Choose half a loaf of wholemeal bread if you’re making lunch for one or two people and regularly find you can’t finish a whole loaf. If your office days vary, even half a loaf won’t automatically prevent waste: plan when you’ll have lunch and freeze any portions you won’t use. If you have a particular type of bread in mind, check that it’s labelled wholemeal and read the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and storage advice.
If one or two people take bread for lunch, half a loaf may be a better fit for how much you plan to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking bread from the freezer as needed if you won’t use it all straight away.
If you regularly take sandwiches with you and are specifically looking for wholemeal bread, compare more than just the size. Check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal and read the nutritional information on the packaging.
If you want to order or collect half a loaf, you can check your supermarket’s range in advance. Before ordering, check what’s available and read the product information.
Start by counting how many bread-based lunches you have planned. Then choose the type of bread and decide how you’ll store or buy any slices left over.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Size and waste | Compare the amount of bread with your planned lunches and read the storage advice. | If I don’t eat bread every working day, I don’t want to buy more than I can use. Around 42% of consumers prioritise buying the right amount and managing their food stocks. |
| Type of bread | Check that it’s labelled wholemeal and read the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging. | For my regular lunches, I want to be able to choose wholemeal bread specifically. This type of bread is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ordering or collecting | Check whether half a loaf is available for your shop, delivery address or collection time. | I plan my shopping around office and working-from-home days, and want to know whether I can get my usual half loaf. Access to the range is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
You can still have bread left over if you take fewer sandwiches than planned.
Count your lunches before you buy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread and taking out only what you need each time.
The colour or a name such as ‘multigrain’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the bread is sold as wholemeal.
Look for the wholemeal label on the product and check the current packaging if that type of bread is important to you.
Albert Heijn and PLUS say that details such as ingredients and nutritional information can change. This matters especially if you need to check for a particular allergen or ingredient.
Use the product page to help you choose, then read the packaging on the loaf you actually receive before eating it.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Zaans volkoren half and AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren half.
Jumbo lists Jumbo Fijn Volkoren - Half and includes both whole and half loaves in its bread range.
PLUS lists PLUS Boeren volkoren half and Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer half, weighing 400 g.
Lidl lists a Halfje extra volkorenbrood in its online range.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half and other half-size wholemeal options.
No. The size only helps if it matches how much bread you actually eat for lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread and taking out only what you need each time.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging and freeze portions if needed. For Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer half, PLUS advises freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month. For other loaves, check their own instructions.
Check that the product is labelled wholemeal and read the packaging. Don’t rely on a dark colour or a name such as ‘multigrain’ alone.
Check the ingredients on the packaging for the specific loaf; don’t assume based on the type of bread alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes bread baked with iodised baker’s salt as a source of iodine.
Use it to help you decide, but also read the packaging on the loaf you receive. Albert Heijn and PLUS say that product information, including details about ingredients or allergens, can change.
