People who eat little bread
If you don’t eat bread every day or are buying for just a few people, a half loaf means you bring less home at once. Freezing portions is still important if you don’t expect to finish the bread quickly.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People looking for wholemeal bread
If you want your sandwich to remain wholemeal even after toasting, look for the word ‘wholemeal’. According to the Voedingscentrum, this label on bread means it is made from 100% wholemeal flour; colour alone doesn’t tell you that.
Toastie and toast fans
If you mainly make toasties or prefer a crunchy topping base, first choose the type of bread you want. White toastie bread, a regular half loaf and crispbread each make for a different kind of lunch.
What should you look for when choosing?
Half a wholemeal loaf
Good for: a sandwich or toast when you want to buy less bread at a time and wholemeal matters to you.
Bear in mind: even half a loaf may be too much if you have lunch irregularly; freeze portions if needed.
Half a loaf of white toastie bread
Good for: lunches where you mainly toast soft white bread or make toasties.
Bear in mind: white toastie bread isn’t wholemeal. Jumbo lists 2,3 g of fibre per 100 g for its half loaf of white toastie bread.
Crispbread or crunchy toast
Good for: a lunch where you want a crunchy base to top straight away, without having to toast bread first.
Bear in mind: crispbread isn’t half a loaf and isn’t a direct replacement for a soft sandwich or toastie.
For a campus lunch, first decide what type of bread you want to eat. Then compare pack sizes, the information on the label and what you can store at home.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Less waste | Check the size and think about how many portions you can freeze straight away. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a bread bin for 2–4 days, or in the freezer for 1–3 months. | If I don’t take bread with me every day, I don’t want to be left with opened slices that I can’t eat in time. Around 36% of consumers would say reducing waste is their main concern when buying. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’ on bread and compare the nutritional information per 100 g across different products; don’t go by colour alone. | For my lunch, I want to know first whether the bread is actually wholemeal, even if I toast the slices. For around 29% of consumers, this would be their main concern. |
| Toasting or topping | Choose between slices for a toastie, bread for toasting and a crunchy product you can top straight away. Check the storage instructions for the product you choose. | I want to be able to eat quickly in the canteen without finding out that what I bought isn’t suitable for the toastie or crunchy lunch I had in mind. Convenience would be the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Label information | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. Look for baker’s salt or iodised salt if the iodine contribution from bread matters to you. | When choosing, I need to know exactly what ingredients the product contains; the product name alone isn’t enough. For around 14% of consumers, checking the label would be their main concern when buying. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming brown or multigrain bread is wholemeal
You could end up choosing bread that doesn’t meet your wholemeal requirements. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread is a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging before comparing different types of bread.
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Assuming a half loaf will automatically prevent waste
Even half a loaf can be too much if you only eat a sandwich now and then. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a bread bin for 2–4 days.
After buying, divide the bread into portions for your lunches and freeze any you won’t use soon.
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Assuming all bread is made with baker’s salt
According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt when baking bread isn’t compulsory. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you whether this ingredient has been used.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt if this matters to your choice.
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Assuming bread and crispbread are interchangeable when it comes to allergens
Ingredients vary from product to product. Bolletje lists cereals containing gluten and sesame among the ingredients in its wholemeal crispbread.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying, including any warnings about traces.
Relevant brands and shops
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s range includes several half loaves of wholemeal bread, including Zaans volkoren half and tijger volkoren half.
- Offers a choice of several types of half wholemeal loaf.
- Check the current product name and ingredients if you’re looking for a specific variety.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both half loaves of wholemeal bread and a separate half loaf of white toastie bread.
- Makes it easy to choose the type of bread you want.
- Jumbo lists 2,3 g of fibre per 100 g for its half loaf of white toastie bread; don’t treat it as wholemeal bread.
ALDI
ALDI’s daily fresh bread range includes fijn volkoren half and boeren volkoren meergranen half.
- Offers clearly labelled half loaves for anyone looking to buy a smaller amount.
- Check that the variety you choose is labelled ‘wholemeal’ if that’s your main priority.
Bolletje
Bolletje offers wholemeal crispbread as a crunchy base for toppings. According to Bolletje, this product is made with 100% wholemeal grains.
- A relevant choice if you specifically want crispbread instead of soft sandwiches.
- It isn’t half a loaf; check the packaging for any allergens that matter to you.
Lidl
Lidl lists a 375 g loaf of toastie bread as a shop product.
- A size to consider if you’re looking for a separate loaf of toastie bread.
- Don’t assume it’s half a loaf based on the weight; check the product name and packaging in store.
Products for different types of lunch
These Joybuy products include crunchy lunch options, Danish toast and flatbread. Choose them based on the type of bread you want to eat, not as equivalent replacements for half a wholemeal loaf or half a loaf of toastie bread.
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Bolletje volkoren knäckebröd, 265 g
For anyone who wants to add toppings to a crunchy lunch base straight away instead of toasting sandwiches.
265 g pack. According to Bolletje, the crispbread is made with 100% wholemeal grains; it isn’t half a loaf. If you have allergies, check the current packaging for cereals containing gluten and sesame.
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g'woon Wholegrain Crispbreads, 125 g
For anyone looking for a smaller pack of crunchy bread to top at lunchtime.
125 g pack; this isn’t a half loaf of soft bread or toastie bread. If you have allergies, read the current ingredients and allergen information.
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Wasa Rustic Crispbread, 215 g
A crunchy base for toppings when you don’t want a soft sandwich or toastie.
215 g pack. This crispbread isn’t half a loaf; if you have allergies, check the current packaging, including any warnings about traces.
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Thinmax Xinmaichao New Mak Chiu-Golden Danish Toast, 85 g
For anyone looking for a small portion of Danish toast instead of slices from half a loaf.
85 g pack. The product information lists 15 g of sugars per 100 g; compare the nutritional information if that matters to your choice. If you have allergies, check the current packaging.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 stuks
For anyone who wants to use individual flatbreads as a lunch base instead of half a sliced loaf.
The product name states that the pack contains six pieces. This is flatbread, not toastie bread or crispbread; check the storage instructions after opening if you don’t eat it regularly.
Frequently asked questions
Is brown or multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘wholemeal’ on bread means it is made from 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread is a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. So check that the bread you buy is explicitly labelled wholemeal.
Does all bread contain baker’s salt?
No. The Voedingscentrum says that bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients on the label if you want to know whether the bread you’ve chosen contains it.
What if half a loaf is still too much?
Freeze the bread in lunch-sized portions after buying it, and take out what you need. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a bread bin for 2–4 days, or in the freezer for 1–3 months; the quality may decline if it’s stored for longer.
Where can I check for allergens in toast and crispbread?
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly listed in the ingredients; don’t rely on the general product name.