If you have a small household, start by choosing a loaf that is specifically sold as a half loaf, and think about how many slices you get through at teatime and lunch. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check the name and ingredients of the exact variety: multigrain doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal. Before packing it for school or after-school care, check the latest allergen information and the setting’s rules too.
If you don’t get through a whole loaf between teatime, breakfast and packed lunches, a half loaf may better suit how much you use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread as one of the foods that is wasted most often.
The word multigrain doesn’t tell you whether bread is wholemeal. If that distinction matters to you, check the name and ingredients of the variety you’ve chosen rather than relying on its dark colour or the seeds on the crust.
When packing bread to take along, check the allergen information on the current packaging and follow the school or after-school care setting’s rules. Check the filling too if there are rules or allergy requirements to consider.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and leftovers | Check that it really is a half loaf and estimate how many slices you’ll use. | If we don’t get through a whole loaf, I want an amount that suits our teatimes and lunches. Around 27% of consumers make reducing leftovers their top priority. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the term wholemeal and, where listed, compare the fibre per 100 g for the exact varieties. | I want to know whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal for my child, rather than relying on the word multigrain. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens and rules | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, and check the school or after-school care setting’s policy. | If I’m packing bread for school, it needs to meet the relevant rules and take any allergies into account. This check comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check that the shop where you do your food shopping stocks the exact variety and half-loaf size. | If I need bread for a regular teatime, I want to know whether my shop stocks the variety I’m looking for. For around 20% of consumers, this practical availability matters most. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to the types of grain used, but doesn’t automatically mean the bread is wholemeal. A dark colour or seeds on the crust aren’t proof either.
If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the name and ingredients list for the exact variety.
Ingredients and allergens can vary between bread varieties, and product information can change. So an old packet isn’t a substitute for checking the latest information.
Read the label on the packet you’ve bought and follow the school or after-school care setting’s rules.
You can still have slices left over from a half loaf if your household eats less than you expected.
Choose an amount that suits your planned bread-based meals and freeze any leftover slices promptly if you want to use them later.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Vloerbrood meergranen half and other half-size multigrain varieties.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half.
Lidl lists a Halfje donker meergranenbrood of 400 g as an in-store product.
ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen in a half-loaf size.
PLUS lists Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half, 400 g, as an alternative in a different type of bread.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to the types of grain used; it doesn’t confirm that the bread is wholemeal. To check, look at the name and ingredients of the exact variety.
A half loaf may be a good fit if your household doesn’t get through a whole loaf. Think about how many slices you also use for breakfast or lunch, and freeze any leftovers promptly. A smaller loaf won’t prevent waste by itself.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the latest packaging for the exact variety, including any statements about possible traces. Don’t rely on the bread’s name alone or on a packet you bought earlier.
Check both the latest product information and the school or after-school care setting’s rules on ingredients and allergens. Remember to check the filling you’re packing too.
