Parents who want to measure out a sweet topping
For an occasional treat, you may not want to sprinkle straight from a large box. A small sachet can make portioning easier, but its full contents aren’t automatically a suitable amount for a toddler.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents looking for a regular snack
If you’re choosing an everyday snack, there are more options than sprinkles. For babies and toddlers between meals, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables and some wholemeal bread from the Wheel of Five.
Families checking ingredients or allergens
If your child needs to avoid certain ingredients, the exact variant matters. Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging before buying, even if you’ve bought a product with the same name before.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for a snack or an occasional topping. Then consider whether you’d rather measure it out yourself or use pre-portioned sachets, and check the ingredients for both options.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Role as a snack | Decide whether you’re looking for an everyday snack or a small sweet topping; if choosing a topping, check the ingredients and nutritional information. | If I’m looking for something for a regular snack time, I don’t want to mistake sprinkles for a snack on their own. This is the most important consideration for an estimated 50% of consumers. |
| Portioning yourself or using small sachets | For sachets, check how many there are and the weight of each one. Also check whether they contain sprinkles on their own or a mix of different toppings. | For an occasional topping, I want to decide how much goes on the food, without treating a whole sachet as a standard toddler portion. Portion control comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current ingredients list, the allergens listed and any warnings about possible traces. | If my child needs to avoid certain ingredients, the exact contents matter more than the flavour name on the front. An estimated 20% of consumers give this check the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a small sachet for a toddler snack
A small pack makes it easier to portion, but it doesn’t turn a sweet topping into a snack on its own. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers between meals.
So first decide whether you’re choosing something for a regular snack time or an occasional topping. If you use sprinkles, choose how much to add yourself.
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Assuming a mixed pack contains only sprinkles
De Ruijter Kleintjes combines sprinkles with other toppings. So if you’re looking for one specific type of sprinkle, a mix may not contain exactly what you want.
Check what’s in the sachets. If you’d rather measure out a small amount yourself, choose a regular box of the type of sprinkles you want.
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Assuming ‘dark’ means dairy-free
The dark sprinkles in the Kleintjes mix described here carry a warning that they may contain milk. So the flavour name alone isn’t a reliable way to check for allergens.
Before buying, check the current ingredients list and allergen warning on the pack. If you have a diagnosed allergy, follow your personal dietary advice.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
As well as regular sprinkles, there’s a Kleintjes mix with pre-portioned sachets. Albert Heijn lists four 15 g sachets and four 20 g sachets in this pack.
- The sachets make it clear how much is in each one and help you portion it yourself.
- The mix doesn’t contain sprinkles on their own, and one sachet isn’t automatically a toddler portion.
Albert Heijn
The AH range lists own-brand milk and dark chocolate sprinkles in 300 g boxes.
- A regular box lets you measure out the amount you want.
- The box doesn’t contain individually portioned servings.
Jumbo
The Jumbo sprinkles range includes own-brand milk and dark chocolate sprinkles in 300 g boxes.
- You can decide how much to use as a topping.
- With a regular box, you’ll need to portion the amount yourself each time.
Choca
Albert Heijn lists Choca sprinkles in a 200 g pack.
- The pack is smaller than the 300 g own-brand boxes mentioned above.
- A 200 g box still isn’t a pre-portioned serving for a toddler; check the label of the variant you choose.
Venz
Venz is worth a look if you’re after a different flavour combination in the sprinkles range.
- The crocodile and tiger sprinkles mentioned offer a different flavour combination from a single type of chocolate sprinkle.
- The packs described are regular 200 g boxes; check the contents and portion them yourself.
Sprinkles to portion yourself
These Joybuy products are regular packs of sprinkles for anyone who’d like to measure out a small amount for an occasional topping. The pack size doesn’t tell you what’s a suitable portion for a toddler.
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Sprinkles Choca Flakes 200 g
For anyone who’d like to measure out a few sprinkles for an occasional topping, for example on bread or yoghurt.
200 g pack. If you follow a relevant diet, check the current information on soya, wheat and possible traces of milk.
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De Ruijter Milk Chocolate Sprinkles 200 g
For an occasional sweet topping, with the amount measured out by you.
200 g pack. Joybuy lists 70 g of sugars per 100 g and names milk and soya as allergens; check the current label before use too.
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g'woon Milk Chocolate Flakes 300 g
For anyone who’d like to use milk chocolate sprinkles as an occasional topping and measure out a small amount themselves.
300 g pack. If wheat is relevant to your choice, check the exact wheat information on the current pack.
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De Ruijter Flake Feast 200 g
For anyone who’d like to use sprinkles as an occasional topping and portion them themselves.
200 g pack. Check the current label to see which types of sprinkles are in the mix, and how wheat, soya and possible traces of milk are listed.
Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate sprinkles an everyday snack for a toddler?
Don’t use chocolate sprinkles as the basis for an everyday snack. For babies and toddlers between meals, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables and some wholemeal bread. You can consider sprinkles separately as an occasional sweet topping.
Is one De Ruijter Kleintjes sachet one toddler portion?
No, the amount in a sachet isn’t automatically a toddler portion. Albert Heijn lists four 15 g sachets and four 20 g sachets in De Ruijter Kleintjes; you can also use just part of a sachet.
How do I check allergens in sprinkles and topping mixes?
Check the ingredients list and allergen warning for the exact variant on the current pack. The different toppings in the Kleintjes mix described here may have different ingredients, and the dark sprinkles carry a warning that they may contain milk. So don’t rely on the flavour name alone.