When comparing wholemeal breakfast cakes for a school holiday lunch, look beyond the name. Compare fibre and sugars per 100 g, portion size and allergens. Peijnenburg lists 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its wholemeal variant with no added sugars, but it contains xylitol and carries a warning about excessive consumption. For a standard pre-sliced variant, the packaging and convenience may matter more; either way, check the label on the pack you choose.
If you want to add breakfast cake to lunch or have it as a snack, you can compare the fibre per 100 g and per slice. The Voedingscentrum lists 1.3 g of fibre for a 30 g slice of wholemeal breakfast cake; the nutritional values of the product you choose may differ.
For parents and carers considering a variant with no added sugars, the listed sugars, sweeteners used and portion size also matter.
For a shared lunch, pre-sliced pieces and the pack size are useful points of comparison. Before making your final choice, also check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack.
Start with what matters most for your lunch: fibre, sugars or the convenience of a pre-sliced pack. Then compare the portion size and the current label on the variants that meet your needs.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and grain | Compare fibre per 100 g and per slice; check which wholemeal flour is listed in the ingredients. | If I serve breakfast cake at lunch, I want to know how much fibre the slice I choose provides. This would be the main consideration for around 45% of consumers. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Check the sugars per 100 g and, for a variant with no added sugars, check the ingredients and any warnings. | A lower listed sugar content appeals to me, but I also want to know whether it contains sweeteners such as xylitol. Less sugar would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Packaging and convenience | Check the pack size and whether the breakfast cake is pre-sliced. | For a shared holiday lunch, I’m mainly looking for a pack that’s easy to divide up. This would be the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
The listed sugars vary from product to product. According to their product information, the standard variants from AH, Jumbo, PLUS and Peijnenburg contain 34 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g.
As well as checking the grain used, read the ‘fibre’ and ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g, and consider the portion you plan to serve.
Peijnenburg’s wholemeal variant with no added sugars contains xylitol. Its product page warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the ingredients and follow the warning on the packaging, especially if you’re serving several slices.
The wholemeal variants described list rye and gluten; some also indicate that other ingredients may be present.
If an allergy or intolerance is relevant, read the allergen information on the specific pack you’re buying.
A product’s ingredients and nutritional values can change. So a table you looked at earlier may not match a pack you buy later.
When you buy it, check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging again.
Offers both a standard pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a pre-sliced wholemeal variant with no added sugars.
The AH own-label range includes a 485 g pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake for anyone comparing larger packs.
The Jumbo own-label range includes a 280 g wholemeal breakfast cake, making it an option if you’re comparing pack sizes.
The PLUS own-label range includes a 485 g pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
ALDI lists a pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake from Koek & Bakker in a 485 g pack.
Lidl lists a 485 g pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake as an in-store product.
This 485 g pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake is worth considering if you’re comparing packs for a shared lunch. Check the fibre, sugars and allergens using the label on the pack you choose.
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A pre-sliced pack to consider for a shared lunch.
Compare fibre and sugars once you’ve confirmed whether the nutritional values are per 100 g or per serving.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, check the ingredients and allergens on the pack before deciding; the available information about rye and allergens is contradictory.
No. The word ‘wholemeal’ alone doesn’t make breakfast cake an obvious choice as the basis of lunch. The Voedingscentrum suggests options such as vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread for children’s snacks. If you also choose breakfast cake, consider the portion, fibre and sugars in the variant you pick.
It can: the wholemeal Peijnenburg variant described as having no added sugars contains xylitol. The product page warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect, so check the ingredients and warnings for the variant you buy.
Check the allergen information on the current pack before choosing a variant. The wholemeal breakfast cakes described from Peijnenburg, AH, Jumbo and PLUS list rye and gluten; some variants also mention other cereals, milk or nuts as possible ingredients.
Follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging of the breakfast cake you buy. For the variants described, the product information from AH and Jumbo recommends storing them in a cool, dark and dry place.
