The fibre-conscious luncher
You’re looking for a wholegrain base for lunch and want to know how much fibre you’ll get in your own serving. The amount per 100 g helps you compare packs, while the serving size determines how much you actually eat.
Who is this for?
The canteen customer who checks ingredients
You need to, or would like to, take account of grains or allergens such as sesame. So compare the ingredients and allergens of the specific variety, rather than relying on the brand name or the ‘wholegrain’ label alone.
The practical lunch planner
You want to be able to top your crispbread quickly at work. What you put on it and have alongside it matters too: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholegrain crispbread as one possible lunch option.
What should you look for?
Start with the ingredients and nutritional information for the crispbread, then consider your serving and the rest of your lunch. The percentages below show the estimated proportion of consumers for whom each consideration is likely to come first.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and wholegrains | Compare fibre per 100 g and work out the amount for your own serving. Also check which grains are listed in the ingredients. | If fibre is my main consideration at lunchtime, I want to know how much the slices I eat actually contribute. This fibre-focused choice is likely to come first for around 50% of consumers. |
| Grains and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety. If the crispbread is unwrapped in the canteen, ask for allergen information. | If I need to avoid certain grains or sesame, I can’t rely on the word ‘wholegrain’. Around 30% of consumers are likely to give checking ingredients their highest priority. |
| The whole lunch | Think about what you’ll put on the crispbread and what you’ll have with it. When choosing, also compare the salt per 100 g. | On a busy working day, I want to put my lunch together quickly without eating just a plain grain base. This practical lunch consideration is likely to matter most to around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Relying on ‘high in fibre’ on the front of the pack
A claim doesn’t tell you how much fibre you’ll get from your usual number of slices. The Dutch Consumers’ Association warns that fibre claims can give an overly favourable impression of a product.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving, and also check the salt and ingredients.
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Assuming wholegrain means allergen-free
The varieties reviewed include rye or wheat, and some also contain sesame. The ingredients and allergens to look out for vary by product.
Check the current pack every time you buy. If the product is offered unwrapped in the canteen, ask for allergen information.
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Treating crispbread as a complete lunch
The grain base is only one part of what you eat at lunchtime. Toppings and anything else you add also affect the make-up of the meal.
Choose toppings that suit your preferences and add, for example, vegetables or fruit. If you’re having salty toppings or soup, consider the rest of your lunch too.
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Assuming all crispbread contains iodised baker’s salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t assume it’s included just because a product is crispbread.
If you want to know whether a particular crispbread contains baker’s salt, check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer.
Brands compared
Compare the specific variety, not just the brand: the grain base, fibre, salt and allergens can vary within a range.
Wasa (Wasabröd)
Rye and wheat varieties with different nutritional values and ingredients.
- For Wasa Wholegrain, Albert Heijn lists 100% wholegrain rye and 20 g of fibre per 100 g.
- That figure doesn’t automatically apply to other Wasa varieties. Jumbo lists 20 g of protein per 100 g for Wasa Protein Wheat; check the allergens for each variety too.
Bolletje
Wholegrain crispbread where both the nutritional information and ingredients help you choose.
- Albert Heijn lists 14 g of fibre per 100 g for Bolletje Wholegrain crispbread, high in fibre.
- The same product information lists 0.97 g of salt per 100 g. Check the ingredients too, including wheat gluten and sesame.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket own-brand wholegrain crispbread to compare with other products.
- For AH Wholegrain Crispbread, Albert Heijn lists 12 g of fibre and 0.7 g of salt per 100 g.
- The product information lists wheat, rye and sesame. Check the current pack before relying on these details.
Jumbo
A supermarket own-brand option for comparing wholegrain crispbread with other varieties.
- Jumbo lists Wholegrain Crispbread in a 375 g pack.
- To compare fibre, salt and allergens, use the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack you choose.
ALDI / Goud Gebakken
Goud Gebakken has listings for wholegrain crispbread and crispbread with seeds.
- ALDI Netherlands describes Goud Gebakken Wholegrain Crispbread and a Robust variety with seeds.
- Compare the individual varieties on the label, especially if grains, seeds or salt are important to your choice.
Crispbread at Joybuy
These products offer a range of crispbread and cracker options if you’re looking for a grain base for lunch at work. Before buying, compare the current nutritional information, ingredients and serving size of the variety you plan to eat.
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g'woon Wholemeal crispbread, 375 g
An option if you’re looking for wholegrain crispbread as the base for a topped lunch at work.
Pack size: 375 g. Check the nutritional information per serving and the allergens on the current pack.
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Bolletje wholegrain crispbread, 265 g
You can compare this wholegrain variety if the amount of fibre in your lunch matters to you.
Pack size: 265 g. Albert Heijn lists 14 g of fibre and 0.97 g of salt per 100 g for Bolletje Wholegrain crispbread, high in fibre. Check that the current pack matches this variety and read the allergen information.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye crackers, 235 g
A rye option to consider if you want to take topped crispbread with you or put it together at work.
Pack size: 235 g. Check the fibre and salt per 100 g for this variety; don’t assume the nutritional values for Wasa Wholegrain apply to it.
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Wasa Wholegrain crispbread, 260 g
A wholegrain option if you want to compare the grain base of a topped lunch.
Pack size: 260 g. Check the current pack to see how much fibre and salt you’ll get per serving and which allergens are listed.
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Wasa High-Fiber crackers, 300 g
Consider these crackers alongside crispbread if fibre is your main point of comparison, while bearing in mind that they’re different product categories.
Pack size: 300 g. Check the fibre per 100 g and per serving on the pack, and read the ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is wholegrain crispbread automatically a high-fibre lunch?
No. The amount depends on the product, your serving and what else you eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 1.4 g of fibre for a 10 g piece of wholegrain crispbread. When buying, compare the nutritional information for the specific pack.
How can I make crispbread into a lunch for work?
Use it as a grain base and choose toppings and something to go with it that suit your lunch, such as vegetables or fruit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholegrain crispbread as one possible lunch option; also consider what’s in your toppings.
Where can I find allergen information in the workplace canteen?
For a packaged product, check the label; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be listed there. If the crispbread is unwrapped, ask the canteen which allergens are in the variety on offer.
Does crispbread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, you can’t assume that it does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients for the specific product or ask the manufacturer.