If you eat bread regularly and can freeze slices, you could start with a wholemeal loaf. A half loaf is a better fit if you only eat bread occasionally and don’t want to freeze it. Part-baked bread or individual meal portions also call for a little planning around preparation and how much you’ll actually use.
If you use bread for a meal several times a week, you can spread a whole loaf across different meals. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can also freeze wholemeal bread if you won’t eat it within a few days.
If you only eat bread a few times a week, a half loaf may be a better match for what you’ll get through. Check the pack size against your eating habits before choosing a whole loaf.
If you want wholemeal bread as a regular staple, check the product description rather than relying on its colour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that wholegrain products contain more fibre and other nutrients than comparable products made with white flour.
First, work out how much bread you’ll eat within a few days and whether you can freeze portions. Then check that the type of bread, pack size and any preparation required suit your meals.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per pack | Compare the size and contents with the number of meals you need bread for. | If I eat bread often, I want to have enough at home without buying more than I’ll use. For around 36% of consumers, buying an amount that suits their needs is the most important consideration. |
| Storage and food waste | Check the storage instructions and decide whether you can freeze a whole loaf in portions. | If I only eat a few slices a week, I want to stop the rest going stale. Around 29% of consumers say reducing food waste is their top priority. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and read the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack. | For my regular bread meal, I want to know which type of grain I’m choosing and how much fibre the product contains. Product information is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Meal type and preparation | Check the number of pieces in the pack and whether you need to bake the bread before eating it. | If I only have bread occasionally with a hot meal, I want a type that suits the occasion. That’s the most important consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Some of the bread may go stale before one person has eaten it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer.
Choose a half loaf if that better suits your eating habits, or freeze portions of a whole loaf in good time.
The colour and a multigrain name don’t, by themselves, tell you whether the bread is described as wholemeal.
Check the product name and ingredients if you specifically want wholemeal bread.
Ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. An earlier product description is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you’re using.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information before use. For unwrapped bread, ask the retailer for product information.
ALDI’s bread range includes whole and half wholemeal loaves.
Lidl sells freshly baked bread, including Tijgervolkoren heel vloerbrood.
Jumbo offers Fijn Volkoren as a whole or half loaf.
PLUS offers whole and half wholemeal loaves, as well as wholemeal multigrain baguettes to bake at home.
Dirk offers wholemeal loaves from Bakker van der Akker, including a variant with ‘Extra vezels’ in the product name.
Albert Heijn’s online range includes several wholemeal breads.
These products include rye bread, flatbread, tortillas and a round loaf. Choose the type that suits your meal and compare the pack size with how much you’ll actually use.
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A rye bread option if you want to spread your bread across separate meals.
The product name lists 9 pieces. Check the storage instructions and ingredients on the pack.
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Flatbread is a good fit for a meal when you don’t want standard sliced bread.
The product name lists 6 pieces. Check how much you’ll use once opened and follow the storage instructions on the pack.
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These tortillas are an option if you’d rather have one wrap with your meal than sliced bread.
The product name lists 8 pieces. Check the ingredients and storage instructions once opened.
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Consider this rye product if you can spread the pack across several meals.
The product name lists 500 g. Check the size and portion guidance on the current packaging.
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A whole round loaf is best if you’re planning several bread-based meals and have time to prepare it.
The product name lists 550 g. Check the packaging for instructions on defrosting, baking and storage.
A whole loaf works if you can eat it in time or freeze the slices. A half loaf may be more practical if you don’t eat much bread and don’t want to freeze it. Compare the size with your usual meals, rather than just what you need on the day you shop.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, wholemeal bread can be kept for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer. Freeze portions if you won’t use the bread within a few days.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the product and check the ingredients. Don’t rely on a brown colour or the word ‘multigrain’ alone; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes wholegrain products from products made with white flour.
Don’t assume so without checking the product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which iodine compounds may be present in bread through baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients; for unwrapped bread, ask which salt has been used.
Read the current allergen information on the packaging and ask for product information if the bread is unwrapped. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of label information for people with food allergies.
