If you’d like to serve a small pancake as a change from your toddler’s usual breakfast and your main concern is the type of grain, a wholemeal mix is a straightforward option: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt as an alternative at breakfast. Choose to make your own with a sourdough starter if that’s the method you’re after, not because sourdough is automatically gluten-free. A complete mix means fewer ingredients to add; if you need a gluten-free option, look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the allergen information.
If you’d like to serve pancakes for breakfast now and then, check which grains are actually in the mix. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt as an alternative to bread; Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour as an ingredient in its wholemeal pancake mix.
If your child has an allergy or follows an agreed diet, check the ingredients and allergen information on the chosen pack. If you’re sending pancakes in with your child, ask about your childcare provider’s food and safety policies too. According to the Dutch Government, these are covered by childcare organisations’ policies.
If you want to use a sourdough starter, you’ll need to make the batter yourself and allow time for the preparation involved. Check the grains and allergens separately: the term sourdough does not mean a pancake is gluten-free.
Start with any allergens and dietary requirements. Then compare the type of grain, what you need to add during preparation and whether you want to bake with a sourdough starter.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain options | Check whether wholemeal flour is listed in the ingredients. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g on a like-for-like basis: dry mix or prepared pancake. | If I serve pancakes as a breakfast alternative, I want to know which grains I’m using. This would be the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Allergens and childcare | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and check with your childcare provider before sending food in. Don’t assume a product is gluten-free just because it’s described as sourdough. | If my toddler needs to avoid certain ingredients or I’m sending food in with them, I want to know it’s suitable. An estimated 29% of consumers would put allergens and dietary requirements first. |
| Ease of preparation | Check what you need to add to the mix. Koopmans says that you only need to add water to its Pannenkoeken Compleet mix. | On a busy morning, I want to keep the number of separate ingredients to a minimum. Around 21% of consumers would choose ease of preparation as their main reason. |
| Baking with sourdough | Decide whether you want to use a starter, and check the type of grain and allergens in your ingredients separately. | If I enjoy using my sourdough starter, I don’t mind the extra preparation. Around 14% of consumers would say sourdough is their main priority. |
Sourdough pancakes can contain grains that contain gluten. So, if your child needs to eat gluten-free, the preparation method alone isn’t enough to assess whether a product is suitable.
Choose a product with an explicit gluten-free label and check the rest of the allergen information too. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the requirements for using this label.
A grain name or a claim about preparation won’t tell you what needs to be added to the batter. What’s more, nutritional information for dry mix and prepared pancakes isn’t based on the same thing.
Read the ingredients and allergen information, check what needs to be added and only compare nutritional information when it’s clear what the figures refer to.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that raw batter can pose a risk, particularly to young children.
Keep raw batter out of reach, wash your hands after preparing it and cook the pancakes thoroughly.
A pancake that’s suitable at home may need to be checked with your childcare provider before you send it in. According to the Dutch Government, childcare policies also cover food and safety.
Ask in advance which policies apply at your child’s setting. If your child has an allergy, share the ingredients information as agreed with the provider.
Koopmans offers pancake mixes for different preparation methods and grain preferences, including Meergranen, Compleet and a separate gluten-free option.
AH Mix voor pannenkoeken volkoren is a specific option if you’re looking for a mix that contains wholemeal wheat flour.
Jumbo offers various types of pancake mix, including wholemeal, multigrain and gluten-free options.
No. Sourdough doesn’t make any grains that contain gluten gluten-free. If you need to eat gluten-free, choose a product with an explicit gluten-free label and check the ingredients and other allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the requirements for this label.
No, don’t give your toddler raw batter. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the risks for young children. Keep the batter out of reach and cook the pancakes thoroughly.
A small pancake can add variety to breakfast, but consider it alongside what else your child eats. For children aged 1 to 3, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt as an alternative to bread. If you’re using pancake mix, check the ingredients and what you add during preparation.
Ask what policies your childcare provider has for food brought in from home and allergens. According to the Dutch Government, childcare policies cover areas including food and safety, so check the ingredients and any dietary requirements with the setting in advance.
