If white bread is the easiest choice at home, first compare a part-wholemeal or other bread with the fibre content per 100 g of the white bread you know and enjoy. If wholemeal is preferred and gets eaten, it’s the clearer choice if you’re looking to increase your fibre intake: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread contains more fibre than white bread, although the taste is different. Also choose a loaf size that will be eaten at home, and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
If white bread goes down well at home, a small step towards wholemeal may be easier than a sudden switch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests mixing white and wholemeal bread as a way to get used to the different taste.
A whole loaf isn’t always practical if you don’t eat many slices of bread. Compare the loaf weights and choose a whole or half loaf that suits your household.
If fibre is the deciding factor for you, the difference between white and genuinely wholemeal bread matters more than the colour of the crust. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the loaves you’re considering.
A good choice when: Familiar taste is what makes the difference between bread being eaten or left.
The trade-off: According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, white bread contains less fibre than wholemeal bread.
A good choice when: You want to make a gradual change from white bread.
The trade-off: The name alone doesn’t tell you how much fibre the bread contains; compare the value per 100 g.
A good choice when: Fibre comes first and the person eating it enjoys the different taste.
The trade-off: The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that wholemeal tastes different from white bread, so it may take time to get used to.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taste and getting used to it | Try a suitable type of bread. If you choose an in-between option, compare its fibre per 100 g with your current white bread. | If we mainly eat white bread at home, I want to make a change that will actually stay on the table. Around 40% of consumers put this gradual change in taste first. |
| Loaf size and waste | Check the loaf weight and whether a whole or half loaf suits how much bread you eat at home. | If a whole loaf gets left over, I’d rather choose a size we’ll finish. Around 30% of consumers say reducing waste is their biggest consideration. |
| Fibre content | Check that the bread is genuinely wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g on the packaging. | If fibre is my main reason for buying a different bread, I don’t want to judge by colour. For around 30% of consumers, fibre is the deciding factor. |
The colour and the word ‘multigrain’ don’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. Its fibre content may therefore be different from what you expect.
Check the name, ingredients and fibre per 100 g of the specific loaf.
‘Part-wholemeal’ or a similar description doesn’t tell you how much fibre the bread contains.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the white bread you usually buy.
A whole loaf may not be the best fit if your household won’t finish it in time.
Choose a suitable whole or half loaf, and follow any freezing instructions on the packaging.
Albert Heijn’s bread range includes both white and wholemeal loaves, including half loaves.
At Jumbo, you can search specifically for a loaf called Jumbo High-Fibre Part-White Bread.
Lidl uses a fibre rating to distinguish between breads in its range.
ALDI’s freshly baked bread range includes white and wholemeal options in different sizes.
PLUS provides nutritional information, an ingredients list and an allergen list for Boeren White Half Loaf.
Dirk’s range includes both white and wholemeal bread, including a half wholemeal loaf from Bakker van der Akker.
No. Don’t judge by the colour or the word ‘multigrain’ alone. Check whether the bread you choose is labelled as wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g.
Make the change gradually, for example by alternating or mixing white and wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests mixing them as a way to get used to the different taste.
Check the allergen information on the packaging of the bread you buy. Don’t rely on the type of bread alone or on the ingredients of a different product.
Choose a size your household will finish, or check the packaging to see whether and how you can freeze the bread. Storage instructions for one loaf don’t automatically apply to another.
