For a regular lunch with a wholemeal base, choose only multigrain bread that is explicitly labelled ‘wholemeal’: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ alone says nothing about the base. Also ask whether the bread is genuinely medium-sliced, and check the latest allergen information against the arrangements for each child. The word ‘sliced’ alone does not confirm the thickness.
Want to check whether multigrain bread is genuinely wholemeal, rather than simply made with several types of grain. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes brown and wholemeal bread in its recommendations for school meals.
Checks ingredients and allergens before packing the bread. Multigrain bread may contain cereals containing gluten and sesame; the arrangements for the child and the nursery determine what information you need.
Needs a size that suits the number of lunches and wants to minimise leftovers. A half loaf, or bread that can be frozen in portions, may be practical, provided the slice thickness and allergen information are suitable too.
Before setting up a regular order, first check the allergen requirements, the wholemeal labelling and the slice thickness you need. Then decide which loaf size suits the number of lunches.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the current packaging and check the ingredients and nutritional information, including fibre per 100 g. | If I regularly choose bread for lunch, I want to know what the bread is made from. Around 36% of consumers would reportedly consider a wholemeal base their main reason for buying. |
| Allergens | Check the allergens present and any ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging; for unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information. | If a child has dietary requirements, I want to know which grains, seeds and other allergens need to be considered. For around 29% of consumers, the allergen protocol would reportedly come first. |
| Medium-sliced | Ask specifically about the slice thickness or check a current loaf before ordering it regularly; ‘sliced’ alone is not specific enough. | I want slices that suit the group’s lunch routine when spreading and serving. For around 21% of consumers, the slicing style would reportedly be the main reason for choosing. |
| Size and storage | Compare a whole loaf with a half loaf, and follow the storage and freezing advice for the product you choose. | If the number of lunches varies, I don’t want to use more bread than necessary. Around 14% of consumers would reportedly focus mainly on portion size. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made with at least three types of grain. The name does not confirm that the bread is wholemeal.
Check the wholemeal labelling and ingredients list on the bread you are actually buying.
Pre-sliced bread will not necessarily have the thickness you want. This matters if sandwiches are prepared as part of a regular lunch routine.
Ask the retailer for medium-thick slices, or try a loaf from the current range before placing another order.
Bread made with several grains or seeds may contain cereals containing gluten and sesame, among other things. A ‘may contain’ statement may also be relevant to a child’s dietary requirements.
Check the latest allergen information and make sure packing and serving follow the nursery’s recorded arrangements.
With a small or changing group, bread may be left over before it can be used.
Consider a half loaf, or freeze a suitable loaf in lunch-sized portions after buying it. Follow the storage advice on the packaging.
AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen gesneden is a sliced multigrain loaf.
Jumbo offers a range of multigrain breads, including wholemeal varieties and half loaves.
Lidl lists a bakery product called Meergranenbrood and names wheat, barley and buckwheat among its ingredients.
ALDI Boeren volkoren meergranen half is a sliced half loaf of wholemeal multigrain bread.
PLUS describes PLUS Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel as a whole, wholemeal multigrain loaf.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half as a half loaf suitable for lunch, among other occasions.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means the bread contains at least three types of grain; it does not automatically mean it has a wholemeal base. Check that the packaging for the bread you choose says ‘wholemeal’.
Ask the seller for allergen information before using the bread for lunch. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that sellers of unpackaged food must be able to provide information about the specified allergens. Then check that information against the arrangements for the child concerned.
No, multigrain bread containing gluten is not suitable for every child. Check the ingredients and allergen information. If a child has coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or other recorded dietary requirements, follow the nursery’s individual protocol.
Follow the storage advice for the bread you choose, and freeze portions if you do not need them straight away. For opened wholemeal bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer. Always check the condition of the bread before using it.
