Choose half a wholemeal loaf if you’re staying in a holiday home with a small group and expect to have breakfast or lunch there a few times. It’s a good way to match the amount you buy to what you’ll eat. If you’re likely to have slices left over, freeze them in portions as soon as possible, if there’s a freezer. If you have a particular taste preference or dietary requirement, check the label of the specific loaf before you buy.
You’re staying in a holiday home with one to three other people and only expect to have a few bread-based meals. A half loaf may suit your plans better than a whole loaf, as long as you work out in advance how many slices you’ll need altogether.
You want to be able to choose wholemeal bread on holiday without having to buy a whole loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible. When comparing specific products, check the fibre per 100 g.
Your choice depends on specific ingredients, allergens or nutritional values. Check the label on the loaf you buy, as half loaves can differ in these respects.
Work out how many bread-based meals you’re planning and whether you can freeze any leftover slices. Then choose a type of bread to suit your taste and check the information on the label.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Compare the weight or number of portions with the breakfasts and lunches you have planned. | We’re a small group, so we may only eat bread a few times. I don’t want to have lots of slices left over. Getting the right amount is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Type of bread and fibre | Check that the bread is described as wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g. | I want to be able to choose a wholemeal option for my bread-based meals, even on holiday. Around 29% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Storage and freezing | Check whether the holiday home has a suitable freezer and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | Our plans may change from day to day, so I want to be able to save unused slices for another meal. For around 21% of consumers, being able to store the bread is the most important factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information, and compare relevant nutritional values per 100 g. | I need to know whether this particular loaf meets my requirements for ingredients or allergens, whatever it says on the front of the pack. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
The colour and name won’t tell you how much fibre the bread contains. If fibre is important to you, choosing by appearance alone can be misleading.
Check that the product description says wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g on the label.
Even a half loaf can go uneaten if you eat at home less often than expected during your stay. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says wholemeal bread can be kept in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days.
If you don’t expect to eat the bread within that time, divide it into portions and freeze it as soon as possible, if you have a freezer.
The type of bread or its Dutch origin won’t tell you which salt has been used in a particular product.
Look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask which ingredients have been used.
A statement about carbohydrates doesn’t tell you whether a product is free from allergens. Jumbo lists gluten, soya and egg among the ingredients in its Volkoren Brood Koolhydraatarm - Half.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information for each variety before deciding whether it meets your requirements.
AH Vloerbrood volkoren half is one option you can use to compare quantity and nutritional information.
Jumbo offers several half loaves, including fine wholemeal and a low-carbohydrate wholemeal option.
Lidl lists a Halfje extra volkorenbrood weighing 400 g, available to buy in store.
ALDI lists an Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half, available to buy in store.
The PLUS Boeren volkoren half comes with product information that lets you check its weight, nutritional values and storage instructions.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half and a low-carbohydrate half wholemeal option, among other products.
No, it depends on how many people are eating and how many bread-based meals you’re planning. Compare the amount on the packaging with your plans. If you have access to a freezer, you can store any leftover slices in portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says wholemeal bread keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer.
Choose based on the type of bread you want to eat and the information on the label, rather than the colour or name alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible. For a specific product, you can also compare the fibre per 100 g, ingredients and allergens.
No, don’t rely on its origin or type of bread alone. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask which ingredients have been used.
No, a statement about carbohydrates doesn’t tell you that. Jumbo lists gluten, soya and egg among the ingredients in its Volkoren Brood Koolhydraatarm - Half. Check the allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
