If you want verifiably wholemeal multigrain bread for your Boxing Day buffet, choose a loaf explicitly labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g. If a less pronounced wholemeal texture is more likely to suit fussy eaters, a multigrain loaf made partly with white flour may be a better fit; the name ‘multigrain’ alone does not prove that bread is wholemeal. Then choose a serving option that suits your schedule, oven space and number of guests, and check the label for ingredients and allergens.
Would you like to serve a multigrain option alongside white bread, but think a strongly flavoured wholemeal loaf might not appeal to everyone? A brown multigrain loaf made partly with white flour is one option. Check the ingredients if it’s also important to include a wholemeal option.
If you want to be sure the bread on your buffet is wholemeal, look for an explicit wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ tells you which types of grain have been used, not whether the bread is wholemeal.
Pre-sliced bread saves you a job; a half loaf can be a good choice if you’re serving several varieties. Bake-at-home bread lets you serve it warm just before eating, as long as you have the time and space to prepare it.
First decide whether wholemeal matters more than a less pronounced bread texture. Then choose how you’ll serve it, and if you have dietary requirements to consider, read the label on the loaf you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check | Who might find it important? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for an explicit wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g; colour and seeds are no substitute for this information. | If I want to serve verifiably wholemeal bread, I don’t want to have to judge by its dark colour. Around 36% of consumers prioritise wholemeal bread and fibre. |
| Flavour and texture | Check how much wholemeal flour and white flour are listed in the ingredients. PLUS states that its Korenlanders sourdough multigrain baguette contains 35% wholemeal wheat flour and 21% wheat flour. | If some guests would rather avoid a strongly textured wholemeal loaf, I want to offer another bread option too. An appealing flavour and texture come first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Serving and quantity | Compare pre-sliced, half-loaf and bake-at-home options with your number of guests and the preparation space available. | If there are already lots of dishes to prepare at once, I want to know whether I’ll still need to bake or slice the bread. This ease of serving matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Check the current packaging for salt per 100 g, allergens and whether iodised salt is listed, if that matters to your guests. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to assume that the word ‘multigrain’ tells me everything. Around 14% of consumers prioritise checking the ingredients. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means that bread contains at least three types of grain. That doesn’t automatically make a dark, seeded loaf wholemeal.
If you want wholemeal bread, look for an explicit wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g.
The breads discussed may contain different grains, seeds and other allergens. So choosing bread by its product name alone isn’t enough for guests with an allergy or those following a gluten-free diet.
Check the current allergen information on each pack. If someone needs to eat gluten-free, choose a separate product explicitly labelled gluten-free and take care to avoid cross-contamination when serving it.
Bake-at-home bread needs time and space in the oven or air fryer just before serving. This may coincide with preparing other buffet dishes.
Check the preparation instructions on the pack you choose and plan when to bake the bread around the rest of the buffet.
Brood.net describes the use of iodised baker’s salt as an agreement between the government and the baking industry. The label ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which salt has been used in a particular loaf.
If the presence of iodine matters to your choice, read the ingredients list for that specific product.
AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen is a pre-sliced brown multigrain loaf for anyone who wants to serve bread without having to bake it first.
Jumbo Volkoren Donker Meergranen Brood - Half is a half loaf, suitable if you want to offer several varieties.
Among the products discussed, PLUS offers both a wholemeal multigrain baguette to bake at home and a sourdough multigrain baguette made partly with white flour.
This selection includes multigrain rolls and loaves for different types of buffet, including individual rolls and bread that needs to be baked before serving. If you’re looking specifically for a wholemeal product, check the wholemeal label and nutrition information on the pack you choose.
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Four 135 g baguettes for anyone who wants to serve individual loaves on the buffet. Allow time to defrost and bake them; check the preparation time on the pack, as the product information gives two different timings.
Compare fibre and salt using nutrition values per 100 g, and check the wholemeal label and allergen information.
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Two 550 g round multigrain loaves if you’d like to serve larger loaves. Allow time to defrost and bake them; the product description also says to let them cool before slicing.
Check the wholemeal label, allergens and nutrition values per 100 g on the packaging.
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Four individual multigrain rolls if you’d like to serve portions alongside other buffet breads. The ingredients list states that they contain 53% wheat flour; don’t assume from the name that the rolls are wholemeal.
Check the current allergen information, and use values per 100 g when comparing fibre and salt.
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Multigrain baguettes to bake at home alongside other buffet options. Check the pack quantity before planning portions: the title says 4 x 135 g x 2, while the description mentions four baguettes.
Allow time to defrost and bake them. Also check the baking time, wholemeal label, allergens and nutrition values on the packaging.
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A 550 g round multigrain loaf for anyone who wants to serve one larger loaf on the buffet. Allow time to defrost and bake it, then leave it to cool before slicing.
Check the wholemeal label and allergens on the packaging, and compare fibre and salt only using values on the same per-100 g basis.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means that bread contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. Look for an explicit wholemeal label and, if fibre matters to your choice, compare the values per 100 g.
No, the type of bread doesn’t tell you which salt has been used in a particular product. Brood.net describes the use of iodised baker’s salt as an agreement between the government and the baking industry. Check the ingredients list if the presence of iodine matters to your choice.
Don’t assume so: multigrain bread may contain grains that contain gluten. If you need to follow a gluten-free diet, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, check the label and take care to avoid cross-contamination at the buffet.
Yes, you can freeze bread in portions after buying it. The Voedingscentrum recommends taking out as much as you need; also check the storage instructions for your chosen bread when planning what to serve on Boxing Day.
