Everyday budget breakfast eaters
If you can make sandwiches at home, you can spread a sliced wholemeal loaf over several breakfasts. Freeze any portions you won’t use soon as soon as you get home, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Which type of bread is right for you?
Commuters with no time to prepare breakfast
Wholemeal rolls are an option if you want something to take with you without having to slice it. Check how many rolls are in the pack, and read the allergen information if you’re trying a new product.
Shoppers who consider nutritional information
If you’re looking beyond price at wholemeal content, fibre or salt, compare the nutritional values per 100 g of the breads you’re considering. A claim made about one loaf doesn’t automatically apply to other varieties from the same brand.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with your morning routine: can you prepare bread at home, or does it need to be ready to take with you? Then compare the packaging, nutritional information and storage instructions.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per breakfast | Compare the current price, the weight of the loaf and how many portions you’ll actually use. | If I eat breakfast at home every working day, I want to know how much each portion I eat costs. For around 33% of consumers, the daily cost matters most. |
| Ready to take with you | Check how many rolls are in the pack and whether they can be eaten without any further preparation. | When I don’t have time to slice bread, I look for something I can take with me straight away. Convenience comes first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal, fibre and salt | Read the product description and compare the fibre and salt content per 100 g on the pack. | If I eat the same breakfast regularly, I want to be able to compare the ingredients, even if another type of bread looks cheaper. For around 20% of consumers, nutritional information is the top priority. |
| Storage and waste | Choose a suitable size and check whether you can freeze any unused portions straight away. | If I won’t eat a whole loaf quickly, I want to avoid having slices left over. Around 20% of consumers therefore prioritise storage and keeping bread fresh. |
Common mistakes
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Treating white and wholemeal bread as equivalent choices
The type of bread affects its nutritional make-up. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes wholemeal bread from white bread and highlights, among other things, the fibre in wholemeal bread.
If you want wholemeal bread, check the product description and ingredients before comparing pack sizes and prices.
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Treating a promotional price as the usual price
An offer is only available for a limited time. PLUS also says that prices may vary locally or change in the meantime; Lidl directs customers to its stores for current food prices.
Check when an offer ends and look at the current shelf or online price when you shop.
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Buying a whole loaf without a plan for storing it
A larger loaf won’t help if you can’t eat it all. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
Choose a half loaf if that better suits how much you eat, or divide a whole loaf into portions for the freezer straight away.
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Looking only for ‘wholemeal’ if you have an allergy
The word wholemeal doesn’t tell you which allergens a specific bread variety contains.
Whenever you try a new product, read the latest ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
An option if you want to compare different loaves and temporary offers online.
- Albert Heijn lists wholemeal loaves online, among other options.
- For a Bonus offer, check how long it runs and the price that applies when you buy.
Jumbo
Worth considering if you want to compare loaves, rolls and bake-at-home bread from one range.
- Jumbo lists a Fijn Volkoren variety online.
- Check availability and ingredients for the exact variety you choose.
Lidl
Worth considering if you pass a store on your way and want to pick up bread there.
- Lidl says it bakes bread in its stores from 06.00.
- The fresh range may vary by store; according to Lidl, current food prices are available in store.
ALDI
A brand to consider if you’re looking for a simple wholemeal loaf.
- ALDI lists both a Fijn Volkoren whole loaf and a separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf.
- Compare the varieties separately: a claim about the extra-high-fibre loaf doesn’t apply to Fijn Volkoren.
PLUS
Worth considering if you want to check product details online before choosing a loaf.
- PLUS provides nutritional information for its Boeren volkoren whole loaf, along with advice on freezing it at home.
- PLUS warns that prices may vary locally or change in the meantime.
Dirk
An option for comparing whole and half wholemeal loaves by size.
- Dirk lists a whole Boeren volkoren loaf and a half loaf of extra-fibre wholemeal bread.
- For an offer on a specific variety, check the end date and current in-store price.
Wholemeal flatbread at Joybuy
This wholemeal flatbread suits a breakfast when you want to take bread with you without slicing it. If cost per breakfast is your main concern, compare the pack and current price with a whole loaf or rolls.
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Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, 6 pieces
A bread option for mornings when you don’t want to slice anything: the product information describes the flatbread as ready to eat. The pack contains 6 pieces. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
Which bread is best for a quick breakfast on a budget?
A sliced wholemeal loaf is a practical starting point if you can make sandwiches at home and freeze any unused portions. If breakfast needs to be ready to go, compare wholemeal rolls or ready-to-eat flatbread by pack size and current price.
Is brown or multigrain bread always wholemeal?
No, those descriptions alone don’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the product description and ingredients on the specific pack.
How can I avoid having a whole loaf left over?
Freeze any unused slices in portions as soon as you buy the bread, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. If you don’t have room to store portions, a smaller loaf may better suit how much you eat.
Does Dutch bread always contain iodine?
No, don’t assume that every loaf contains iodine. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may only be present in bread when baker’s salt has been added. Check the ingredients list of the bread you choose to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.
Is the online price of bread the same as the in-store price?
Not necessarily: PLUS says that prices may vary locally or change in the meantime, and Lidl directs customers to its stores for current food prices. So check the shelf price or the price in your order before comparing different types of bread.