For a small household, a half loaf of multigrain bread is a practical choice if you only eat a few slices on weekdays. If you’re mainly looking for wholemeal bread, don’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’: check the ingredients and compare the fibre per 100 g. Freeze portions straight away if you won’t get through even half a loaf within a few days.
If you only eat a few slices on weekdays, a half loaf means you have less bread to get through at once. If that’s still too much, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
You want to know which types of flour are in the bread and how much fibre it contains per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that at least three types of grain have been used; it doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’.
You’re looking for a half loaf that’s available at your usual shop. Compare the weight and nutritional information of the products available there, and check the current range at your local branch or in your delivery area.
First, work out how much bread you usually eat before it starts to lose its freshness. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the half loaves available to you.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Size and storage | Check the weight and think about how many slices you eat on weekdays. Freeze portions straight away if you won’t use the loaf in time. | If I only eat a few slices, I don’t want to keep having bread left over that starts to lose its freshness. Around 42% of consumers prioritise a suitable size and less waste. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check whether it’s labelled wholemeal, the types of flour in the ingredients list and the fibre per 100 g. Also check the salt and allergens. | For my weekday breakfast, I want to be able to see whether the bread really is based on wholemeal flour, rather than simply containing several types of grain. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Availability and cost | Check your shop’s current range and compare the weight when weighing up the cost of different loaves. | When I buy breakfast at my usual supermarket, I want a suitable half loaf to be available there and to know how much I’m paying for the size. This is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that at least three types of grain are used; it doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the bread contains. A dark colour or visible seeds don’t tell you that either.
If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the product description and ingredients list. Also compare the fibre per 100 g.
Even a smaller loaf can go to waste if you only have bread for breakfast occasionally. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it if you won’t eat it quickly.
Take only the slices you need out of the freezer each time. If bread is stale but not spoiled, you could use it for toast or a toasted sandwich.
When loaves weigh different amounts, the price per loaf doesn’t tell you how much bread you’re getting. The range of fresh bread can also vary from one branch to another.
Compare the weight and, where available, the price per kilogram. Check which half loaves are actually available at your shop.
‘Multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which types of grain or other allergens a particular loaf contains. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows that ingredients and allergen statements vary from loaf to loaf.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging every time you buy. If you need a gluten-free option, choose only a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
These chains offer options for comparing half loaves of multigrain bread. Check what’s available at each shop and what the current label says.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Vloerbrood meergranen half and AH Extra Lang Lekker Waldkorn Volkoren Half.
Jumbo lists Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half as a half-sized wholemeal option.
Lidl lists a 400 g Halfje donker meergranenbrood in its freshly baked bread range.
ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen Half as sliced bread.
PLUS has a multigrain bread category and lists Schär Glutenvrije Meesterbakker Mehrkorn as a separate product.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half and a separate Casino meergranen Volkoren half variety.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but the name doesn’t mean that the bread is made entirely from wholemeal flour. If this matters to you, check that it’s labelled wholemeal and read the ingredients list.
Freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it if you won’t eat it within a few days. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months.
The name multigrain bread doesn’t tell you that. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the permitted addition of iodine compounds to bread through baker’s salt; this doesn’t confirm that every loaf contains it. Check the ingredients list for the specific bread.
No. Standard multigrain loaves can contain different gluten-containing cereals and other allergens, and the information varies by product. Always read the allergen information on the current packaging, especially if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.
