For your child’s lunchbox, choose bread labelled wholemeal and check that the slice size and thickness suit your child and their lunchbox. Compare the fibre content per 100 g, and check the latest ingredients and allergen information before packing it. Also look for baker’s salt if that matters to you.
You’re looking for wholemeal bread that’s easy to pack and your child can eat at school. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that, as well as the contents of a school meal, you should consider what your child likes and what they can easily store and eat at school.
If your child doesn’t like a coarse bread texture, you could consider a finer-textured wholemeal option. Lidl describes its kids’ bread as being made with extra-finely ground wholemeal flour; check the slice and the label of your chosen loaf too.
You want to check which gluten-containing cereals the bread contains before packing it, and whether it fits with any arrangements made with the school. If you also keep an eye on baker’s salt, check the ingredients of the specific loaf.
Start by checking that it’s labelled wholemeal and looking at the ingredients. Then see whether the slice and texture are practical for a school lunch.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check that it’s labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre content per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives at least 4.5 g of fibre per 100 g as a guideline for school meals. | For everyday lunches, I want to see that the bread is sold as wholemeal and know how much fibre it contains. An estimated 45% of consumers prioritise wholemeal bread and fibre. |
| Ingredients and baker’s salt | Check which gluten-containing cereals are listed and bear in mind any arrangements with the school. Look for baker’s salt if it’s relevant to your choice. | If I need to take the school’s policy into account, I want to check the ingredients before packing the bread; baker’s salt may also factor into my choice. For around 33% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
| Slice and ease of eating | Check whether the bread is sliced and whether the slice size, thickness and texture suit the lunchbox and your child. | My child needs to be able to eat their sandwich easily at break time, so the slice and texture are key for me. For around 22% of consumers, ease of eating is the priority. |
A dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean that all the grain ingredient is wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if 100% of that grain ingredient is wholemeal.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging instead of judging by the colour.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the type of cereal must be clearly stated in the ingredients list when it contains gluten. The information you need will also depend on any arrangements made for your child and the school.
Read the label before buying, and follow the individual arrangements with the school if your child has a relevant allergy.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it has been used just by looking at the type of bread.
Check the ingredients if baker’s salt is a factor in your choice.
A different recipe doesn’t tell you anything about how the bread is sliced. For example, ALDI lists a separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread as a whole loaf; that doesn’t confirm that it comes in medium-thick slices.
Check the packaging to see whether the bread is sliced, and whether the slice size is practical for a school lunchbox.
A range that lets you compare whole, half and individually sliced wholemeal loaves.
A range of different fine-textured wholemeal breads, including whole and half loaves.
A brand to consider if an extra-fine bread texture is important for your child.
A brand with a sliced fine-textured wholemeal loaf and a separate extra-high-fibre option.
A range for comparing fine-textured, round, whole and half wholemeal loaves.
A range that includes different whole and half wholemeal loaves.
Check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this label can only be used if 100% of the grain ingredient is wholemeal flour. A brown colour or the word ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough.
Compare the fibre content per 100 g on the latest packaging. In its guidance on school meals, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives brown or wholemeal bread with at least 4.5 g of fibre per 100 g as a guideline.
First check the ingredients of the specific loaf and any arrangements in place for your child and the school. The wholemeal label doesn’t mean the bread is gluten-free; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the type of cereal must be clearly stated in the ingredients list when it contains gluten.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. If it matters to your choice, check the label of the loaf you’ve chosen to see whether baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients.
