A half loaf of wholemeal bread is a sensible starting point if one or two people in your household eat bread for breakfast during the week and you want to think carefully about the type of bread you choose. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread and most types of brown bread over white bread. A smaller loaf only helps reduce waste if you finish it in time or freeze any portions you won’t use straight after buying it. For the variety you choose, also check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the label.
If one or two people in your household eat bread for breakfast during the week, a half loaf may be a better fit for what you’ll actually eat. If you have slices left over, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it.
If you eat bread every day, the type of bread matters as well as the loaf size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread and most types of brown bread over white bread. To compare a specific variety, check the fibre per 100 g on the label.
First, work out how many slices you usually use. Then choose the type of bread and decide how you’ll store any portions left over.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and waste | Count how many slices you’ll need for your next few breakfasts and decide which ones to freeze straight away. | When there are only a few of us eating bread, I don’t want to open more than we can use. Getting the right quantity comes first for around 36% of consumers. |
| Type of bread and fibre | Check whether the variety is labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g. Colour or the word ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough on its own. | If I have bread for breakfast every day, I want to be able to choose based on the type of bread and its nutritional information. Around 36% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Storage for the working week | Read the storage instructions and freeze any portions you’ll use later straight after buying the loaf. | On a busy morning, I only want to take the slices I need from the freezer. Easy storage is the main priority for around 28% of consumers. |
A dark colour, visible grains or the word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t necessarily mean a loaf is made entirely from wholemeal flour.
If wholemeal is your main criterion, look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
Even a smaller loaf can go uneaten if you don’t have bread every weekday.
Following the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice, freeze individual portions straight after buying the loaf and take out what you need.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, Dutch bakeries aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s been used just from the type of bread.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt. If the ingredients aren’t listed for unpackaged bread, ask the bakery.
These supermarket ranges include examples of half loaves. Always compare the exact variety, as the type of bread, ingredients and nutritional information can differ.
The range includes AH Rond volkoren half.
The bread range includes Jumbo Fijn Volkoren - Half and Waldkorn - Volkoren Brood - Half, among others.
The range includes Halfje extra volkorenbrood and Halfje donker meergranenbrood.
The range includes Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half.
The range includes PLUS Boeren volkoren half.
The bread range includes Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half.
No. The quantity still needs to match what you eat. If you have slices left over, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it, then taking out what you need each day.
No, but wholemeal is a sensible starting point if the type of bread is your main selection criterion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread and most types of brown bread over white bread. Also check the ingredients and nutritional information for the loaf you’re considering.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Check the label to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used, or ask for the ingredients if the bread is unpackaged.
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety you’re buying, including any warnings about cross-contamination. Don’t rely solely on a range name or an earlier product description: Albert Heijn and PLUS say that product information can change.
