Families with different bread preferences
If one person wants white bread and another wants wholemeal, offering a small selection of both gives you more flexibility than serving just one type to everyone. Brown bread can also be a middle ground.
Who is this choice for?
Breakfast shoppers keeping an eye on fibre
If you’re specifically looking for bread made with 100% wholemeal flour, the Voedingscentrum says to look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the packaging. If fibre content matters too, compare the nutritional information for the specific loaves.
Breakfast planners looking to serve smaller portions
Individual rolls let you serve several types of bread without slicing a whole loaf of each. Check the product name, ingredients and allergens for each roll.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide which bread preference matters most at the table, then choose how much to buy. A smaller second option may be enough to give anyone with a different preference a choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the packaging; compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. | If I mainly want to serve wholemeal bread, I need to be able to identify it from the packaging. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Offering a white bread option | Choose enough white bread to complement the other bread on the table. | If some people only want white bread, I want to be able to offer them some too. Around 29% of consumers put this preference first. |
| Brown bread as a middle ground | Read the product name and ingredients; don’t treat ‘brown’ as another word for ‘wholemeal’. | If serving one type of bread is more practical, I look for a middle ground between white and wholemeal. This is the most important consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Individual portions | Check how many rolls are in each pack and what’s available at your chosen shop. | For a breakfast with different guests, I want to be able to serve each person an individual roll without opening several whole loaves. Around 14% of consumers say this is their most important consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking brown bread for wholemeal bread
According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread is a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour. So its brown colour doesn’t confirm that it’s made with 100% wholemeal flour.
Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label if that’s important to your choice.
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Choosing only white bread for everyone
This leaves guests who specifically want wholemeal without that option. The Voedingscentrum also recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread where possible.
If people have different preferences, serve a wholemeal loaf or a few wholemeal rolls too.
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Guessing allergens from the type of bread
The labels ‘white’, ‘brown’ and ‘wholemeal’ don’t tell you which allergens are listed for a specific product. For example, the label on Jumbo Fijn Volkoren lists wheat, gluten and barley.
Check the latest allergen information for the bread you’re buying.
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Assuming every shop stocks the same fresh bread
Lidl says its oven-fresh bread range can vary by store. So you can’t assume that every store will have the roll you’re looking for.
Check what your local shop stocks before planning breakfast around a particular type of bread.
Bread brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn
Offers separate white and wholemeal options. AH Bakkersbrood Swirl Volkoren Half is one option if you’re looking for a half loaf.
- According to Albert Heijn, the Swirl variety combines two types of wholemeal bread; it isn’t a mix of white and wholemeal.
- Albert Heijn notes that product information can change. Check the packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo Fijn Volkoren is a specific wholemeal loaf you can compare with a white bread option.
- Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g for Fijn Volkoren.
- The label for this product lists wheat, gluten and barley; this information doesn’t necessarily apply to other Jumbo breads.
Lidl
The oven-fresh range includes white rolls and wholemeal options for a table with more than one preference.
- Lidl publishes an ingredients and allergens overview for its oven-fresh range.
- Availability can vary by store, so check the options at your local shop.
ALDI
The daily fresh range includes white bread, fine wholemeal bread and round brown bread, among other options.
- The separate types of bread let you choose between white, brown and wholemeal.
- A ‘brown’ or ‘multigrain’ label doesn’t confirm that a product is made with 100% wholemeal flour.
PLUS
An individual wholemeal Kaiser roll can be served alongside white bread as another breakfast option.
- PLUS lists 67% wholemeal wheat flour in the ingredients for this roll.
- The product information lists wheat and gluten, and possible traces of rye, barley, oats and sesame. Check the latest packaging.
Dirk
The bread range includes white, brown and wholemeal varieties, including a wholemeal floor loaf.
- You can compare different types of bread in the range for the same breakfast table.
- Compare fibre, salt and allergens using the nutritional information and label for the variety you choose.
Bread choices on Joybuy
These products offer a white option or another type of bread for a varied breakfast table. If you’re specifically looking to serve bread labelled ‘wholemeal’, don’t rely on the name alone for multigrain and rye bread.
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g'woon white baguettes, 2 pieces, 300 g
A white bread option for anyone who doesn’t want wholemeal. Serve it alongside a separate wholemeal option if people at the table have both preferences.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
A round loaf to consider serving alongside white bread. Check the Dutch label on the packaging if you specifically want a wholemeal loaf. Allow time for it to defrost, bake and cool before breakfast.
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g'woon multigrain rolls, 4 pieces
Four individual rolls for a table with different bread options. ‘Multigrain’ isn’t the same as ‘wholemeal’; check the packaging if you want bread made with 100% wholemeal flour.
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Bolletje rye bread, 500 g
A rye option to serve alongside white bread. Before serving, check the packaging for the bread’s shape and portion size: the product name and description give different indications.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij multigrain baguettes, 4 × 135 g
A multigrain option in four individual baguettes. Allow time to defrost and bake, and follow the instructions on the packaging. ‘Multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that the bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour.
Frequently asked questions
Is brown bread the same as wholemeal bread?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread is a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour; bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ is made with 100% wholemeal flour. So if that distinction matters, don’t choose by colour alone.
How can I offer both white and wholemeal bread without opening two whole loaves?
Pair a smaller white option with individual wholemeal rolls, or reverse the quantities if more guests prefer white bread. Check the label on each roll you choose: a multigrain roll isn’t automatically wholemeal.
Should I check the allergens in wholemeal bread too?
Yes, check the label for the specific product. Jumbo lists wheat, gluten and barley for Fijn Volkoren; for its wholemeal Kaiser roll, PLUS lists wheat and gluten, and possible traces of rye, barley, oats and sesame.
Does all bread contain iodine because it’s made with bakers’ salt?
You can’t assume this is true of every loaf based on a general rule about bakers’ salt. Check the ingredients for the product you’ve chosen, or ask the baker which type of salt was used if this matters to you.
How should I store bread bought for Sunday breakfast?
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you’ve chosen. Jumbo recommends storing Fijn Volkoren in a cool, dry and dark place; adjust how much you buy if you’re serving several types of bread.