If you’re choosing wholemeal pancake mix for a sweet breakfast, check which wholemeal flours are listed in the ingredients and compare fibre values on a like-for-like basis. Check the allergens too, along with what you need to add to the batter. The preparation method and your choice of toppings also affect the nutritional value of your breakfast.
You’re looking for a mix with a clearly identifiable wholemeal base and comparing the grains used, fibre content and yield per pack. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain products contain more fibre than comparable products made with refined flour.
You want to make enough pancakes for breakfast, so you check the pack weight, the stated number of pancakes and which ingredients you’ll need to add yourself.
You check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack before choosing a mix. Albert Heijn also describes a way to prepare its wholemeal mix using a plant-based drink, with apple purée or an egg replacer as optional additions.
Start with the wholemeal base and the nutritional information. Then check that the amount of batter and the ingredients you need to add suit the breakfast you want to make.
| What to look for | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base and fibre | Check which wholemeal flours are used and compare fibre per 100 g on the same basis: prepared product with prepared product. | If I’m keeping an eye on fibre, I want to know which grains are in my pancakes. For around 40% of consumers, the wholemeal base comes first. |
| Yield per pack | Compare the pack weight and stated yield, and check which ingredients you need to add during preparation. | When making breakfast for several people, I want to know in advance how many pancakes I can make. This is the first consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack. If you’re baking plant-based, check the recommended alternatives too. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or want to bake plant-based, both the mix and the preparation method need to suit my needs. Around 20% of consumers give this priority. |
| Preparation and texture | Check how much liquid and how many eggs or egg alternatives you need, and read the cooking instructions. | If I want to keep preparation to a minimum, I first check what I need to make the batter. This is the most important factor for around 10% of consumers. |
The term ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a mix contains. Lidl describes its Belbake mix as multigrain, as does ALDI for its Albona baking mix.
Check the pack to see which flours are used, and look at the nutritional information if the wholemeal base or fibre content is important to you.
Pack weights and stated yields vary. A mix that needs you to add liquid, eggs or alternatives, and cooking fat also calls for different shopping than the pack alone.
Check the preparation instructions for the exact mix and work out how many pancakes you need.
The ingredient lists for products from Koopmans, Jumbo and PLUS, among others, include wholemeal wheat or oat flour. So the term ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t mean a product is free from gluten-containing grains.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the label of the product you’re buying.
The nutritional value of prepared pancakes also depends on the liquid, eggs or alternatives, cooking fat and toppings you use.
Compare fibre values on the same basis and check the nutritional information for what you actually prepare.
Koopmans makes a 400 g wholemeal pancake mix containing wholemeal oat flour, wholemeal wheat flour and buckwheat flour.
AH Wholemeal Pancake Mix is a supermarket own-brand option with a plant-based preparation method.
Jumbo makes a 400 g wholemeal pancake mix with wheat, oat and buckwheat flour.
PLUS makes a 400 g wholemeal pancake mix with wheat, oat and buckwheat flour.
ALDI describes its 400 g Albona baking mix as a multigrain pancake mix.
Lidl describes its 120 g Belbake mix as a multigrain pancake mix.
No. The term ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm how much wholemeal flour is used. Lidl and ALDI describe the Belbake and Albona mixes mentioned here as multigrain. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal flour, check the ingredients list on the pack.
For its AH Wholemeal Pancake Mix, Albert Heijn describes a plant-based preparation using a plant-based drink, with apple purée or an egg replacer as optional additions. For another mix, follow the instructions on the pack or use a suitable recipe. The standard preparation for Koopmans Wholemeal calls for milk and eggs.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’re buying, not just the product name. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
Compare fibre values on the same basis, for example per 100 g of prepared product. Check which preparation method the nutritional information applies to, so you don’t compare the value for a dry mix directly with the value for prepared pancakes.
