Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents of fussy sandwich eaters

If coarsely textured bread keeps coming home uneaten in the lunchbox, try fine wholemeal before switching to white or mixed bread. Let your child decide whether they prefer the different texture.

Families keeping an eye on fibre

According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread contains fibre, vitamins and minerals. To help you choose, compare the nutritional values of different breads per 100 g.

Parents checking allergens and school requirements

If your child has a known wheat allergy or coeliac disease, choosing bread isn’t just a matter of taste. Check the label and any requirements that apply to your child and their school before packing lunch.

What should you look for when choosing?

Fine wholemeal bread

When to choose it: choose this if you’re looking for wholemeal bread but your child may not eat a coarsely textured loaf.

What to consider: ‘fine’ doesn’t guarantee your child will like the bread. Taste and nutritional value vary from one product to another.

White or mixed bread

When to consider it: if a wholemeal option keeps coming home uneaten at lunchtime.

What to consider: a light colour or a name like ‘best of both’ doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal. Check the product name and ingredients separately.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Wholemeal and nutritional value Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and read the ingredients list. Compare fibre and other nutritional values per 100 g. I want to know whether the lunch bread is genuinely wholemeal, rather than just dark in colour. For around 46% of consumers, having this assurance is the main priority when choosing.
Texture and whether your child will eat it Compare a fine-textured option with a coarser one and, if needed, try a small or half loaf first. If coarsely textured sandwiches keep coming home in the lunchbox, I want to find a texture my child will eat. For around 36% of consumers, whether the food is enjoyed is the deciding factor.
Allergens and school requirements Read the allergen information and check any requirements that apply to your child and their school before packing lunch. If an allergy or school requirement affects the choice of lunch, I want to be sure in advance which bread is suitable. For around 18% of consumers, this check comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal

    According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all the flour used is made from whole grains. Colour, seeds and names like ‘waldkorn’ don’t prove that it is.

    Check the product name and ingredients list instead of relying on the front of the packaging.

  • Choosing a texture without letting your child try it

    Even fine wholemeal bread may come home uneaten if your child doesn’t like the taste or texture. Bread that isn’t eaten won’t help you put together a lunch.

    Try a few slices or half a loaf first, then talk after a few lunches about what your child does eat.

  • Avoiding gluten unnecessarily or skipping an essential check

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, people without a condition that requires them to avoid gluten don’t need to eat a gluten-free diet. However, regular bread made with wheat, rye or barley contains gluten, so it isn’t suitable for someone with coeliac disease. People with a wheat allergy need to avoid wheat.

    Follow the requirements for your child, check the label and, if a gluten-free lunch is essential, avoid contact with crumbs from ordinary bread.

  • Assuming all bread contains iodised baker’s salt

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So don’t assume bread contains iodised baker’s salt based on the type of bread.

    Check the product information or ask the baker if this matters to your choice.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The range includes round wholemeal bread and wholemeal tin bread, among other options.

  • There are different bread styles and sizes to compare.
  • Check the current ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information for the bread you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers fine wholemeal bread and seeded varieties, among other options.

  • Fine wholemeal gives you a different texture to try with a fussy schoolchild.
  • Compare the nutritional values and allergen information for each variety; ‘fine’ on its own tells you nothing about these.

Lidl

Lidl uses a fibre scale on packaged bread, with categories shown per 100 g.

  • The scale helps you compare fibre values on the same weight basis.
  • Also check the bread’s wholemeal designation, ingredients and allergen information.

ALDI

The bread range includes fine wholemeal and wholemeal multigrain varieties, among other options.

  • ALDI states that its wholemeal breads are made with 100% wholemeal flour.
  • Check the name of the variety you choose; ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t mean ‘wholemeal’.

PLUS

The range includes round fine wholemeal bread and wholemeal tiger bread, among other options.

  • Different styles and sizes give you plenty of choice when picking a loaf to try.
  • Check names like ‘waldkorn’ or ‘dark multigrain’ against the label rather than assuming what they mean.

Dirk

Dirk offers Bakker van der Akker wholemeal breads, including round and square varieties.

  • The different bread shapes give you options for school lunches.
  • Check the packaging of the specific variety for its ingredients and nutritional values.

A school lunch bread option at Joybuy

This wholemeal wheat bread has a different shape from the usual sandwich bread you might pack in a lunchbox. The best way to find out whether your child likes its shape and texture is to try it together.

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, pack of 6

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, pack of 6

A wholemeal wheat bread to consider if you’d like to try a different shape of bread for your child’s school lunch.

The pack contains 6 pieces. The bread contains wheat. If your child has a wheat allergy or coeliac disease, check the label and choose a product that meets the requirements for your child.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is dark or multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all the flour used is made from whole grains. So check the product name and ingredients, not just the colour or visible seeds.

Is fine wholemeal a good first option for a fussy schoolchild?

Yes, if a coarse texture is the main problem, you could let your child try fine wholemeal first. It’s still designated as wholemeal, but ‘fine’ doesn’t guarantee that your child will eat it. Also compare the nutritional information on the packaging you choose.

Can a child with coeliac disease or a wheat allergy eat ordinary wholemeal bread?

Ordinary wholemeal wheat bread isn’t suitable for either condition. With coeliac disease, regular rye and barley breads also contain gluten; with a wheat allergy, wheat must be avoided. Follow the requirements for your child and check the label and for possible cross-contamination.

Does all bread contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the product information or ask the baker if the type of salt used matters to your choice.

How do you compare the nutritional values of two breads?

Compare the values per 100 g in the nutritional information, so different portion sizes or loaf sizes don’t skew the comparison. Also read the ingredients list and allergen information for both products.