If a picky eater struggles mainly with a hard or dry cracker, a thinner option is a sensible first one to try. If you’re looking for a shorter ingredients list, compare it with a more substantial wholegrain rye option. For both, check the fibre and salt per 100 g, as well as the allergens. Even a thin cracker is still crisp and won’t necessarily be accepted.
If a child or another picky eater is put off by a hard or dry texture, a thinner crispbread may be worth trying first. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against forcing a child to eat; offer a small portion without putting them under pressure.
If you regularly serve crispbread for breakfast, lunch or as a snack, check the ‘wholegrain’ label first, then compare the fibre per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a brown colour alone doesn’t mean a product is entirely wholegrain.
If you need to avoid ingredients such as gluten-containing cereals, sesame or milk, the current label is what matters. The Wasa, Albert Heijn and Jumbo options reviewed here differ in their ingredients and warnings about possible traces.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and taste | Compare a thin option with a more substantial one. Bear in mind that even thin crispbread is still crunchy. | If a hard or dry texture makes someone reluctant to try it, I’d rather start with a small portion of a thinner cracker. For around 42% of consumers, texture and taste are the top priorities. |
| Wholegrains and fibre | Check for the ‘wholegrain’ label and compare fibre per 100 g on the nutrition information. | If I eat crispbread regularly, I want to be sure it’s wholegrain and know how much fibre the option contains. Around 33% of consumers give this check the highest priority. |
| Ingredients, allergens and salt | Read the ingredients and allergen warnings; compare salt per 100 g, then check the amount per piece. | If I need to consider sesame, milk or gluten-containing cereals, an option that looks appealing may still be unsuitable. For around 25% of consumers, ingredients, allergens or salt matter most. |
A brown colour doesn’t confirm that the crispbread is entirely wholegrain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says the ‘wholegrain’ label applies to a product made from 100% wholemeal flour.
Check the product description on the packaging, then compare the fibre per 100 g.
A different texture doesn’t make a product suitable for every allergy. According to Wasa, Wasa Thin Rye Wholegrain contains sesame and may contain traces of milk; Wasa Lightweight contains milk ingredients.
Before buying, read the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging.
A lower salt figure per piece may be down to a smaller piece, so it doesn’t on its own allow you to compare products.
Compare salt per 100 g first, then use the per-piece figure to work out the portion you want to offer.
The fact that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a particular cracker.
If iodine is an important factor in your choice, check the label or ask the manufacturer which salt was used.
Wasa lists several rye crispbread options, including Wholegrain, Thin Rye Wholegrain and Lightweight. Don’t choose on brand name alone: ingredients and texture vary between options.
AH Wholegrain Crispbread is a supermarket own-brand option in a 375 g pack.
Jumbo Wholegrain Crispbread is a supermarket own-brand option in a 375 g pack.
Lidl Netherlands lists wholegrain crispbread in a 250 g pack as a store product.
On its UK product pages, Ryvita describes both an option made with wholegrain wheat and a crispbread made with wholegrain rye. Check the label on the pack available when you buy.
These two Wasa products are a starting point for comparing packaging, texture and wholegrain labelling. If you’re choosing for a picky eater, also check the nutrition information and allergens on the current packaging.
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If you’d like to try a different cracker texture, compare the thickness and ingredients of this 300 g pack with the option you currently serve.
Check the current packaging for the wholegrain label, fibre per 100 g, and warnings about milk and sesame.
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If you’d like to compare wholegrain crispbread, this option comes in a 260 g pack according to the product name.
Check the grains used, fibre per 100 g and allergens on the label. If someone is reluctant to eat crunchy or dry foods, bear in mind the texture of crispbread.
Check whether the product itself is labelled ‘wholegrain’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this label applies to a product made from 100% wholemeal flour. Then compare the fibre per 100 g, as this varies between options.
Start with a small portion and don’t put any pressure on them to eat it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against forcing a child to eat. If texture is the main issue, you can try a thin option without expecting it to be accepted straight away.
Don’t assume so without checking the product information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through bakers’ salt. For a specific option, check the label or ask the manufacturer which salt was used.
Seal the pack well after opening and store the product in a dry place. Albert Heijn recommends keeping its wholegrain crispbread in a sealed tin; for other options, follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
