If you take lunch to work a few days a week
If you only take sandwiches to work a few days a week, a half loaf may be a better fit for what you’ll use. Freezing any leftover bread in portions is another option.
Who are these options relevant to?
If you eat bread almost every working day
If you eat sandwiches every day and specifically want wholemeal bread, look beyond the name ‘multigrain’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes multigrain bread by the types of grain used; the label alone doesn’t tell you whether it is wholemeal.
If you check ingredients carefully
If you need to watch out for particular allergens or want to know which salt has been used, check the label on the bread you choose. Don’t assume a product is gluten-free or made with baker’s salt just because it’s called ‘multigrain’.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how much bread you’ll get through on your working days. Then compare the wholemeal information, storage options and any ingredients that matter to you.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount of bread | Compare a whole and a half loaf with the number of lunches you’ll make from it. | I only take lunch to work a few days a week and don’t want slices left over. Around 36% of consumers prioritise buying the right amount. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Read the product name and ingredients; compare fibre figures on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | If I eat sandwiches almost every day, I want to be able to tell whether my multigrain bread is also wholemeal. Around 29% of consumers prioritise checking this. |
| Storage | Consider whether you’ll use up the bread in time or can freeze it in lunch-sized portions soon after buying it. | I want to keep bread at home for several working days without throwing away unused portions; storage determines the choice for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the label for relevant allergens, any gluten-free claim, and whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is used. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or want to know which salt is used, that information matters more than the loaf size. It’s the first consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming multigrain means wholemeal
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made with at least three types of grain. This doesn’t mean that all the grain ingredients are wholemeal.
If you want wholemeal bread, check the product label and read the ingredients list.
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Buying a whole loaf for just a few lunch days
If you only use some of the loaf, you’ll have slices left over to store or freeze.
Choose an amount that suits your working week, or freeze a whole loaf in lunch-sized portions as soon as you get it home.
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The Dutch 2008 agreement on baker’s salt encourages its use in bread and bread substitutes, but it isn’t a feature of every loaf.
For packaged bread, check the ingredients list. If the bread is unwrapped, ask which salt has been used if this matters to your choice.
Brands to compare
ALDI
ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen as a half loaf; the amount is also worth considering if you only take lunch to work a few days a week.
- The half-loaf option lets you buy less bread at a time.
- Before choosing, check how many slices you need and the latest product information.
Dirk
Dirk stocks Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half.
- A half loaf may suit a working week with only a few lunch days.
- Read the label if fibre content or wholemeal status is important to you.
Jumbo
Jumbo stocks products including Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen and Stevig Meergranen.
- Jumbo states that Stevig Meergranen contains 43% wholemeal wheat flour and 8.6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the version you choose; the information for Stevig Meergranen doesn’t automatically apply to other Jumbo breads.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Vloerbrood meergranen as both a whole and a half loaf.
- You can choose a loaf size to suit how many days you take lunch to work.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the version you buy, as product information can change.
PLUS
PLUS stocks products including Korenlanders Donker meergranen and a separate gluten-free multigrain option from Schär.
- PLUS states that Korenlanders Donker meergranen contains 50% wholemeal wheat flour, 6.8 g of fibre per 100 g and baker’s salt.
- This information applies to Korenlanders Donker meergranen, not the gluten-free version. Check the full ingredients and allergen information for each product.
Lidl
Lidl lists a product in its stores called Meergranenbrood.
- The product description mentions wheat, barley and buckwheat, among other ingredients.
- Check the packaging in store for the full ingredients and allergen information.
Multigrain products at Joybuy
These loaves, rolls and baguettes come in different quantities to suit an office lunch. For bake-at-home products, check the preparation time and how many portions you’ll actually use.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g x 2
For several lunch days if you want to bake the bread at home. The pack contains two 550 g loaves; allow time to defrost, bake and cool the bread before slicing.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
For anyone who wants to share one round loaf between several lunches. The loaf weighs 550 g and needs to be defrosted, baked and cooled before slicing.
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g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 stuks
For lunches when you’d rather take individual rolls than slice a whole loaf. The pack contains four multigrain rolls; check the label if ingredients or allergens are important to you.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 x 135 gx 2
For a lunch with bake-at-home multigrain baguettes instead of sandwiches. The product information gives the weight as 135 g per baguette; check how many baguettes are in the pack and allow time to defrost and bake them.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but the name doesn’t mean that all the grain ingredients are wholemeal. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the product label and ingredients.
How should I store bread for my office lunch?
Freeze any portions you won’t use soon. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months; also follow the instructions on your bread’s packaging.
Does Dutch multigrain bread always contain baker’s salt?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The 2008 Dutch agreement encourages the use of iodised salt in bread and bread substitutes. For packaged bread, read the ingredients list; if the bread is unwrapped, ask about the salt used.
Is ordinary multigrain bread gluten-free?
You can’t tell from the name. Ordinary multigrain products may contain grains that contain gluten, so check the label and only choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free if you need it to be.