If you want to choose multigrain bread with a wholemeal base for a quick breakfast, look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging and compare the fibre content in the nutrition information. The name ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t confirm that the bread is made with wholemeal flour. Sliced bread or wholemeal multigrain rolls are easy to grab; if you won’t get through a whole loaf quickly, you can freeze it in portions.
You want a quick breakfast and are specifically looking for a wholemeal option. Check the wholemeal claim, then compare the fibre content on the packaging; ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal.
You want to be able to grab bread in the morning without having to slice it first. A sliced half loaf could suit you if you don’t use much; you can freeze a whole loaf in portions for later.
You want to know which grains and other ingredients are in a loaf. Check the ingredients list and allergen information for the option you choose, especially if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.
First decide whether wholemeal is your priority; then choose a size that suits your morning routine and how much bread you use.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutrition information for the loaves you’re considering. | If I’m looking for multigrain bread specifically because it has a wholemeal base, I don’t want to rely on its dark colour or visible seeds. For around 42% of shoppers, choosing wholemeal and fibre is the priority. |
| Easy to grab | Check whether the bread is sliced, or choose a size you can take with you without slicing. | On a busy morning, I want to be able to grab my breakfast straight away. This convenience is the main priority for around 33% of shoppers. |
| Using up the bread | Choose a whole or half loaf to suit how much you use, and check the storage instructions if you want to freeze portions. | If I don’t eat bread every day, I want to avoid leaving some of it unused. Around 25% of shoppers prioritise choosing a size they can use up. |
A dark colour, the name Waldkorn or visible seeds don’t prove that the bread is made with wholemeal flour. So the option you choose may not be what you’re looking for.
Check the wholemeal claim, then compare the nutrition information for the exact option.
If you only use a few slices at a time, some of the bread could dry out or go stale before you finish it.
Choose a size that suits how much you use, or freeze a whole loaf in separate portions.
The type of salt used can vary from product to product. The type of bread doesn’t tell you which salt is used in that particular loaf.
If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list on the packaging.
The name ‘multigrain bread’ doesn’t tell you which grains and other ingredients are in the option you’ve chosen.
Read the full ingredients list and the allergens declared for every loaf you’re considering.
Albert Heijn has online categories for multigrain and wholemeal bread, so you can check both descriptions for each product.
Jumbo lists, among other options, whole and half wholemeal multigrain loaves online.
Lidl describes a multigrain bread containing wheat, barley and buckwheat, among other ingredients, which the product page says is available in store only.
Aldi describes a ‘Farmhouse wholemeal multigrain’ loaf for in-store sale.
PLUS lists multigrain bread and wholemeal multigrain rolls online.
Dirk’s search results include both standard multigrain options and a wholemeal multigrain option.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes multigrain bread as bread made with at least three different types of grain; the term alone doesn’t mean it’s made with wholemeal flour. So look for an explicit wholemeal claim if you want a wholemeal option.
Compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutrition information for the loaves you’re considering. As a guide, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 3.4 g of fibre for a 50 g slice of wholemeal bread cut at home; the amount in a specific product may differ.
Freeze any slices you won’t use soon in portions, so you can take out what you need later. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer.
Check the ingredients list for the specific loaf to see which type of salt is listed, such as baker’s salt or iodised table salt. Don’t infer this from the name ‘multigrain’ or ‘wholemeal’.
Read the allergen information and full ingredients list on the packaging of the option you’ve chosen. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, common allergens, including cereals containing gluten, must be clearly declared; the exact ingredients vary from loaf to loaf.
