Parents looking for a regular breakfast staple
If you’re considering toast as an everyday alternative to bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice on wholemeal and brown bread for children aged 1 to 3 is a useful starting point.
Who is this choice for?
Parents looking for a crunchy base for toppings
If you want to offer small pieces of toast with toppings, check that your child can chew them comfortably. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises children to eat sitting calmly and for an adult to stay nearby.
Parents who need to consider allergens
For coeliac disease, a diagnosed allergy or arrangements with a school or childcare provider, the current label matters more than the brand name or the thickness of the toast. Follow the advice of the relevant healthcare professional for an individual diet.
What should you look for when choosing?
For a regular toddler breakfast, choose the bread staple first. Then assess crunchy toast for how easy it is to chew, what the label says and how you plan to serve it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chewing and portions | Consider the texture and whether you can serve the toast in pieces suited to your child’s ability to chew. | If my child still struggles with hard pieces, I don’t want to rely on the words ‘thick-cut’. For around 36% of consumers, being able to chew safely comes first. |
| Everyday bread staple | Check whether the bread or toast is wholemeal, and compare the fibre and salt listed per 100 g. | For a breakfast I serve regularly, I want to know what the bread choice contributes, not just whether the toast is crunchy. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this everyday nutritional foundation. |
| Allergens and arrangements | Read the current ingredients and allergen information. If the food is for school or childcare, ask about their policies. | If my child needs to follow a diet or I’m sending food to childcare, the packaging needs to meet those requirements. For around 21% of consumers, this is the most important condition when buying. |
| Convenience | Compare the packaging and size, and check whether the toast can be served in suitable small pieces. | For a small snack with toppings, I want something I can grab and portion without making toast our regular breakfast. Convenience matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming thick-cut toast is easier to chew
Thickness doesn’t tell you how hard or brittle a piece of toast is. A large piece can still be difficult for a child who struggles to chew that texture.
Serve pieces suited to your child’s ability to chew, have them sit calmly and stay nearby while they eat, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises.
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Simply replacing bread with toast
Crunchy toast isn’t automatically wholemeal, and it doesn’t necessarily provide the same fibre as the wholemeal or brown bread recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for young children.
Start with your choice of bread for an everyday breakfast. If you’re also comparing toast products, read the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.
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Relying on the front of the pack for allergen information
A name such as ‘original’ says nothing about whether a product contains wheat or other allergens. For example, the product information for Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel lists wheat, barley and soya.
Read the current label every time you buy, and follow individual advice if your child has a diagnosed dietary requirement.
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Assuming ‘original’ means low in salt
‘Original’ describes the flavour, not the amount of salt. Ingredients and nutritional values can vary between crunchy bread products.
Compare the salt content per 100 g of the products you’re actually considering.
Brands and retailers to consider
Bolletje
Bolletje’s own range includes rusks, crackers and snacks. These product types aren’t the same as thick-cut toast.
- A brand to explore for individual labels across crunchy bread products.
- The brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for a toddler’s everyday breakfast.
Van der Meulen / Melba
Melba toast is thin and crunchy. Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel is therefore not an example of thick-cut toast.
- The ingredients list lets you check this specific variety.
- The product information lists wheat, barley and soya; check the current allergen information on the packaging too.
Albert Heijn
At Albert Heijn, you can compare the labels of different crunchy products, such as mini crackers and Cracotte, without treating them as the same product.
- The product information for LU Mini Crackers Naturel lists wheat and cereals containing gluten.
- Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the label on the packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range includes various types of toast snacks. Check what each product actually is: Melba toast, a cracker and thick-cut toast aren’t interchangeable terms.
- Individual products give you a starting point for comparing ingredients and nutritional information.
- Being part of a range of toast snacks says nothing about whether a product is easy for a toddler to chew or suitable for everyday breakfast.
Products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can thick-cut toast replace everyday bread at a toddler’s breakfast?
Thickness alone isn’t a reason to choose toast as your everyday bread staple. For children aged 1 to 3, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends mainly wholemeal and brown bread for their fibre. If you’re choosing toast, check the ingredients and nutritional information separately.
How should I serve crunchy toast to a young child or toddler?
Offer pieces your child can chew comfortably, have them sit calmly and stay with them while they eat. This follows the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to stay nearby and have children eat sitting calmly.
Do I need to avoid gluten when buying toast for my child?
Avoiding gluten isn’t a general rule for every child, but it is important in conditions such as coeliac disease. Check the label and follow individual advice. If you suspect a food intolerance, speak to a healthcare professional rather than excluding foods yourself, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises.