Don’t automatically serve one bread that has to be a compromise for everyone. Offer a small white bread option alongside wholemeal or brown bread for guests who prefer a light, familiar slice. If you want to make sure a bread is wholemeal, check the product description rather than relying on its colour. Also check the allergens and what’s available at your chosen shop.
If your guests would rather avoid dark-coloured bread, seeds or a firm texture, serve white bread alongside wholemeal or brown bread. That way, you don’t have to find one loaf to suit everyone’s different preferences.
If you want to know whether a bread is entirely wholemeal, don’t rely on its brown colour or the name ‘multigrain’. Compare the product description and, for fibre, the nutritional information per 100 g.
If you’re buying well ahead of Christmas dinner or want to serve the bread just before the meal, consider how to store it, how much you’ll need and what’s available at your chosen branch.
First, decide whether your guests’ different tastes mean you’ll need two types of bread. Then check the ingredients of each bread you choose and plan when you’ll serve it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taste and texture | Check whether the bread is white, brown or fine-textured wholemeal; consider the crumb you want for each product. | If some guests mainly want a light, soft slice, I’d rather offer a white option as well as a coarse loaf. Around 42% of consumers prioritise that familiar taste and texture. |
| Wholemeal bread and fibre | Check the wholemeal labelling and compare the fibre in the nutritional information per 100 g. | I want to know exactly what’s on the table alongside white bread, rather than judging by colour. Around 33% of consumers prioritise being able to check that a bread is wholemeal and compare its fibre content. |
| Storage and serving | Check the storage advice and what’s available at your chosen branch. | When I buy bread in advance, I want to have enough to serve without ending up with too much left over. Freshness and suitable quantities come first for around 25% of consumers. |
A brown colour, seeds or the name ‘multigrain’ don’t tell you on their own whether all the flour used is wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread contains a combination of wholemeal flour and white flour.
For packaged bread, look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and read the product description and ingredients. For unpackaged bread, ask what type of flour has been used.
A bread that’s a good compromise for one guest might be too coarse for another, or not white enough.
Consider buying smaller amounts of white bread and wholemeal or brown bread. Freeze any leftover bread in portions, following the storage advice.
Offering two types also takes up more room on the table, so plan your portions before you buy.
Lidl says its range of fresh bread can vary from branch to branch. PLUS says that product information, including allergen information, can change.
Check what’s available at your chosen shop and read the current packaging for the exact bread you’ll be serving.
Albert Heijn lists various types of bread online, so you can see what might suit your Christmas dinner before you shop.
Jumbo describes some of its wholemeal options as fine-textured and soft, which can help if you’re considering the texture of the bread.
Lidl is an option if you want to choose rolls or other freshly baked products just before dinner.
ALDI lists white, wholemeal and multigrain bread in its daily fresh range.
At PLUS, you can check the product information for individual breads before choosing a wholemeal option.
At Dirk, you can look for white, wholemeal and other types of bread for Christmas dinner.
These options include white bread to serve alongside another type, and a bread labelled wholemeal for anyone looking for a compromise. Check the current ingredients and preparation information for the product you choose.
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A white option for guests who would rather not have wholemeal bread with their Christmas dinner.
The pack contains four rolls. Check the current allergen information on the packaging.
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An option for anyone who wants to serve a bread labelled wholemeal alongside white bread.
This round loaf weighs 550 g. Check the preparation instructions on the current packaging before baking; the available product information lists different baking times.
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This white baguette can be served for everyone to share alongside a separate wholemeal loaf.
The baguette weighs 250 g. If you have guests with allergies, check the current packaging.
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A white baguette for anyone who wants to offer a lighter bread option when serving a mixed group.
The baguette weighs 220 g. Check the packaging for preparation instructions and allergens.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread contains a combination of wholemeal flour and white flour. If you want an entirely wholemeal option, look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and check the product description rather than relying on the colour alone.
Follow the storage advice for the bread you choose and, if necessary, freeze bread you’ve bought in advance in portions. The Voedingscentrum recommends portioning bread you want to freeze straight after buying it, so you can take out just what you need.
Read the current allergen information for the exact bread you’ll be serving. Product information can change, as PLUS notes for its bread products. If the bread is unpackaged, ask for the information for that specific type.
No. A name such as white, brown or wholemeal doesn’t tell you how much iodine is in that particular bread. For information about its ingredients, check the details for the specific product.
