For one or two people around the time of the Sinterklaas procession, a half multigrain loaf is a practical choice if you only expect to eat bread a few times. If you’re expecting more people and have freezer space, you could also buy a whole loaf and freeze any portions you don’t need, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Whichever option you choose, check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the loaf you buy; ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’.
If you’re buying bread for one or two people, a half loaf may be a better fit for how much you’ll eat around the time of the procession. If you’d still like to have bread in reserve, you can freeze portions.
If you’re expecting several people or planning breakfast and lunch for the following day, choose a loaf size that suits how much you’ll use. Freezing a whole loaf in portions is particularly practical if you have space to do so.
If you want to compare the types of grain, fibre, salt or allergens, check the packaging for the exact variety. The name ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s made with wholemeal flour or is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
First, work out how much bread you expect to use around the time of the Sinterklaas procession. Then compare the labels and consider whether freezing is practical for your household.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Check the loaf size and think about how many portions you want to use or freeze. | If it’s just the two of us and we’ll only eat bread a few times, I don’t want to buy more than we’ll use. For around 36% of shoppers, getting the right quantity would be the top priority. |
| Wholemeal base, fibre and salt | Read the product description and ingredients; compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | I want to know which grains have been used and compare the nutritional information for two loaves on the same basis. Around 29% of shoppers would consider this the most important factor. |
| Allergens and gluten-free labelling | Check the allergen information for the exact variety and, if necessary, look for an explicit gluten-free label. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the packaging needs to make it clear whether this loaf is suitable. For around 21% of shoppers, this information would be decisive. |
| Shopping route and availability | Check the product’s current status just before buying, and see whether collection or delivery is available. | I want to have the bread at home for the procession without making an extra trip, so I need to know where I can get it. For around 14% of shoppers, where to buy it would be the top priority. |
A loaf’s name or dark colour doesn’t tell you what type of flour it’s made with. Fibre content also varies from one recipe to another.
If wholemeal flour or fibre is important to your choice, check the product description, ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.
If fewer people eat with you than expected, you may have bread left over that won’t be used in time.
Choose a half loaf if you don’t expect to use much, or freeze a whole loaf in portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking bread out of the freezer as you need it.
The types of grain and other ingredients vary between varieties. A standard multigrain loaf isn’t automatically gluten-free.
Check the allergen information on the packaging of the loaf you buy and, if needed, look for an explicit gluten-free label.
Nutritional information on a product page doesn’t mean that the same loaf will be available when you shop.
Check the product’s status with your shop before planning your shopping for the procession.
Jumbo lists options including a half wholemeal multigrain loaf and a half Waldkorn loaf.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half as a half-loaf option.
PLUS lists Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half, 400 g, as an option if you’re looking for a half loaf with seeds.
Albert Heijn has a product page for AH Zaans meergranen half, with nutritional information and allergen details.
No. ‘Multigrain’ and ‘wholemeal’ don’t mean the same thing: check the product description and ingredients to find out what flour a particular loaf is made with. For example, Jumbo states that Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half contains 55.7% wholemeal wheat flour; this doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in other varieties.
Freeze the bread in portions if you want to use it later. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking only what you need out of the freezer each time; also check the storage instructions on the packaging of the loaf you choose.
No, don’t assume it is. Standard multigrain loaves may contain grains that contain gluten. Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety, and look for an explicit gluten-free label if you need a gluten-free option.
No, that isn’t guaranteed. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on packaged bread to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.
