When choosing bread for a children’s party, don’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread can be made mostly from refined flour. If you want to serve wholemeal bread, choose a loaf that is explicitly labelled wholemeal. Brown multigrain bread or smaller bread rolls can be practical for fussy eaters and serving, but check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for each product.
They want to be able to check whether a loaf really is wholemeal and how much fibre it contains per 100 g. As the Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out, the word ‘multigrain’ alone says nothing about whether bread is wholemeal.
They’re looking for a type of bread and ingredients that suit the children at the table, without trying to judge what’s in it from its colour or the presence of seeds.
They need to know which ingredients and allergens are in the bread they’ve chosen before serving it. A ‘may contain’ statement can also be relevant, so check the packaging of the exact product you’ll be serving.
First decide whether wholemeal status, a shape that’s easy to serve or a specific allergen requirement matters most for your party. Then compare only breads that meet that requirement.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status and fibre | Read the product name and ingredients list. For suitable breads, compare the fibre per 100 g. | If ingredients are my priority, I don’t want to judge by colour or seeds. Around 33% of consumers say this check is their main priority. |
| Taste and serving size | Choose a whole or half loaf, or smaller rolls to suit the number of children; check the label on smaller formats too. | For fussy eaters, I want to offer bread in portions that suit the group, without assuming every child will like it. This is the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Ask about any relevant requirements in advance, then read the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging. | If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know whether this particular bread is suitable before serving it. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Quantity and availability | Choose a size to suit the group and check shortly before buying that the bread you want is available. | When I’m arranging bread for the party, I want to have enough to go round without having lots left over. Around 20% of consumers put this practical consideration first. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to different types of grain; it doesn’t mean the whole grain has been used. Bread made mostly from refined flour can also be labelled multigrain.
Look for an explicit wholemeal label if that matters to you, then read the ingredients and nutritional information.
Multigrain bread may contain gluten-containing cereals, sesame or soya, for example. The name or colour won’t tell you which allergens are listed for a specific product.
Check the packaging of the product you’re buying. If the bread is unwrapped, ask for the available allergen information before serving it.
Baker’s salt is iodised salt, but the term alone doesn’t tell you which salt has been used in the loaf you’ve chosen.
If this matters to you, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt in the ingredients list for that loaf.
A whole loaf, half a loaf and small rolls won’t necessarily suit the same number of children. A product page also won’t always tell you what’s available when you’re ready to buy.
Check the size and availability shortly before the party, and choose a quantity that suits the group.
Buying a larger pack than you need can leave you with bread to spare.
These examples show the types of bread and product information you can compare; the packaging of the bread you buy is what matters.
Albert Heijn describes AH Liefde & Passie Multigrain Sliced as brown multigrain bread weighing 550 g.
Jumbo lists multigrain bread in different sizes, including whole and half loaves.
Lidl describes a multigrain bread containing ingredients including wheat, barley and buckwheat, available in store.
ALDI lists Boeren wholemeal multigrain bread in both whole and half sizes.
PLUS lists multigrain sourdough bread, as well as a smaller brown sourdough variety.
Dirk lists multigrain hearth bread and small multigrain rolls, among other options.
These products include rolls that are easy to serve individually, as well as larger loaves you can portion yourself. Always check wholemeal status, ingredients and allergens for each product; the multigrain label alone won’t tell you.
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These four rolls are easy to serve individually. Before serving, check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens, including gluten-containing cereals and sesame.
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Four individual baguettes can be shared around the party table. Allow time for defrosting and baking; follow the cooking instructions on the packaging and check the allergen information there too.
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Two round loaves give you a larger quantity to portion yourself. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling, and check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to the use of different types of grain, but multigrain bread can also be made from refined flour. If you want to serve wholemeal bread, look for an explicit wholemeal label.
Ask in advance which allergens are relevant to the children, then read the current packaging for the exact bread you’ll be serving. Check both the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statement; don’t rely on the name of the bread.
No, the word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean a bread is gluten-free. If gluten-free bread is needed, choose only a product with a clear, suitable gluten-free label, and check the other ingredients and allergens on the current packaging too.
Check the ingredients list for the loaf you’ve chosen to see whether it lists baker’s salt or iodised salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights baker’s salt as part of children’s diets, but the word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which salt has been used.
Choose a size to suit the number of children: a half loaf or individual rolls may be a better fit than a whole loaf. Check wholemeal status and allergens separately, as the serving format doesn’t tell you anything about either.
