Fussy sweet-breakfast eaters
Looking for a light or familiar slice to go with sweet toppings. If they enjoy multigrain bread, they may still want to know whether it’s actually wholemeal.
Who might find this bread guide useful?
Breakfast eaters keeping an eye on fibre
Want to choose clearly wholemeal bread and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g in specific products.
Practical supermarket shoppers
Looking for a pack size that suits how much they use, such as a whole or half loaf, and checking the product information before ordering.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the eater’s preference or a clearly wholemeal loaf is the priority. Then compare the packaging and toppings: neither choice is automatically determined by the name of the bread.
Wholemeal bread
When: choose this option if a wholemeal base matters more than a lighter appearance.
Consider: if you’re buying for a fussy eater, check that they like the taste and texture.
Brown or multigrain bread
When: consider this if the eater would prefer something other than strongly flavoured wholemeal bread.
Consider: the name ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t confirm how much wholemeal flour it contains.
White bread
When: it may be a good fit if familiar bread is what matters most to the eater.
Consider: don’t treat white bread as nutritionally equivalent to wholemeal bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Familiar bread | Check the type of bread and choose a shape or pack that suits the eater. | If a fussy eater won’t eat a slice, familiar bread is the most important consideration for me. For around 45% of consumers, getting their acceptance comes first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the product description and compare the fibre per 100 g of the exact products. | I want to know whether the bread under the sweet topping is genuinely wholemeal, rather than judging by its colour. For around 33% of consumers, choosing wholemeal is the priority. |
| A practical quantity | Compare whole and half loaves, and read the storage instructions for the bread you choose. | If I’m unlikely to get through a whole loaf quickly, I look for a quantity that suits how much I use. This practical consideration comes first for around 22% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking multigrain or dark bread for wholemeal
Multigrain refers to the types of grain used; it doesn’t automatically mean the bread contains wholemeal flour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that all the grain ingredients must consist of wholemeal flour for a product to be called wholemeal.
Read the product description and ingredients; don’t rely only on the colour, seeds or words on the front of the pack.
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Judging the bread alone
The topping matters too, even with a wholemeal slice. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, toppings can contain a lot of sugar, salt or saturated fat.
Make your choice of bread separately from your choice of sweet topping.
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Relying on outdated allergen information
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between breads or change over time. So a product you bought previously is no substitute for the information on the current pack.
If you have an allergy, check the label on the exact bread you receive.
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Buying a whole loaf without a plan for using it
A pack that’s bigger than you can use in time may lead to food waste.
Consider a half loaf or follow the freezing instructions for the product you choose.
Supermarket chains to explore
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s online bread range includes options such as white and wholemeal bread.
- You can browse different types of bread within the same range.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific bread; a category description doesn’t apply to every product.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s online range distinguishes between options including white, brown, wholemeal and multigrain bread.
- The product information for Jumbo Fijn Volkorenbrood lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g, so you can compare that value for this loaf.
- That fibre value doesn’t apply to other Jumbo breads or to multigrain bread in general.
PLUS
PLUS provides product information for individual loaves, including PLUS Boeren volkoren heel.
- For this product, you can check details such as ingredients, allergens and storage information.
- PLUS says product information may change; compare the online details with the pack you receive.
Dirk
Dirk’s bread range includes options such as white, wholemeal, multigrain and sourdough.
- The range includes several types of bread to compare at product level.
- Seeing a type of bread in the category doesn’t tell you the ingredients or nutritional value of another variety.
Bread options at Joybuy
This selection includes breads labelled wholemeal and multigrain options for anyone looking for bread to serve at a sweet breakfast. The name of a bread doesn’t tell you whether a fussy eater will like its texture or how it goes with sweet toppings, so consider that separately.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g
An option if you’re looking for a round loaf labelled wholemeal; check the product description and ingredients on the pack.
The pack states 550 g. Check the preparation instructions before planning to serve the bread for breakfast.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun 500 g
Consider this rye bread if it suits the eater; the name alone doesn’t tell you how it tastes with sweet toppings.
The pack states 500 g. If you want to compare fibre per 100 g, read the nutritional information on the pack.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P
A different type of bread to consider if you want a base labelled wholemeal; think about whether Lebanese bread suits the way you enjoy sweet toppings.
The product name states Whole Wheat and 6 P. If you have allergies, check the current packaging.
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g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 pieces
These four multigrain rolls may suit you if you prefer individual rolls. Multigrain doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal.
Check the product description and ingredients. If you have a sesame allergy, read the current packaging before choosing this product.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round 550 g
A round multigrain loaf to try alongside a wholemeal option if you enjoy this type of bread; don’t assume from the name that it’s entirely wholemeal.
The pack states 550 g. Check the preparation instructions and product description before use.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. The name ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t mean that all the grain ingredients are wholemeal. Check the product description and ingredients; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all its grain ingredients consist of wholemeal flour.
How do I check allergens when ordering bread online?
Check the allergen information for the exact product and read the packaging you receive too. Ingredients and warnings about possible traces may vary between breads and can change over time.
Can I freeze bread if a whole loaf is too much?
Follow the instructions for the bread you choose. PLUS says that PLUS Boeren volkoren heel can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month; don’t automatically apply this guidance to other breads.
Does wholemeal bread automatically make sweet toppings a good choice?
No, assess the bread and topping separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that toppings can contain a lot of sugar, salt or saturated fat, so check the nutritional information for your chosen topping too.