Plain wholegrain muesli is a good choice for your weekend breakfast if you want to add your own fruit or nuts and keep the ingredients simple. If you’d rather have fruit, nuts or a crunchy texture already in the pack, compare the ingredients, sugars and fibre per 100 g for each variety, and check the allergens. The word ‘wholegrain’ doesn’t tell you how the rest of the muesli is made.
You’re looking for a clearly labelled wholegrain base and want to choose which fruit or nuts to add to your breakfast. A plain variety gives you a good starting point; even so, compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the specific pack.
You want raisins, nuts, seeds or crunchy grains already mixed into your muesli. These additions vary by variety, so don’t just go by the flavour name: check the ingredients, sugars and allergens too.
You’re looking for a pack size that suits how much muesli your household uses. As well as checking the net weight, make sure the ingredients and allergens are suitable for everyone who’ll be eating it.
Start by checking the ingredients and any allergens. Then choose between a plain variety and a mix that already contains fruit, nuts or crunchy grains. Compare nutritional values on the same basis, ideally per 100 g, so you can see how the packs differ.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain base and ingredients | Check the ingredients list to see which grains are labelled wholegrain. Also look at the ingredients and the sugars and fibre listed per 100 g. | If I’d rather add my own fruit or nuts, I want to know what’s in the base. For around 42% of consumers, the ingredients are the top priority. |
| Allergens | Read the current allergen information on the pack, including any warnings about possible traces of other allergens. | If I have a food allergy, I need to check the exact variety before considering the flavour or pack size. Around 25% of consumers give this check priority. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight and choose an amount that suits your household; remember to check the ingredients too. | For several weekend breakfasts, I don’t want to need a new pack every time. This practical consideration matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
| Flavour and texture | Choose whether you’d prefer dried fruit, nuts, seeds or crunchy grains. If you opt for another variety, check its ingredients and nutritional information again. | I want fruit, nuts or crunch already in my bowl, without adding my own toppings. This is the top priority for around 8% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a wholegrain cereal product is made from the entire grain. That alone doesn’t tell you anything about the other ingredients: Quaker’s Cruesli 4 Nuts contains glucose syrup and sugar as well as wholegrain oats and wheat.
So read the full ingredients list and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g when weighing up a plain variety against a crunchy mix.
The exact ingredients determine whether a variety is right for you. Jumbo lists almonds, cashews and hazelnuts among the ingredients in its organic wholegrain muesli with fruit and nuts. Muesli can also contain grains that contain gluten.
If you have an allergy, check the allergen information on the exact pack before eating it; don’t rely on a general product name or a previous purchase.
A product being listed in a range doesn’t necessarily mean a particular flavour is available at your local shop. Lidl marks some muesli varieties on its range page as available in store only.
If you need a particular variety, check its current availability with the shop where you plan to buy it.
These examples show the kinds of differences you may find on a label. Always check the specific muesli: the ingredients in one variety won’t necessarily apply to every product from the same brand.
Albert Heijn lists a 1 kg pack of plain wholegrain muesli and an organic wholegrain variety.
Jumbo lists organic wholegrain muesli with raisins, as well as a variety with fruit and nuts.
Quaker offers crunchy cereal mixes in a range of flavours and with different ingredients.
ALDI lists Golden Bridge Wholegrain Muesli in a 1 kg pack, with varieties containing nuts or fruit, kernels and seeds.
Lidl’s breakfast range includes fruit muesli and crunchy muesli, among other options.
These products are suited to a weekend breakfast with crunchy muesli or a mix containing fruit and nuts. Choose based on the additions you prefer, and check the current ingredients and allergens for the exact variety. These products aren’t ranked against each other by nutritional value.
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An option if you’re looking for crunchy muesli with strawberry and peach. The pack contains 400 g; check the current nutritional information and allergen details before making your choice.
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For anyone looking for apple, pecan and cinnamon in a crunchy muesli. The pack contains 400 g; if you have a nut allergy, check the label for this variety carefully.
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A crunchy nut variety for anyone who wants to consider nut flavour. The pack contains 400 g; check the ingredients and allergens for this specific variety.
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For anyone looking for crunchy muesli with a mix of nuts. The pack contains 400 g; if a fully wholegrain cereal base is important to you, check how each grain is labelled in the ingredients list.
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An option if you want fruit and nuts already in your muesli. The pack contains 450 g; compare the sugars listed per 100 g and check the allergens if they’re relevant to your choice.
No. Check which grains in the ingredients list are actually labelled wholegrain. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a wholegrain cereal product is made using the entire grain; the presence of grains alone doesn’t mean that all the grains in a mix are wholegrain.
Not necessarily. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, fruit also contains naturally occurring sugars. Read the ingredients list to check for added ingredients, and use the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g to compare the total amount of sugars in different varieties.
Check the allergen information on the exact pack, even if you’ve bought a product with the same name before. Wholegrain muesli may contain grains that contain gluten, while fruit and nut varieties may contain different types of nuts. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked products.
Yes, especially if you’re choosing based on ingredients or allergens. Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so the packaging of the product you’re using is an important point of reference.
