A half wholemeal loaf can work well for a children’s party if you won’t need many sandwiches. For a larger group, first check whether half a loaf will be enough. Choose a texture the children will enjoy, check the latest ingredients and allergen information, and freeze any unused slices in portions.
At a small children’s party, you want to offer enough sandwiches without ending up with lots of bread left over. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions after buying it, so you can take out what you need later.
You want to serve wholemeal bread, but whether you choose soft bread or a loaf with a firmer crust or seeds depends on what the children will actually eat. Product descriptions from Albert Heijn, ALDI and PLUS show how these options differ.
If any of the children have a food allergy, check the latest ingredients and allergen information before the party. The Albert Heijn and PLUS loaves we looked at list different ingredients and allergens.
First, work out how many sandwiches you want to make. Then compare the texture and check the latest packaging for the loaf you choose, especially if allergens are a concern.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and leftovers | Count how many slices you need and compare the number of portions or the weight. Check how to freeze any unused slices. | I don’t want lots of bread left over at a small party, but I don’t want to run short either. For around 40% of consumers, avoiding leftovers would be the main reason for choosing half a loaf. |
| Texture | Compare soft, fine-textured bread with options that have a firmer crust, seeds or grains. | If the children leave seeds or a firm crust, I’d rather choose a type of bread they know. Texture would be the most important factor for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings about possible traces. If you wish, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. | If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the exact loaf before serving it. An estimated 30% of consumers put checking ingredients first. |
The Albert Heijn and PLUS products we looked at list different grains, seeds and allergens. So the category ‘half wholemeal loaf’ doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in the loaf you choose.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging just before buying, especially if a child with a food allergy will be eating it.
A claim that a particular loaf stays fresh for longer doesn’t replace the storage instructions. Bread left uneaten can still dry out.
Divide any unused slices into portions and freeze them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you whether the loaf you choose contains it.
Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask the baker.
These examples can help you spot the differences between specific half wholemeal loaves. Before the party, always check the packaging of the product you’re buying.
Albert Heijn offers products including AH Extra lang lekker tijger volkoren half, a soft half loaf that, according to the product information, provides 11 portions of 35 grams.
Jumbo offers Fijn Volkoren - Half as part of its range of half loaves.
Lidl offers a product called Halfje extra volkorenbrood.
ALDI offers Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half, described as a dark bread with seeds and grains.
PLUS offers Boeren volkoren half and Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer half.
Dirk offers Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half and an option with extra fibre.
Freeze any unused bread in portions, then take out only what you need later. This follows the storage advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre; also check the instructions on the packaging of the loaf you choose.
No. Choose a texture the children will enjoy and check the ingredients of the specific option. For example, PLUS’s dark half wholemeal loaf lists oats and sesame. A dark colour doesn’t tell you exactly what a loaf contains.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the loaf you choose, or ask the baker.
Check the full allergen information for the loaf you’re buying, including any warnings about possible traces. PLUS lists wheat, barley and soya in Boeren volkoren half; ingredients and allergen information may differ for other loaves.
