When choosing bread for one, don’t let the word ‘multigrain’ make the decision for you. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it tells you how many types of grain the bread contains, not whether it’s wholemeal. If wholemeal is your priority, look for bread explicitly labelled as wholemeal. Brown bread made with both wholemeal flour and white flour may be an option if you prefer a different blend and flavour. Choose a size that suits how much you’ll eat, or freeze the bread in portions after buying it.
If you want bread that is clearly wholemeal, check the product name and compare the nutritional information per 100 g for specific breads. The name ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t guarantee this, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Brown multigrain bread made with both wholemeal flour and white flour may be worth trying if you’re less keen on the distinctive taste of wholemeal bread. Check the ingredients: this blend doesn’t mean the bread is entirely wholemeal.
If you only use a few slices or rolls at a time, a half loaf, individual rolls or frozen portions may suit your needs better. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions after buying it, and defrosting only what you need.
First decide whether wholemeal or flavour matters most to you. Then consider how much bread you use at each meal, and always check the latest allergen information if you need to avoid certain ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare the fibre content of specific breads on the same basis, per 100 g. | I want my bread-based meal to include bread that is clearly wholemeal, not just bread made with several grains. For around 33% of consumers, choosing wholemeal comes first. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Read the product name and ingredients; brown multigrain bread may contain both wholemeal flour and white flour. | If I’m less keen on the flavour or texture of wholemeal bread, I want to choose a different blend. For around 27% of consumers, flavour takes priority. |
| Size and storage | Choose a whole loaf, half loaf or individual rolls to suit how much you eat, and check whether you can freeze portions straight away. | I eat bread with occasional meals and don’t want to be left with a whole loaf. Portion size is the first consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current packaging to see which grains and other allergens the product contains or may contain. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know what’s in the bread before choosing it. This check matters most to around 13% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that bread is made from at least three different types of grain. It doesn’t follow that the bread is entirely wholemeal.
If wholemeal is your main criterion, look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare specific products using their ingredients lists and fibre content per 100 g.
If you’re buying bread for one, you may have some left over before you get around to eating it.
Choose a size that suits how much you eat, or follow the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to freeze bread in meal-sized portions after buying it.
Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists different grains and other ingredients in the multigrain breads discussed here. Some products also contain sesame, soya or milk.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for the specific bread every time you buy it, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.
These product examples show how ingredients and sizes can vary. Always assess the bread itself rather than choosing by brand alone.
AH Vloerbrood meergranen heel is an example of a bread made with both wholemeal wheat flour and white wheat flour.
Jumbo describes Stevig Meergranen as a wholemeal multigrain loaf with kernels and seeds.
PLUS Korenlanders Volkoren meergranenbollen come in a pack of four, making them an alternative to consider alongside a whole loaf.
Lidl lists a 400 g half loaf of dark multigrain bread, which is smaller than a whole loaf.
ALDI describes Boeren volkoren meergranen as bread made with grains and seeds.
Dirk describes Bakker van der Akker’s Vloerbrood meergranen heel as a substantial loaf made with grains and seeds.
These breads and rolls come in different quantities to suit meals for one. Check the product name and label to see whether a bread also matches your preference for wholemeal or for a blend of wholemeal flour and white flour.
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At 135 g each, these baguettes are an option if you want to use one at a time for a meal. Allow time to defrost and bake them. Check the packaging if the proportion of wholemeal flour to white flour, or allergens, is important to your choice.
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This 550 g whole loaf is suited to anyone who wants to bake a loaf and will use the full amount. Allow time to defrost and bake it. Check the label if you’re looking specifically for wholemeal bread or a particular flour blend.
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Four individual multigrain rolls can be handy when you use one or a few at each meal. Check the label for the flour blend and allergens, and see the packaging for advice on storing any rolls you don’t use.
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This option contains two whole 550 g loaves. If you’re buying for one, you’ll need a plan for using both loaves. Remember to allow time to defrost and bake them, too. Check the label if wholemeal content, the flour blend or allergens are important to you.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that bread is made from at least three different types of grain; it doesn’t, by itself, mean those grains are wholemeal. If you want to buy wholemeal bread, look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label.
Freeze bread in portions after buying it, and take out what you need for each meal. This is the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice for storing bread. Also follow any storage instructions on the packaging of the product you buy.
No. The product information for the Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS breads discussed here lists grains that contain gluten. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for each specific product; ‘multigrain’ doesn’t mean that a bread is gluten-free.
That doesn’t follow from the Dutch rule on bakers’ salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread only when bakers’ salt has been added. Check the ingredients list of the specific bread to see which type of salt is used.
