Before choosing a class treat, check the school’s rules and ask about allergies in the class. The wholemeal breakfast cakes reviewed list cereals containing gluten or rye. Then choose between slices you can portion yourself and a bar you can hand out straight away. Compare the portion size, fibre and sugars in the exact product. The Peijnenburg version reviewed, labelled ‘no added sugars’, contains xylitol and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, the school’s rules and the ingredients on the chosen pack should take priority over the format. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking in advance whether any children have allergies or other dietary requirements.
The word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you how much fibre or sugar a portion contains. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g as well as the amount you actually plan to hand out.
A bar gives each child an individual portion straight away. With a pack of sliced cake, you can decide how much each child gets, but you’ll need to check how the slices should be handed out under the school’s rules.
First, check that the treat fits the class rules. Then compare the nutritional information and choose a portion format that works for handing out.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Ask which treats are allowed and check the allergens on the current packaging. | If a child in the class needs to avoid gluten or other ingredients, I want to know that everyone will get a suitable treat. Around 29% of consumers put this first. |
| Fibre, sugars and sweeteners | Compare fibre and sugars per 100 g and per portion. If you’re considering a version with sweeteners, read the warnings too. | When I choose wholemeal breakfast cake, I want to know what’s in each slice or bar. Fibre and sugars are the most important factors for around 29% of consumers. |
| Portion size and format | Check the weight per portion and whether you’ll need to portion the slices yourself or can hand out an individual bar. | I want to be able to give each child a portion without having to prepare it on the spot, but the portion also needs to be right for the occasion. Ease of handing out is the top priority for around 24% of consumers. |
| Quantity for the class | Check the pack weight and the number of portions you can get from it for the number of children. | For a whole class, I want to make enough portions without having lots left over. The amount needed is the first thing around 18% of consumers consider. |
The products reviewed vary in their fibre and sugar content. Albert Heijn lists 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g for its sliced wholemeal breakfast cake; the Peijnenburg version reviewed, labelled ‘no added sugars’, lists 17 g of fibre per 100 g.
Read the nutritional information for the exact product and compare it with the portion you plan to hand out.
The wholemeal breakfast cakes reviewed list cereals containing gluten or rye. So one type of breakfast cake won’t necessarily be suitable for every child.
Ask about the school rules and individual dietary requirements in advance. Then check the allergens on the pack you’re actually buying.
According to Jumbo, the wholemeal breakfast cake bar reviewed weighs 58 g and contains 20.5 g of sugars per bar. So a ready-to-hand-out format doesn’t tell you whether the portion size is right.
Check the weight of each bar before deciding whether a whole one is suitable for the treat.
Peijnenburg offers sliced wholemeal breakfast cake, including a version labelled ‘no added sugars’.
Albert Heijn offers sliced wholemeal breakfast cake in a 485 g pack.
Jumbo offers both a 475 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a pack of six wholemeal breakfast cake bars.
ALDI describes its 485 g Koek & Bakker wholemeal breakfast cake as pre-sliced.
PLUS offers a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake as its own-brand option.
This sliced wholemeal breakfast cake is a good fit if you want to portion slices at home for a class treat. Before handing it out, check the allergens on the current packaging and work out how many portions you need.
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An option if you want to portion slices at home for the class. The pack contains 485 g. Check how many portions you’d like to get from it and read the allergen information on the current packaging.
Yes. First ask which treats are allowed and whether any children need to avoid certain ingredients. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking whether there are any allergies or dietary requirements in the group. Then check the packaging of the breakfast cake you plan to hand out.
The wholemeal versions reviewed from Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS and Peijnenburg list cereals containing gluten or rye, so they’re not suitable for a child who needs to avoid gluten. Check the current packaging and the class rules for each child.
That label isn’t a reason to overlook portion size. The Peijnenburg version reviewed contains xylitol and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the school rules too.
No. The Dutch rule doesn’t mean that every breakfast cake contains baker’s salt with iodine. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt. If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients on the specific pack.
