For a small Easter brunch, choose a half wholemeal loaf whose weight and stated number of portions suit the number of people you’re serving. For example, AH Bakkersbrood swirl volkoren half weighs 350 g and lists ten portions. Then compare fibre and salt per 100 g, check the ingredients and allergen information for your guests, and look at the freezing instructions in case you have any bread left over. Don’t assume that bread has been made with iodised bakers’ salt: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, its use in bread isn’t compulsory.
Choose an amount that suits the number of people you’re serving, and think ahead about what you’ll do with any leftover bread. Albert Heijn lists ten portions for one half loaf we looked at, while PLUS gives freezing instructions for its Boeren volkoren halfbrood.
Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre and salt on a like-for-like basis, per 100 g. This also helps you assess a seeded variety without relying on its colour or name alone.
If you’re hosting guests who avoid certain allergens, check the ingredients and allergen information for the bread you choose. If you also want to know whether bakers’ salt has been used, look for it on the label.
Start by working out how much bread you’ll need for brunch and what you’ll do with any leftovers. Then compare the nutritional information and check the ingredients on the loaf you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount and leftovers | Check the net weight and number of portions, if listed. Read the storage or freezing instructions. | For a small brunch table, I want to serve enough bread without having lots left over. Getting the quantity right is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | If I want to serve wholemeal bread, I don’t want to judge by colour alone, and I want to be able to compare the nutritional values. This matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and bakers’ salt | Read the current ingredients and allergen information. Check separately whether bakers’ salt or iodised salt is listed. | If guests avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the bread we’re sharing. Whether it contains bakers’ salt may matter to me too. For around 20% of consumers, checking this information on the label comes first. |
A brown colour or grains on the crust don’t, by themselves, mean that a loaf is wholemeal.
Look for an explicit wholemeal label and, if in doubt, read the ingredients list.
The Waldkorn Volkoren Brood Half shown by Jumbo contains wheat, soya, oats, rye and sesame, among other ingredients. This is important if your guests avoid certain allergens.
Check the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen before serving it.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with bakers’ salt. So the type of bread or shop name won’t tell you whether it has been used.
If you want to find out, look for bakers’ salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list.
Even a half loaf can contain more portions than you’ll need for a small brunch; Albert Heijn lists ten portions for one half loaf we looked at.
Compare the number of portions with the number of people you’re serving, and follow the storage or freezing instructions for that specific product if you have any bread left over.
Albert Heijn lists half wholemeal loaves, including AH Bakkersbrood swirl volkoren half, which weighs 350 g and has ten listed portions.
Jumbo lists products including Waldkorn Volkoren Brood Half and a half wholemeal loaf from its own brand.
Lidl lists Halfje extra volkorenbrood as a product available in store.
ALDI lists a half wholemeal loaf with seeds and grains.
PLUS lists Boeren volkoren half as a 400 g half loaf.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half as a half loaf.
No. A loaf isn’t automatically wholemeal just because it’s brown or contains different grains. Look for a wholemeal label and check the ingredients for the specific loaf.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to contain bakers’ salt. Check the ingredients list if you want to know whether the loaf you’re serving at brunch contains bakers’ salt or iodised salt.
Follow the instructions for the loaf you buy. PLUS says you can freeze its Boeren volkoren half at home on the day you buy it and should use it within one month. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to other loaves.
