For an everyday snack for a young child or toddler, neither chocolate sprinkles nor a box of chocolates is the right choice: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing snacks from its Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread. Chocolate sprinkles are a different purchase from a box of chocolates; if you occasionally serve them as a sweet bread topping, compare the nutritional information and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
If you’re looking for something for an everyday snack, the type of product matters more than comparing chocolate brands. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread as snacks for young children and toddlers.
When serving chocolate sprinkles on bread, the amount used, the sugars per 100 g and the place of sweet toppings in the overall diet are all relevant. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s sample daily menus include room for a sweet topping now and then.
If you need to avoid milk, lactose or soya, don’t rely on the word ‘dark’. Allergen information varies by product, so check the packaging of the one you’re buying.
First decide whether you’re looking for a toddler’s snack, an occasional bread topping or a gift: each calls for a different type of product.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Type of snack | For an everyday toddler snack, first choose a suitable type of product, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | For an everyday snack, I don’t want to treat chocolate spread as a snack on its own. Around 50% of consumers put choosing a suitable type of snack first. |
| Sugars in sweet toppings | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and consider how much chocolate sprinkles you put on bread. Also check what a claim such as ‘less sugar’ is being compared with. | If chocolate sprinkles are served on bread occasionally, I want to be able to compare the sugar content of different varieties. For around 33% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current packaging for ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, as well as any warnings about sweeteners. | If milk, lactose or soya needs to be avoided, I want to know what’s stated on this particular pack. Checking ingredients is the top priority for around 17% of consumers. |
For an everyday snack for young children and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends products from its Wheel of Five. Chocolate sprinkles are a bread topping, while a box of chocolates is a different type of product.
First consider what’s suitable for the occasion. Save sweet toppings for the occasional slice of bread rather than serving them as a snack on their own.
‘Dark’ describes the type of chocolate, not the allergens. Albert Heijn lists milk and soya as allergens for De Ruijter Chocoladehagel puur; AH Hagelslag puur lists milk and lactose.
Check the allergen information on the packaging you’re actually using, even if you already know the brand.
A comparison with another variety of chocolate sprinkles doesn’t mean the product is suitable as an everyday snack. Varieties containing sweeteners may also have different ingredients and usage warnings to consider.
Check the sugars per 100 g, the amount used, the ingredients and any warnings separately.
A box of chocolates as a gift and chocolate sprinkles as a bread topping are for different occasions. Neither automatically makes a suitable everyday snack for a toddler.
First decide who the product is for and whether you’re looking for a gift, a bread topping or a snack.
The De Ruijter Chocoladehagel puur product reviewed is a sweet bread topping, not a snack to eat on its own.
The Venz Hagelslag melk product reviewed is a milk chocolate variety for bread.
The range reviewed includes regular dark chocolate sprinkles and a dark variety with less sugar.
The Jumbo Chocoladehagelslag Puur product reviewed comes in a 600 g pack.
Lidl describes Mister Choc Hagelslag puur as a 600 g pack.
ALDI describes Kiekeboe Hagelslag puur as dark chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g pack.
No. For an everyday snack for young children and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends products from its Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread. Chocolate sprinkles are a sweet bread topping, while a box of chocolates is a gift, not a substitute for these snacks.
Yes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s sample daily menus include room for a sweet topping now and then as part of the overall diet. That’s different from serving chocolate sprinkles as a daily snack or on their own.
No. ‘Dark’ doesn’t guarantee that chocolate sprinkles are free from milk. Albert Heijn lists milk and soya as allergens for De Ruijter Chocoladehagel puur, and milk and lactose for AH Hagelslag puur. Check the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen.
The claim compares the sugar content with a reference product; it doesn’t mean the product is suitable as a toddler snack. Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker, compared with 64 g per 100 g for the regular dark variety. Also compare the amount used and the other ingredients.
