When choosing multigrain bread for a weekend breakfast, don’t rely on the name or colour alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that multigrain bread can also be made with white flour. Look for an explicit wholemeal option if you want the whole grain to be the priority, or try a loaf made with both wholemeal flour and white flour if you’d first like to see what fussy eaters enjoy. If you want to serve warm bread, also compare the shape and preparation method. Check the ingredients, fibre, salt and allergens on the label of each product.
Don’t want to put a fully wholemeal loaf on the table straight away? A loaf made with both wholemeal flour and white flour is one option to try. See what you think of the taste and texture at home, and check the label to find out how much wholemeal flour and fibre the product contains.
If the whole grain is your main criterion, the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you enough. Check the product name and ingredients list, and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products on the same basis.
For brunch, you can choose baguettes or crusty loaves to bake at home. Allow time for preparation and check the instructions for the specific product; the bake-at-home format alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal.
First, decide what matters most for this weekend breakfast: an explicitly wholemeal base, a loaf fussy eaters will be willing to try, or warm bread without too much left over. Then compare only the products that suit your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name, read the ingredients and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | If I mainly want bread made with the whole grain, I don’t want to rely on the name ‘multigrain’. For around 36% of consumers, a wholemeal base is the top priority. |
| Taste and texture | Compare the wholemeal flour and white flour in the ingredients list; you could choose a half loaf to try. | For fussy eaters, I want to find out whether they like the crust and texture first, without mistaking a blended recipe for fully wholemeal bread. This is the main consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Shape and quantity | Choose a whole loaf, half loaf or bake-at-home product to suit the number of people; read the preparation and storage instructions. | For brunch, I want to serve warm bread without buying more than we’ll eat. Shape and quantity are the top priorities for around 28% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread can also be made with white flour. So the name alone doesn’t tell you whether the bread has a wholemeal base.
Check the product name and ingredients list, and compare fibre and salt per 100 g.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. You can’t tell whether it’s present from the type of bread or the way it’s presented.
Check the label to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients.
If you don’t like the crust or texture, you could end up with a large loaf left uneaten.
Choose a half loaf if available, or freeze a whole loaf in portions as soon as you buy it, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
‘Multigrain’ doesn’t mean gluten-free. Bread containing wheat, rye or barley, for example, may contain gluten.
Check the ingredients and allergen information. If you need a gluten-free option, only choose a product that is explicitly labelled as such.
Always compare the specific loaf from each brand: recipes and formats can vary within the same range.
AH Vloerbrood multigrain whole loaf is an example to consider if you’re looking for a blend of flours.
Jumbo offers options including Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen and Stevig Meergranen, in different loaf sizes.
Lidl describes a multigrain loaf containing wheat, barley and buckwheat, among other ingredients.
ALDI sells Boeren volkoren meergranen in both whole and half sizes.
PLUS sells both multigrain bread to bake at home and other multigrain loaves for brunch.
Dirk offers options including Bakker van der Akker Bakkers multigrain half loaf and other multigrain breads.
This selection includes baguettes and round loaves for a weekend breakfast, as well as a pack of four rolls. First choose the shape and quantity you’d like; if you want a wholemeal option, check the ingredients and nutritional information for each individual product.
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A baguette-style option if you’d like to serve warm bread at the weekend breakfast table. Allow time to defrost and bake, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
If you want a wholemeal option, compare the ingredients and check fibre and salt per 100 g. If you have allergies, also read the information about wheat and sesame.
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A baguette option to bake at home for a bigger weekend breakfast. Check the number of baguettes and the total quantity on the packaging before planning how much you’ll need.
Read the preparation instructions and compare ingredients, fibre and salt per 100 g. If you have allergies, check the information about wheat and sesame.
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A 550 g round loaf to share at the weekend breakfast table. Allow time if you want to bake it warm, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
Check the ingredients to find out whether it has a wholemeal base, and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. If you have allergies, also read the information about wheat and sesame.
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Two round loaves for a breakfast with more people, or to enjoy on different occasions. If you won’t use both loaves straight away, plan how you’ll store them.
Follow the preparation instructions and check the ingredients, fibre and salt per 100 g. If you have allergies, also read the information about wheat and sesame.
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Four multigrain rolls make a smaller quantity to try at the weekend breakfast table. The ingredients list states that they contain 53% wheat flour; check the packaging if a wholemeal base is important to you.
To find out whether iodised salt has been used, read the ingredients list. Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the allergen information.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that multigrain bread can also be made with white flour. If you want a wholemeal option, look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label and check the ingredients list.
No, the colour alone doesn’t tell you how much fibre a loaf contains. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients list for each product to see whether it contains baker’s salt or iodised salt.
No. Multigrain bread can contain grains that contain gluten. If you need a gluten-free option, look for an explicit gluten-free label and read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product.
It’s best to freeze any bread you won’t use soon in portions as soon as you buy it; this is the storage advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. A half loaf may be more practical if you already know you’ll only need a few slices.
