Who is a half loaf handy for?

A small barbecue gathering

If you only expect to use a few slices at your barbecue, a half loaf may be a better fit for your shopping than a whole loaf. Freeze any slices you won’t use soon in portions.

Anyone looking for wholemeal bread and fibre

Having several grains or visible seeds doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a loaf contains. So compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.

Anyone who needs to check the ingredients

If someone at your barbecue needs to avoid an allergen, check the label on the bread you’re buying. The grains, seeds and any ‘may contain’ warnings vary from one product to another.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out how much bread you’ll use at the barbecue and what you’ll do with any leftovers. Then compare labels for the features that matter to your guests.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Quantity and storage Check the size and weight. See whether you can freeze any unused slices in portions straight away. For a small barbecue, I don’t want to be left with bread I won’t eat over the next few days. For around 30% of consumers, reducing leftovers is the top priority.
Wholemeal base and fibre Check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g. If I’m specifically looking for wholemeal bread, ‘multigrain’ on its own isn’t enough. Around 30% of consumers prioritise a wholemeal base and fibre.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current label, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. Compare salt per 100 g if that affects your choice. If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I want to know what’s in this particular loaf. For around 20% of consumers, checking this is the top priority.
Shopping convenience Check which half loaves you can order or find in store at your usual supermarket. I want to be able to pick up the bread during my planned shopping trip. Shopping convenience comes first for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means wholemeal

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes multigrain bread as bread made with at least three types of grain. That doesn’t mean all the flour used is wholemeal: AH Vloerbrood meergranen half lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour.

    If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check the product description and ingredients list rather than relying on the visible grains or seeds.

  • Buying a half loaf without a plan for leftovers

    A smaller pack can still go uneaten. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer.

    Freeze any slices you won’t eat soon after the barbecue in portions straight away.

  • Assuming seeded bread is suitable for every guest

    Ingredients vary from product to product. For example, the label for PLUS Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half lists wheat, barley, spelt, soya and sesame.

    Ask guests which ingredients they need to avoid, and check the current label just before you buy, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.

Brands with relevant half loaves

Albert Heijn

AH Vloerbrood meergranen half is a brown artisan-style loaf with sunflower seeds.

  • The product information lists 5.2 g of fibre and 0.65 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The ingredients include both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour. Albert Heijn says this loaf is available in store only.

Jumbo

Jumbo Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen - Half is a half multigrain loaf with a wholemeal base listed in its ingredients.

  • According to Jumbo, this variety contains 55.7% wholemeal wheat flour and 8.0 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The label lists several gluten-containing grains and possible traces of sesame, soya and milk, among other ingredients. The salt content is 0.98 g per 100 g.

Lidl

Lidl describes a 400 g dark multigrain half loaf containing wheat, barley and buckwheat, among other ingredients.

  • The stated weight helps you estimate how much you’ll need for a small barbecue gathering.
  • Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information. Lidl says this half loaf is available in store only.

ALDI

ALDI stocks Boeren volkoren meergranen Half as a half loaf.

  • The product name makes clear that it’s a half wholemeal multigrain loaf.
  • Check the current label if you want to compare flour types, fibre, salt or allergens.

PLUS

PLUS Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half is a 400 g seeded loaf; ‘seeded’ is not the same product description as ‘multigrain’.

  • PLUS lists 5.5 g of fibre and 1.02 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The ingredients include wheat, barley, spelt, soya and sesame, among others. Check whether this loaf contains any ingredients your guests need to avoid.

Dirk

Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half.

  • It’s a familiar half multigrain loaf, handy for a smaller bread shop.
  • Use the current packaging to check ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.

Bread products for a barbecue

These multigrain baguettes are an option for serving at a barbecue, but they’re not a half multigrain loaf. Consider the total quantity if your main aim is to reduce leftovers.

Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, four 135 g baguettes

Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette 4 x 135 g

Four individual baguettes could work well for a barbecue where you want to plan the bread by the piece; together, they weigh 540 g and aren’t a half loaf.

Check the current packaging for allergens, nutritional information and storage, defrosting and baking instructions.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means the bread contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t mean the flour is entirely wholemeal. Check the product description and ingredients if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread.

How long can I keep leftover multigrain bread?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says multigrain bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer. If you expect to have leftovers after the barbecue, freeze any unused slices in portions straight away.

Which allergens should I check in bread for barbecue guests?

Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current label for the bread you’ve chosen. For example, Jumbo Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen - Half lists several gluten-containing grains and possible traces of sesame, soya and milk; the combination may differ in other loaves.

Can I tell from the name whether multigrain bread contains iodised salt?

No, the word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you that. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt among the ingredients of AH Vloerbrood meergranen half; for any other loaf, check its own ingredients list.