Small household looking to waste less
If you live alone or as a couple and don’t eat bread every day, a half loaf means you have less to get through at once. The Voedingscentrum says you can freeze bread in portions after buying it.
Who is a half loaf useful for?
First-time buyer looking for a wholemeal staple
If you’re looking for bread for breakfast or lunch and want to keep an eye on your fibre intake, a half loaf of wholemeal bread is worth considering. The Voedingscentrum says wholemeal bread is high in fibre, vitamins and minerals.
Shopper with a specific taste or nutritional preference
You might prefer brown or white bread, or want to compare varieties with specific claims about fibre, carbohydrates or salt. As well as checking the front of the packaging, read the product description, ingredients, allergen information and nutritional information.
What should you look for when choosing?
When doing your first food shop, start by working out how much bread you can use or freeze. Then compare the type of bread and check the label for any specific preferences.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Check the weight and storage instructions, and see whether you can freeze portions after buying. | If I’m not sure how quickly I’ll get through a loaf, I don’t want to have to store too much at once; a manageable amount of bread is a priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare the amount of fibre per 100 g. | If wholemeal bread is your first choice for everyday breakfasts or lunches, look beyond the colour of the bread; this is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Taste or a specific preference | For the varieties you’re interested in, check the type of bread, ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g. | I want bread that suits my taste or a specific preference about its ingredients; around 25% of consumers pay most attention to this. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking dark or multigrain bread for wholemeal
The colour of the bread or the presence of seeds doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether it’s wholemeal. So if wholemeal is your main priority, choosing by appearance alone isn’t much help.
Check the type of bread on the packaging and, if needed, compare the amount of fibre per 100 g.
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Buying a half loaf without a storage plan
Even a smaller loaf needs to be used in time. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days.
If you don’t expect to finish it within that time, freeze the bread in portions after buying it.
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Relying on a single claim to judge the whole loaf
A claim about fibre, carbohydrates or salt doesn’t describe the full nutritional profile, nor does it tell you whether you’ll enjoy the taste.
Compare the product descriptions, ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of the loaves you’re considering.
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Relying only on the online product description
Albert Heijn and PLUS say that product information, including ingredients and nutritional values, can change. This is especially important if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
Check the packaging of the loaf you actually buy before eating it.
Brands offering half loaves to consider
These brands offer a range of half loaves. Choose based on the specific product, and check the packaging and what’s available at your shop.
Albert Heijn
Offers a range of half loaves, including AH Bakkersbrood swirl volkoren half, weighing 350 g.
- For this variety, Albert Heijn lists 7,7 g of fibre and 0,85 g of salt per 100 g, iodised salt and a recommendation to freeze it.
- Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can change; check the packaging when you buy it.
Jumbo
Offers half loaves including brown, white and wholemeal varieties.
- For Jumbo Rond Bruin Half, Jumbo lists 5,3 g of fibre per 100 g.
- This nutritional value applies to this variety; check the label of each other half loaf separately.
Lidl
Offers half loaves in store, including Halfje extra volkorenbrood and Halfje boerenbruin.
- Lidl lists the weight of Halfje extra volkorenbrood as 400 g.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information of the bread you choose in store.
ALDI
Offers products including Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half and Boeren volkoren meergranen half.
- The description of Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half mentions seeds and grains.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional values and availability of your chosen variety at your shop.
PLUS
Offers half loaves of wholemeal bread, including PLUS Boeren volkoren half and Korenlanders varieties.
- For PLUS Boeren volkoren half, PLUS lists 400 g per pack, 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g.
- PLUS says that product information can change, so check the packaging of the loaf you buy.
Dirk
Offers several half loaves from Bakker van der Akker, including Boeren volkoren half and a reduced-carbohydrate wholemeal variety.
- At Dirk, you can compare the product descriptions of different half loaves of wholemeal bread.
- Dirk doesn’t offer a delivery service, so bear this in mind if you want your first food shop delivered.
Related products at Joybuy
Related products will appear soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a half loaf always a good choice for one person?
Not always: it depends on how much bread you eat and how you can store it. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. Freeze portions after buying if you want it to last longer.
Should I choose white, brown or wholemeal bread for my first food shop?
Choose a half loaf of wholemeal bread if wholemeal and fibre are your priorities; according to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is high in fibre, vitamins and minerals. If taste or a particular use matters more, compare brown and white varieties too, and check their nutritional information.
How can I tell whether a half loaf contains iodised salt?
Check the ingredients list on the loaf you buy for iodised salt or baker’s salt. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for AH Bakkersbrood swirl volkoren half; don’t assume another loaf has the same ingredients.
What should I look for if I need to avoid certain allergens?
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the specific half loaf. Don’t rely only on the type of bread or an earlier online description: Albert Heijn and PLUS point out that product information can change.