If you’re choosing for a fussy eater, don’t go by the name multigrain alone: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the term tells you how many types of grain have been used, not whether the bread is wholemeal. For a Mother’s Day breakfast, compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g, then choose a type of bread that suits your preferred texture and how much time you have to get it ready.
If you’re looking for bread made with both white and wholemeal flour, compare the ingredients and check whether it contains seeds or kernels. Albert Heijn lists both types of flour in Onze Trots Vloerbrood Woudkorn half; taste and texture are still a matter of personal preference.
If the ingredients matter to you, the product description and fibre per 100 g are more useful than the bread’s dark colour. Product information from Jumbo and PLUS shows which details you can check for each loaf.
If you want to serve the bread warm, you’ll need to factor in the baking time too. ALDI lists a baking time of 8–10 minutes for its multigrain baguettes; bread that’s ready to serve doesn’t need this step.
First, decide which qualities matter most to the people joining your Mother’s Day breakfast. Then check the details on the bread you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Taste and texture | Compare the white and wholemeal flour in the ingredients list, and check whether the bread contains seeds or kernels. | If a fussy eater is joining us, I want to know whether the ingredients and texture will suit them. This is the top consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal content and fibre | Read the product description and compare fibre per 100 g, rather than comparing different serving sizes. | For my brunch, I want a clearly stated wholemeal base, not just dark-coloured bread. Around 46% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Serving and ingredients | For bake-at-home bread, check the preparation time; if you’re serving guests, also check the allergens and whether the bread contains baker’s salt or iodised salt. | When I’m serving others, the preparation and ingredients need to fit my plans. This matters most to around 18% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made from at least three types of grain. The name doesn’t tell you whether the bread is made with wholemeal flour or white flour.
To check that it has a wholemeal base, look at the product description and ingredients list, then compare the fibre per 100 g.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The ingredients can therefore vary from one loaf to another.
For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt; for unpackaged bread, ask which ingredients have been used.
Multigrain breads can contain a variety of grains, seeds and other ingredients. Albert Heijn lists, among other things, gluten-containing grains, soya and sesame in Onze Trots Vloerbrood Woudkorn half.
Check the latest allergen information on the product for every guest, rather than relying on the words multigrain or wholemeal in its name.
Bake-at-home bread needs to be prepared shortly before serving; ALDI gives a baking time of 8–10 minutes for its multigrain baguettes.
Check the instructions on the packaging and choose bread that’s ready to serve if your brunch schedule doesn’t leave time for baking.
A specific example for anyone looking to compare white and wholemeal flour in one loaf.
A product-specific point of comparison for dark wholemeal multigrain bread.
Worth considering if you want to compare a loaf explicitly described as wholemeal with other multigrain products.
A useful option if you’re considering bake-at-home bread for brunch.
An example for anyone looking for brown sourdough multigrain bread with seeds and kernels.
Useful for comparing fresh multigrain bread with a bake-at-home option or a wholemeal multigrain product.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made from at least three different types of grain, but the name doesn’t tell you whether it’s made with wholemeal flour, white flour or a combination of the two. If wholemeal is important to you, check the product description and ingredients list.
No, don’t use colour as a substitute for the nutritional information. For the multigrain bread you choose, compare the fibre per 100 g and check which types of flour it contains.
No, you can’t assume this is the case for every loaf: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients; for unpackaged bread, ask what it contains.
Before buying, read the preparation instructions for the variety you’ve chosen, and allow time for the oven to preheat too. ALDI gives a baking time of 8–10 minutes for its multigrain baguettes; this timing won’t necessarily apply to other bake-at-home breads.
