Choose a loaf labelled ‘wholemeal’, then check that the slices and quantity suit your planned snacks and lunches. Fine, coarse, whole and half don’t tell you how thick the slices are: check the loaf or its current packaging for medium-sliced bread, and remember to check the ingredients, allergens and best-before date.
If you’re making several filled sandwiches for snacks or lunches during the autumn half-term, both the number of slices and the amount of bread matter. A whole or half loaf doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are.
If you prefer a less coarse texture, look for fine-textured wholemeal bread. Check the ‘wholemeal’ label and slice thickness separately: a fine crumb doesn’t automatically mean the bread is medium-sliced.
If you’re only planning a few snack breaks, a half loaf may be a better match for how much you expect to use. Check the storage or freezing instructions for your chosen product.
First, check for the ‘wholemeal’ label. Then consider whether the slices are right for your chosen fillings, and finally pick an amount you expect to use.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Genuine wholemeal | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the bread; don’t rely on a brown colour or a multigrain name alone. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ is wholemeal. | If I want wholemeal bread for holiday snacks, I want to be sure I’m not choosing it based on its colour. For around 42% of consumers, this would be their top purchase priority. |
| Slice and texture | Check the slice or ask in store. ‘Fine’ and ‘coarse’ don’t automatically tell you whether the bread is medium-sliced. | The thickness of the slices is crucial when I’m making filled sandwiches to cut and pack. This would be the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare a whole and half loaf with your planned use; check the best-before date and the product’s storage instructions. | If I’m only planning a few snack breaks, I don’t want to be left with bread I won’t use. Around 25% of consumers would therefore put quantity and storage first. |
A loaf’s name or dark colour doesn’t confirm that you’re buying wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between wholemeal bread and brown bread.
Check that the specific loaf is labelled ‘wholemeal’.
Texture and loaf size are different from the thickness of a slice. The bread may not be as you expect for filled snacks.
If possible, look at a slice, read the packaging or ask in store about the slice thickness.
If someone has an allergy, the ingredients and allergens in the loaf you actually buy are what matter.
Read the current label every time you buy it, before making the sandwiches.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread is one of the products that is often wasted. Buying more than you need for your planned meals can leave you with leftovers.
Choose a whole or half loaf to suit your plans, and follow the storage instructions for the bread you buy.
Albert Heijn lists a range of wholemeal breads online, including whole and half loaves.
Jumbo’s online wholemeal range includes fine- and coarse-textured loaves, as well as whole and half loaves.
PLUS lists wholemeal breads online in both whole and half loaves.
Dirk’s online bread range includes various whole and half wholemeal loaves.
Check whether the bread is labelled ‘wholemeal’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread with this label is wholemeal; brown bread may contain a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.
Not necessarily: ‘fine’ describes the texture, not the thickness of each slice. For medium-sliced bread, check the product packaging or the loaf itself, or ask in store.
Yes. If allergens matter to your choice, read the current label on the specific loaf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be declared on food labels.
Check the best-before date on the packaging and follow the storage instructions for that bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between a use-by date and a best-before date; check which one appears on your product.
