Use sliced wholemeal bread as a starting point for nursery lunches if it suits the children’s ages, the menu and each child’s individual arrangements. Then check that the slices work for your group, read the latest ingredients and allergen information, and don’t assume baker’s salt has been used without product information to confirm it.
They’re looking for bread that suits the nursery menu and want to make an informed choice between wholemeal and brown bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes these types of bread in its lunch advice for children aged 4 to 12. For younger children, the nursery’s arrangements and each child’s individual needs remain the deciding factors.
Before buying and serving the bread, they need to check whether the ingredients and allergen information for that exact product meet each child’s individual arrangements and the nursery’s policy.
They want slices that are easy to fill and serve to the group. The amount needed for each lunch and the slicing description on the packaging also matter: a product name such as ‘fine’ doesn’t automatically mean the slices are medium thickness.
Start with each child’s individual arrangements and the type of bread you need. Then compare the actual slices and pack size for your group.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Type of bread and menu | If you want wholemeal bread, look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging. Check whether baker’s salt has been used if that’s relevant to your menu planning. | For everyday lunches, I want to know what type of bread I’m buying for the group. Around 36% of consumers put this first. |
| Allergens and individual arrangements | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for the exact bread, and check it against each child’s individual arrangements. | If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know before serving whether this bread meets the agreed arrangements. Around 29% of consumers put this check first. |
| Slice thickness and portions | Check whether the bread is sliced and what slicing description appears on the packaging. If necessary, try one pack before buying for the group. | I want slices that are easy to fill and serve to our group. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this when planning portions. |
| Stock and shopping options | Check the pack size and current delivery or collection options at your chosen shop. | If I regularly order for the same group, I want a quantity that suits our lunch plans. For around 14% of consumers, how they shop is the main consideration. |
A dark colour doesn’t tell you what flour the bread is made from. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour.
If wholemeal is the type of bread you want to buy, look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging.
‘Fine’, ‘whole’ and ‘half’ don’t all mean the same thing. ‘Whole’ and ‘half’ may refer to the size of the loaf, while ‘fine’ doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium thickness.
Check the slicing description for the exact product. If thickness matters for filling and serving the bread, try one pack first.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. PLUS therefore advises customers to read the packaging.
Check the packaging again if you switch products and whenever you reorder, taking each child’s individual arrangements and the nursery’s policy into account.
The fact that bread is sold in the Netherlands doesn’t confirm that a particular loaf was made with baker’s salt.
Check the packaging or ask the baker if the use of baker’s salt is important for your menu planning.
These shops offer a starting point when looking for wholemeal bread. For nursery use, always check the exact product and the latest packaging details.
Albert Heijn’s online wholemeal bread range includes a sliced option.
Jumbo lists a product called Jumbo - Fine Wholemeal and describes it as a wholemeal wheat loaf.
Lidl lists a product called Fine Wholemeal and provides an ingredients and allergen overview for its fresh-from-the-oven bread range.
PLUS has an online wholemeal bread category and a listing for a round, fine wholemeal loaf.
Dirk’s online bread range includes wholemeal, white, multigrain and sourdough bread.
Wholemeal bread can be a good starting point if it suits the children’s ages, the menu and each child’s individual arrangements. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes wholemeal and brown bread in its lunch advice for children aged 4 to 12. For younger children, choose bread in line with the nursery’s arrangements.
No. Don’t assume bread is gluten-free just because there’s no separate warning. Read the full, up-to-date ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, and follow the individual arrangements if a child needs to avoid gluten.
No. The word ‘fine’ on its own doesn’t confirm the slice thickness you need for your group. Check that the exact bread is sold sliced and, if necessary, try a pack before buying larger quantities.
No. The fact that bread is sold in the Netherlands doesn’t tell you whether a particular product was made with baker’s salt. Check the packaging or ask the baker if this is relevant to your menu planning.
Choose a pack size that matches the quantity your group needs, and follow the storage advice on the packaging. When you reorder, check again which exact product and pack size are available.
