Start with a loaf that’s specifically labelled ‘half’, then choose a style to suit your planned dinner: for example, a round white loaf for sandwiches or a square white loaf if you want to make toasted sandwiches. A half loaf may be a better fit for two people, but it won’t automatically prevent leftovers. Check the ingredients, allergen information and storage instructions for the product you choose, too.
If bread is only one part of dinner, a half loaf may be a better fit for two people. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread among the foods that are often wasted, so any leftovers still need to be stored properly or used in good time.
If you’re planning toasted sandwiches, grilled sandwiches or small open sandwiches, you can choose a loaf shape to suit the dish. As well as checking the style, make sure the pack you choose contains half a loaf.
If you want to serve white bread and compare its nutritional information, check the fibre per 100 g on the packaging. Products labelled white bread don’t all have the same ingredients or nutritional content.
Decide how much bread you want to serve with dinner, then choose a style to suit the dish. Check the nutritional information and any allergen details for the specific product, too.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Check that ‘half’ appears in the product name and read the storage instructions. | If bread is only part of my dinner for two, I don’t want to buy more than I can use. An estimated 36% of consumers put getting the right quantity first. |
| Bread style for the dish | Compare options such as round white and square white with what you plan to serve. | For toasted sandwiches or sandwiches, I mainly want a loaf shape that suits how I’m preparing the food. An estimated 29% of consumers put a good fit with the dish first. |
| Presentation at the table | Read the product description and ingredients if you’re considering a farmhouse white or sesame loaf. | If the bread will be on display at the table, I think its style is important to the presentation. An estimated 21% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Compare the fibre per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergen information for the loaf you choose. | If I’m buying bread for other people, I want to know what’s in it and what its nutritional value is before serving it. An estimated 14% of consumers consider this the most important factor. |
The label ‘white bread’ doesn’t tell you the size. For dinner for two, a full loaf may be more than you were planning to use.
Check the full product name and, if listed, the weight or number of items.
Jumbo describes its half Round White loaf as ‘low in fibre’, while its half White Bread with Extra Fibre is described differently. This product information doesn’t apply to every white loaf.
Compare the nutritional information on the packaging of the specific loaf you’re buying.
A sesame loaf may not be suitable for someone with a sesame allergy. The exact ingredients also matter for any other type of bread you choose.
For packaged bread, read the ingredients and allergen information. If the bread is unpackaged, ask about allergens before buying it.
A product listed online isn’t necessarily available at the shop where you do your food shopping.
Check availability at your chosen shop before planning dinner around that type of bread.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Round White Half Loaf in its online range.
Jumbo lists both Round White - Half and White Bread with Extra Fibre - Half.
Lidl describes its Half Farmhouse White with Sesame as farmhouse white bread with sesame seeds.
ALDI lists a product called White Bread Half.
PLUS lists products including PLUS Farmhouse White Half, available to order online.
Dirk stocks Bakker van der Akker as its bakery brand and lists a half square white loaf.
No. A half loaf may be a better fit for dinner for two, but you’ll still need to use any leftovers in good time or store them according to the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread among the foods that are often wasted.
Follow the instructions on the packaging of your loaf. Jumbo says to store its Round White - Half in a cool, dry and dark place. For a different half loaf, PLUS advises freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month. Don’t assume these instructions apply to another loaf.
For packaged bread, check the ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on labels. If the bread is unpackaged, ask for information about that specific product before buying it.
No. A product called White Bread with Extra Fibre isn’t automatically wholemeal bread. Compare the product names, ingredients and nutritional information of the loaves you’re considering.
