It’s best to offer wholemeal breakfast cake to a toddler as an occasional alternative, rather than as a regular replacement for bread or other wholegrain breakfast cereals, which the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends as part of a daily breakfast. When comparing breakfast cakes, check the nutritional information per 100 g and per slice, and read the ingredients and allergen information. ‘Wholemeal’ or ‘no added sugar’ on its own doesn’t tell you enough about sugars or sweeteners.
You’re looking for something different for your toddler’s breakfast, without automatically making breakfast cake a substitute for bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends bread and other wholegrain breakfast cereals as a starting point for children aged 1 to 3.
You want to compare sugars and fibre, and check what the ingredients list tells you, even when the front of the pack says ‘wholemeal’ or ‘no added sugar’.
You want to know which allergens are listed on the specific pack and what rules apply at your child’s nursery or school before serving or packing it.
First decide what role breakfast cake will play in your toddler’s breakfast. Then compare the nutritional information and check the label for wherever you plan to serve it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Role in breakfast | Decide whether breakfast cake will be an occasional alternative to bread or other wholegrain breakfast cereals. | If I serve breakfast cake, I don’t want it to quietly become the regular basis of breakfast. For around 42% of consumers, using it as an occasional alternative is the priority. |
| Sugars, fibre and sweeteners | Compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g. If the pack claims no added sugar, check the ingredients too, and find out how much there is per slice. | A wholemeal name or sugar claim isn’t enough for me to choose between two packs. Around 33% of consumers give this label comparison top priority. |
| Allergens and where it will be eaten | Read the allergen information on the pack and check the school or childcare provider’s policy before packing it. | If I’m packing breakfast cake, I need to know whether the specific product is suitable and whether it complies with the childcare provider’s rules. This check matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn lists 34 g of added sugars per 100 g for AH Ontbijtkoek volkoren gesneden; Jumbo lists 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g for its wholemeal breakfast cake. These are different entries in the nutrition table, but neither can be inferred from the word ‘wholemeal’ in the product name.
Check both the sugars and fibre values and the ingredients list on the pack, rather than judging it by the front alone.
The Peijnenburg version with no added sugar contains xylitol. Jumbo warns that excessive consumption of this product may have a laxative effect.
As well as sugars, check the sweeteners and any warnings on the packaging.
The breakfast cakes reviewed list rye or cereals containing gluten, among other things; additional information varies by product. A familiar product name is no substitute for checking the allergen information on the pack.
Check the label when you buy it, and ask the school or childcare provider about its food and allergen policy.
For children aged 1 to 3, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends bread as the basis for breakfast and lunch. For variety, it also suggests wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt.
Decide what role breakfast cake will play as an occasional alternative, rather than treating its name as a reason to replace bread regularly.
Peijnenburg offers a 345 g pack of sliced wholemeal breakfast cake with no added sugar, containing 12 slices.
AH Ontbijtkoek volkoren gesneden is a 485 g own-brand product.
Jumbo Volkoren Ontbijtkoek is a 280 g own-brand product.
ALDI lists Koek & Bakker sliced wholemeal breakfast cake in a 485 g pack.
Lidl lists sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
PLUS lists sliced wholemeal breakfast cake in a 485 g pack.
This sliced wholemeal breakfast cake may suit you if you’re looking for an occasional alternative. For your toddler’s breakfast, check the nutritional information and the label on the pack too.
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A sliced breakfast cake for anyone looking for a wholemeal option as an occasional alternative. Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and check the amount per slice on the packaging.
The ingredients information mentions rye, but this doesn’t match the allergen information. If you have an allergy, check the label carefully before buying, and before packing it for school or childcare.
Don’t automatically treat breakfast cake as a replacement for bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends bread as a staple for children aged 1 to 3, and suggests options such as porridge oats, muesli and other wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt for variety.
Not necessarily: Peijnenburg Volkoren zonder toegevoegde suikers contains xylitol. Jumbo warns that excessive consumption of this version may have a laxative effect. So check the ingredients and warnings as well as the sugars in the nutrition table.
Read the allergen information on the specific pack. The AH version reviewed lists cereals containing gluten and rye; Jumbo lists gluten, rye and wheat. If you’re packing it to take somewhere, check the school or childcare provider’s policy too.
No, ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you whether a particular breakfast cake contains iodine. Check the ingredients for that product or ask the manufacturer whether baker’s salt has been used.
Store opened wholemeal breakfast cake in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Throw it away if you see mould.
