Choose a half wholemeal loaf if a full loaf doesn’t get used up for your school lunches before it starts to go stale. Check the ingredients and allergen information for the loaf you buy, and freeze slices on the day you buy it if you won’t use them within a few days.
If a full loaf doesn’t get used up because of changing schedules or fewer packed lunches, a half loaf may better match how much you use. Freezing slices gives you more flexibility to spread them out over the week.
For their children’s lunchboxes, they want to be able to check whether a loaf is wholemeal and compare fibre values on a like-for-like basis. A dark colour or the words ‘multigrain’ aren’t enough.
If a child or another person eating the lunch needs to avoid certain allergens, the current ingredients list and allergen warnings are key. You should also follow any rules set by the school or childcare provider when packing lunch.
Start with how much bread you use, then check that it’s labelled wholemeal and look at the allergen information before packing lunch.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Work out how many slices you use and whether you can freeze the loaf in portions on the day you buy it. | When school days vary, I don’t want to leave more bread than we can eat. For around 33% of consumers, reducing uneaten bread is the biggest consideration. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare fibre content on the same basis, per 100 g. | For everyday school lunches, I want to be able to see that the bread is wholemeal, rather than judging by its colour. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen warnings, and follow any rules set by the school or childcare provider. | If a child needs to avoid certain allergens, I want to know what’s in the bread before packing lunch. This check comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check whether the half-size loaf you want is available from your usual shop or ordering method. | I want to be able to buy a suitable half loaf from my usual shop. For around 20% of consumers, availability is the first thing they consider. |
A half loaf can still go uneaten if the number of packed lunches varies from week to week.
Divide it into portions after buying and freeze straight away any slices you won’t use within a few days. This follows the storage advice from Voedingscentrum.
According to Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. You can’t tell by colour alone.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the loaf, then compare the nutrition information and ingredients.
Albert Heijn and PLUS point out that product information can change. If you need to avoid allergens at lunchtime, the information on the product when you buy it is what matters.
Check the current packaging. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergen information before buying.
Brood.net describes agreements on iodised baker’s salt, but these don’t tell you which ingredients a specific loaf contains.
If the type of salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the loaf you buy.
These product ranges give you a starting point for comparison; check the packaging of the loaf you actually buy.
Albert Heijn lists AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren half, a half wholemeal wheat loaf with 11 portions of 35 g, according to the product page.
Jumbo lists Fijn Volkoren Half as a half wholemeal wheat loaf for anyone looking for sliced bread for school lunches.
Lidl lists Halfje extra volkorenbrood as an in-store product for anyone looking for a half loaf in a branch.
ALDI lists Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half as a half wholemeal loaf with seeds and grains.
PLUS lists Boeren volkoren half, weighing 400 g, for anyone looking to add a half loaf to their shop.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half as a fresh half wholemeal loaf.
No, it only helps if the smaller quantity matches how much you use. According to Voedingscentrum, you can keep wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days; freeze it in portions on the day you buy it if you won’t use it in time.
The half wholemeal loaves from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS mentioned here list wheat and/or cereals containing gluten. Also check the current packaging of the loaf you buy for any other relevant allergens and warnings.
Ask for allergen information about the specific loaf before buying. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must also be available for unpackaged products, for example on a shelf label or by asking a member of staff.
Don’t assume so: the ingredients can vary from loaf to loaf. Brood.net describes agreements on iodised baker’s salt; if the type of salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list on the loaf you buy.
