that it has an effect on digestion. When making a nutritional choice, compare the fibre, sugars, fats and salt on the packaging, ideally between similar biscuits.
When should I avoid hard toast or biscuits for an older person?
Don’t automatically choose a hard, brittle product if someone has difficulty swallowing, often chokes, coughs while eating or feels that food is getting stuck. Thuisarts advises contacting your GP about swallowing problems; ask them to determine which food texture is suitable.
How should I store toast, rusks and digestive biscuits?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal it well after opening to keep the contents crunchy. Also check the current packaging if ingredients or allergens matter to anyone sharing the food.