Choose half a wholemeal loaf if you think a whole loaf won’t be eaten during your Mother’s Day breakfast and in the days that follow. Compare the ingredients, fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the allergens. If you want to buy it in advance, follow the freezing instructions for the loaf you choose. Don’t assume it contains iodised baker’s salt.
If one or two people won’t get through a whole loaf in time, a half loaf may better suit the meals you have planned. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread among the foods that are often wasted.
For breakfast on a set day, it’s not just the quantity that matters. Check whether you can freeze the loaf in advance, and look at the ingredients and fibre per 100 g if you specifically want to serve wholemeal bread.
If you’re keeping an eye on salt, carbohydrates, iodine or allergens, you’ll need the current label. The half loaves listed have different ingredients; product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS includes soya, egg, sesame and cereals containing gluten.
For a small household, first work out how much bread you’ll get through around Mother’s Day breakfast. Then compare the labels and storage instructions of loaves that suit that quantity.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and storage | Check the loaf size, the number of portions if listed, and the freezing instructions. | If most of a whole loaf is left after breakfast, I don’t want to buy more slices than we can use. Around 33% of consumers give top priority to reducing leftover bread. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the product description and ingredients, and compare fibre per 100 g. | If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, don’t rely on a dark colour or a name that includes ‘multigrain’. Around 27% of consumers put checking for wholemeal and fibre first. |
| Nutrition information and allergens | Compare salt and carbohydrates per 100 g, read the allergen information, and check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed if iodine is important to you. | If an ingredient or nutritional value is a deciding factor for me, I need to read the label of the exact loaf I’m considering. Around 20% of consumers put this need first. |
| Texture and ease of serving | Choose the texture you prefer and check whether the packaging says the loaf can be frozen in advance. | For a planned breakfast, I want to choose a loaf I’ll enjoy serving and can get ready in time. Around 20% of consumers prioritise texture and ease of serving. |
The word ‘wholemeal’ on its own tells you nothing about the salt used. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt is not always used.
Look for baker’s salt or iodised salt on the label, or ask the baker which salt they use.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that ‘multigrain’ refers to different types of grain; the name alone doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal.
Read the product description and ingredients list, and compare fibre per 100 g if you wish.
A single detail doesn’t give you the full picture of the nutrition information and ingredients. For example, Jumbo lists wheat, barley, soya and egg in its low-carbohydrate half wholemeal loaf.
Check the full, up-to-date label, including the values per 100 g and the allergen information.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread is often wasted. Even with a half loaf, you may have slices left over if you haven’t counted your other meals.
Work out in advance how many slices you’ll need. If you want to buy the bread earlier, follow the freezing instructions for the product you choose.
A useful option if you want to compare the ingredients and nutrition information of a half wholemeal loaf.
Worth considering if you want to compare a fine-textured half wholemeal loaf with a low-carbohydrate half loaf.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a half wholemeal loaf and want to take salt into account.
A useful place to start if you want to choose between half and whole loaves in store.
Worth considering if you want to buy a half wholemeal loaf in advance for breakfast.
A useful option for comparing a standard half wholemeal loaf with a higher-fibre version.
No, don’t assume that it does. Check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients, or ask the baker. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that baker’s salt is not always used.
Yes, as long as the storage instructions for the loaf you choose suit your plans. For Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer half, PLUS says you can freeze it at home on the day of purchase and should use it within one month. For other loaves, check their own storage and defrosting instructions.
No, colour and the term ‘multigrain’ aren’t enough to tell you. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that multigrain refers to different types of grain; check the product description and ingredients if you’re looking for wholemeal bread.
Read the current label for the exact version you want to buy. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists ingredients such as cereals containing gluten, soya, egg or sesame in various half loaves; ingredients differ from one loaf to another.
