Fussy eaters who are used to white bread
You’re looking for a familiar flavour for a late-night snack and may want to gradually switch to brown or finely textured wholemeal bread, without choosing a coarser type of bread straight away.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers who keep an eye on fibre
Even for a small late-night snack, you want to make a conscious choice in favour of wholemeal bread. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the ‘wholemeal’ label tells you more than the bread’s brown colour.
Practical supermarket shoppers
You want to choose a type and size of bread that suit the occasion and how much you expect to use. That’s why you check the label, ingredients and pack size on the shelf or in the product information.
What should you look for when choosing?
The type of bread doesn’t automatically determine whether it’s right for a late-night snack. Weigh up the label against the flavour you want and the amount you’ll use.
Wholemeal bread or finely textured wholemeal
When: Choose this if wholemeal flour is your priority. Even with a fine texture, check that it’s labelled ‘wholemeal’.
Trade-off: The flavour and texture may be different from the white bread you’re used to.
Brown bread
When: A mix of wholemeal flour and white flour could be a good stepping stone if you’re looking to move on from white bread.
Trade-off: According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread isn’t the same as bread made from 100% wholemeal flour.
White bread
When: Choose white bread if a familiar white loaf matters more to you for this snack than whether it’s wholemeal.
Trade-off: White bread is made from white flour, so it doesn’t offer the same wholemeal flour option.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| More fibre without a big change in flavour | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label if 100% wholemeal flour is a must; otherwise, compare it with brown bread. | I want to switch from white bread, but I also want to choose a loaf whose flavour works for me. For around 36% of shoppers, getting more fibre while adjusting to the flavour is the priority. |
| Familiar flavour and texture | Check the type of bread and its ingredients; a fine texture or brown colour alone doesn’t prove that it’s wholemeal. | When I want a late-night snack, I mainly want a type of bread whose flavour and texture I enjoy. Familiarity matters most to around 29% of shoppers. |
| Availability when you want a snack | Check the current range and whether your preferred type of bread is available as a whole loaf, half loaf or rolls. | For a spontaneous late-night snack, I want to choose from what I can buy and use at the time. Immediate convenience is the main consideration for around 21% of shoppers. |
| Quantity and food waste | Choose a size that matches how much you expect to use; follow the product instructions for storing or freezing it. | If I only have bread as a late-night snack occasionally, I don’t want to be left with lots of bread I haven’t used. Avoiding waste is the top priority for around 14% of shoppers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal
The colour and added seeds don’t tell you whether a loaf is made from 100% wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread is a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour.
Check the product label and ingredients if it’s important to you that the bread is entirely wholemeal.
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Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you whether it’s been used.
Check the ingredients, or ask about it if you’re buying unwrapped bread.
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Choosing a large loaf without thinking about how much you’ll use
A whole loaf may be more than you expect to eat if you only have a late-night snack occasionally.
Compare the available sizes and check how to store your chosen bread by following the product instructions.
Any bread you don’t use could end up being thrown away.
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Overlooking ingredients and allergens
The ingredients vary from one type of bread to another, so the name of the bread doesn’t replace the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product.
Check the packaging or product information for the variety you’re actually choosing.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists separate categories for white bread and a wider range of bread online.
- The bread categories include options such as white and wholemeal varieties.
- Check the type of bread, ingredients and size of each product you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes its own bread range as including white, brown and wholemeal varieties.
- The types of bread listed give you a starting point for comparing wholemeal options as a stepping stone.
- Check the product label and allergens for the bread you choose; a description of the range won’t apply to every variety.
Lidl
Lidl lists white bread in its range and provides an ingredients and allergen overview for its freshly baked bread.
- The overview helps you check the details of a specific freshly baked variety.
- Don’t assume that a goal to offer more wholemeal alternatives means a particular mix of white and wholemeal bread is available.
PLUS
PLUS has separate online categories for wholemeal and white bread.
- The wholemeal category includes whole and half loaves.
- Before choosing, check which varieties and sizes are available when you shop.
Dirk
Dirk lists types of bread online including white, wholemeal, multigrain and sourdough.
- The different labels let you compare types of bread side by side.
- Check the ingredients for each product: ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’.
Bread products at Joybuy
These products offer a range of options for a late-night snack: white bread products, bread listing wholemeal ingredients and bread made with a mix of flours. If you’re choosing wholemeal bread, always check the packaging label; ‘whole wheat’ in a product name alone doesn’t confirm that it meets the Dutch definition of wholemeal.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 stuks
These six flatbreads could be a good choice if you want individual pieces for a late-night snack.
The product information lists wholemeal wheat flour, 6 g of fibre per 100 g and a pack weight of 330 g. Check the bread type on the packaging if you require bread made from 100% wholemeal flour.
The product information lists wheat and gluten, and says it may contain soya and milk. Check the packaging if you have allergies.
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g'woon White Rustic Pistolet, 4 stuks
These four white rolls are a good choice if you’d rather have individual rolls than a whole loaf.
The product information lists wheat flour. If you’re looking for wholemeal flour, check the product label and ingredients of the bread you choose.
Check the packaging if you have allergies; the product information lists gluten-containing cereals, lupin, mustard, nuts and sesame, among others.
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TastyBasics Rye Bread, 9 stuks
The nine pre-cut portions could be a good choice if you want to have one portion at a time as a late-night snack.
The product information lists wholemeal rye and 9,6 g of fibre per 100 g. Bear in mind that it’s described as having a robust rye flavour if you usually choose white bread.
The information lists rye and gluten-containing cereals, and says it may contain traces of sesame, milk and nuts. Check the packaging if you have allergies.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
This round loaf is an option if you’re looking for bread made with a range of listed flours and have time to prepare it.
The ingredients list both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour. Don’t rely on ‘Whole Wheat’ in the name alone if you want bread made from 100% wholemeal flour.
According to the product description, the bread needs to defrost, bake for 11–13 minutes at 220 °C and then cool. The ingredients list wheat and gluten; check the packaging if you have allergies.
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G'woon White Rustic Baguette, 250 g
This white baguette is a good choice if you’re looking for white bread, as long as you’re happy to bake it in the oven.
The product information lists wheat flour and describes the baguette as bake-at-home bread. Check the product label if wholemeal flour is a must for you.
The product information lists gluten-containing cereals, lupin and sesame; check the packaging if you have allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Is brown bread the middle ground between white and wholemeal?
Brown bread can be a stepping stone if you’re looking for a mix of flours: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it contains wholemeal flour and white flour. If you want bread made from 100% wholemeal flour, choose it based on the ‘wholemeal’ label, not just its colour.
Should I avoid white bread if I have a late-night snack?
No. White bread is still an option if you want a familiar white loaf at the time. If fibre is your main priority, it’s worth noting that according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread contains more fibre than white bread; check which type of bread you’re buying.
Does Dutch bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, there’s no requirement to bake bread with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients, or ask the baker which salt they’ve used if you’re buying unwrapped bread.
Where can I find allergen information for freshly baked bread?
Check the information for the specific loaf before choosing it. You can find this on the packaging, in the product specifications or in the shop; Lidl, for example, provides an ingredients and allergen overview for its freshly baked bread range.