Don’t choose a box of chocolates as an everyday snack for a toddler: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread. If it’s an occasional treat, decide on the portion in advance, check the allergens on the packaging you choose and ask the childcare provider about its policy.
At home, on the go or at childcare, they want something that fits the snack options the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends for babies and toddlers. A box of chocolates doesn’t serve the same purpose as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread.
They’re considering a biscuit or a chocolate as an occasional treat, rather than an everyday snack. The amount each child gets and the ingredients in that particular pack are what they need to check beforehand.
As well as checking the label, they need to know the policy at their childcare provider. This is especially important with an assorted pack containing different ingredients and allergens.
When: The food is for an everyday snack time, at home or at childcare.
Consider: Fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread fit the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice, but don’t have the presentation of a chocolate gift.
When: A parent consciously chooses a small, occasional treat.
Consider: A biscuit isn’t automatically a suitable everyday snack just because it isn’t a chocolate; the portion and ingredients still matter.
When: The box is intended as a thank-you gift or to share with adults, not as a toddler snack.
Consider: An assorted box offers a choice of flavours, but the individual products may contain different allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday snack or treat | First decide what it’s for. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread as snack options for babies and toddlers. | When I’m buying something for an everyday snack, I want it to fit those snack options, not just look festive. For around 46% of consumers, this everyday choice comes first. |
| Allergens and childcare policies | Read the current label on the exact pack and ask the childcare provider about its food and treat policy. | Before I send something in for a group, I want to know what ingredients it contains and what the childcare provider allows. Around 36% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Portion size for a special occasion | Decide how much each child will get; don’t judge a box solely by the number of individually wrapped pieces. | For an occasional treat, I want to be able to choose a small portion in advance without treating the whole box as a toddler snack. This is the main consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
Individual wrappers don’t turn a product into an everyday toddler snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers to eat between meals.
Before buying, decide whether it’s for an everyday snack or an occasional treat. For an everyday snack, choose from the options recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
An assorted chocolate or biscuit pack may contain other allergens too. For the Celebrations Gift Pack described, Albert Heijn lists milk, peanuts, wheat, soya and egg, among other ingredients.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the variety you’ve chosen, rather than relying on the product name or an older product photo.
Whether you can bring in a treat depends on the policy at that particular location. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises parents to agree with their childcare provider on what their child eats and drinks.
Before packing anything, ask about the food and treat policy and any rules that apply to the group.
A spiced biscuit to consider as an occasional treat, not as a replacement for an everyday toddler snack.
The Gift Box described is a box of chocolates to share, not a specific choice for toddler snack time.
An assorted chocolate and biscuit gift pack for anyone looking for variety to share, not an everyday toddler snack.
No. Don’t choose a box of chocolates for an everyday snack. For babies and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five between meals, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the exact variety you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory allergen labelling for prepacked foods; if you’re buying an assorted box, don’t rely solely on the brand name or one product in the box.
Ask the childcare provider in advance. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises parents to agree with their childcare provider on what their child eats and drinks. As well as checking the policy, read the label on anything you plan to bring in.
No. A wrapper doesn’t tell you how much a child will ultimately eat or what the ingredients are. For an occasional treat, decide on the portion in advance and read the nutritional and allergen information on the pack you choose.
