Choose bread for weekday breakfasts based on how much you’ll use, not just the price per loaf. A whole loaf of wholemeal bread suits regular use, or you can freeze portions; if you don’t eat much bread, a half loaf can help reduce waste. When you shop, also compare the weight, nutritional information and storage instructions for the specific product.
If you have sandwiches on many working days, a whole loaf of wholemeal bread could be a good option. Check the weight and how many slices you’ll actually use, though: a low price per loaf doesn’t tell you how much will be left over.
If you won’t get through a whole loaf, consider a half loaf or freezing portions. Jumbo and Dirk list half loaves of wholemeal bread; check the storage instructions for the loaf you buy.
If wholemeal matters to you, look beyond the name of the bread. Check the nutritional information for the exact product, including fibre and salt per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread wherever possible.
First, work out how much bread you usually get through. Then compare like-for-like sizes and consider which nutritional information and preparation details matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of the loaf | Compare the current price per loaf and the weight; use the price per kilo if it’s listed. | I often have bread for breakfast and want to keep regular spending down. Around 33% of consumers put the price of the loaf first. |
| Wholemeal bread and fibre | Check that it is labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g on the labels of the loaves you’re considering. | If wholemeal is my priority, I still want to be able to choose within my budget. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
| Size and waste | Choose a whole or half loaf to suit how much you eat, and check whether you can freeze it and how to do so. | I don’t have breakfast at home every day and don’t want to keep throwing bread away. The right size is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Convenience in the morning | Check whether the bread is pre-sliced or needs baking, and whether it’s available at your shop. | I want to have breakfast on working days without much preparation. For around 20% of consumers, convenience matters most. |
A whole loaf may seem like good value, but bread you don’t eat won’t make breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread as a product that is often wasted.
Estimate how much you’ll use over the next few days. Choose a half loaf or freeze portions if the product’s storage instructions allow it.
The term multigrain doesn’t tell you by itself whether a loaf is wholemeal. You’ll also need the nutritional information for the specific bread to compare fibre content.
Look for the wholemeal label if that’s what you prefer, then compare the stated fibre per 100 g.
Albert Heijn lists temporary bread offers, while PLUS notes that prices may vary between shops. So a price you saw earlier may not be the price when you buy.
Compare the same size of loaf on the same price basis, and check the current price when you shop.
The name of a loaf doesn’t tell you everything about its ingredients or the allergens it contains. Nor can you assume that every loaf contains bakers’ salt.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact product, especially if this information is important to your choice.
These chains offer different bread sizes and types to compare. For the product you choose, always check the current range, packaging and price basis.
Albert Heijn’s bread page features everyday loaves, speciality breads and temporary offers.
Jumbo lists several wholemeal loaves online, including half loaves.
Lidl describes a range that includes freshly baked, pre-packed and bake-at-home bread.
ALDI lists standard wholemeal loaves and a separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal option.
PLUS provides information about ingredients, allergens, nutritional values and storage for its farmhouse wholemeal bread.
Dirk lists whole and half loaves of wholemeal bread, as well as wholemeal bake-at-home bread.
These products show three different breakfast bread options: a loaf of wholemeal bread to bake at home, Lebanese wholemeal flatbread and a rye bread product. To choose a budget-friendly option, compare the current price with how much you’ll use; these types of bread and pack sizes aren’t directly like-for-like.
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An option if you’d like to buy wholemeal bread to bake at home later. For a weekday morning, allow time to defrost, bake and cool the loaf before slicing it. Check the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging.
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A different type of bread for anyone who wants wholemeal bread with breakfast without baking it first. Check the packaging to see how much to use at a time and how to store the remaining pieces after opening.
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A rye bread option if you’re considering other types of bread for breakfast too. The product name suggests a roll, while the description refers to sliced rye bread; check the product format on the packaging before comparing it with a standard whole loaf.
No. The best-value choice also depends on how much you eat. Compare the current price and weight of the loaves you’re considering. If you’d throw away part of a whole loaf, a smaller size may suit how much you use better.
Buy a half loaf or freeze portions of a whole loaf if the product instructions allow it. PLUS says its farmhouse wholemeal bread can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; for other loaves, follow the instructions on their own packaging.
Don’t assume a specific product contains iodine just because of the type of bread. Check the ingredients list for bakers’ salt and refer to the information on the packaging of the loaf you’re buying.
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the exact loaf. Ingredients vary between products and can change, so don’t assume it contains wheat, soya or other allergens based only on the type of bread or supermarket name.
Not necessarily: PLUS notes that local prices may vary, and Lidl says its fresh bread range may differ from one store to another. So check the product and current price in store or when placing your order.
