Half a wholemeal loaf can suit a small household that mainly eats bread at the weekend, as long as the amount matches what you’ll get through in a few days. If you eat even less, freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it. Then compare the wholemeal labelling, nutritional information and ingredients of the loaf you’ve chosen, as well as how you can buy it.
If you only eat bread on Saturdays and Sundays, half a loaf may better match how much you get through. If you still don’t finish it in time, freeze slices in portions as soon as you buy it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days.
Want to choose based on fibre, salt, ingredients, or whether it contains seeds and grains? Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the label for the exact loaf you’re buying.
Whether you have your groceries delivered or shop at the same store, the way you buy your bread matters too. Lidl lists its half loaf as an in-store product, while PLUS sells the half loaf mentioned here online.
Start with how much bread you use for breakfast. Then check the label and make sure the loaf you choose fits the way you usually shop.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Check the weight or number of slices. If you won’t eat the bread within a few days, freeze it in portions as soon as you buy it. | If I only eat bread at the weekend, I don’t want to be left with slices I haven’t used. For around 42% of consumers, reducing waste is the top priority. |
| Label and nutritional information | Look for the wholemeal label, compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the ingredients and allergens for the loaf you’ve chosen. | At breakfast, I want to know what’s in my bread, especially if an ingredient isn’t suitable for me. An estimated 33% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
| How you buy it | Check whether the loaf is available at your store or for your delivery slot, or whether it’s only sold in-store. | If I have my groceries delivered, I need to be able to order the bread through that service. For around 25% of consumers, how they buy it is their main concern. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days. So choose an amount that matches the days you eat bread.
Choose half a loaf if that suits how much you eat, or freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it and take out only the slices you need for each breakfast.
The colour and visible grains on the crust don’t tell you on their own whether a loaf is wholemeal. Albert Heijn explains that brown and multigrain bread can also contain white flour.
Look for the wholemeal label and, if in doubt, read the ingredients list for the loaf you’ve chosen.
A claim such as ‘reduced salt’ or ‘extra high in fibre’ doesn’t tell you what other ingredients or allergens the bread contains. Nor does a claim on one product tell you anything about the values for another product.
Compare the nutritional values available on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and check the packaging if you can’t see all the information online.
Albert Heijn offers several styles of half wholemeal loaf, including coarse, tiger, Waldkorn and round.
Jumbo lists products including Fine Wholemeal Half Loaf and Waldkorn Wholemeal Half Loaf.
Lidl lists a 400 g Extra Wholemeal Half Loaf with a ‘reduced salt’ product claim.
ALDI describes its Extra High-Fibre Wholemeal Half Loaf as a dark bread with seeds and grains.
PLUS sells Korenlanders Extra Dark Wholemeal Hearth-Baked Half Loaf, 400 g, online.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Farmer’s Wholemeal Half Loaf as an in-store option.
No. Albert Heijn explains that brown and multigrain bread can contain white flour as well as wholemeal flour. Look for the wholemeal label and, if in doubt, read the ingredients list.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping it in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. If you won’t eat it within a few days, freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
Yes, you can freeze bread in portions and take out what you need for each breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing it as soon as you buy it. Also check the storage instructions on the packaging for your loaf.
No. Wholemeal doesn’t mean that bread is gluten-free. If you have an allergy or another reason to avoid certain ingredients, always check the label for the exact loaf you’re buying.
Check the ingredients list for the loaf you’ve chosen; the wholemeal label doesn’t tell you either way. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Boeren Coarse Wholemeal Half Loaf, but that doesn’t tell you anything about other loaves.
