Fibre-conscious lunch planner
You prepare several office lunches in advance and are looking for bread that is explicitly labelled wholemeal. Before choosing, compare the fibre per 100 g shown on the packaging of each bread.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Shopper who plans portions in advance
You only want to take what you need for that working day. You can portion a whole loaf at home and freeze it; individual rolls can be handy if you put each lunch together separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it.
Label reader with an allergy concern
You check the ingredients and allergen declaration for the exact bread you’re taking with you. The grains and other ingredients used can vary between multigrain products.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by asking whether a wholemeal base is essential for you. Then consider what your lunch plans and the ingredients mean for the specific bread you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base | Look for the wholemeal label on the specific bread; don’t judge by its colour or the name multigrain. | For my office lunch, I want to know whether the grain base is wholemeal, even if the bread looks dark. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Portions and nutritional values | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and decide whether you want to freeze a whole loaf in portions or use individual rolls. | When I prepare lunches for several working days, I want to plan my portions and compare nutritional values. This combination is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen declaration for the variant you choose, including any warnings about possible traces. | When I’m putting together a lunch where allergens are a concern, I need to know what’s in the bread. Around 20% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark bread is wholemeal
A dark colour, seeds on top or the name multigrain doesn’t prove that the bread is entirely wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that it contains at least three types of grain.
Check that the product you’ve chosen is labelled wholemeal, then compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
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Looking at fibre alone
Breads with similar names can have different nutritional values and ingredients. Product information from Jumbo and PLUS shows that salt and allergens matter too.
Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, preferably per 100 g, and read the allergen declaration for the variant you’ve chosen.
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Buying a whole loaf without planning portions
If you only use a few slices each working day, you’ll also need to decide what to do with the rest.
Following the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice, freeze bread in portions straight after buying it and take out what you need. Individual rolls are an alternative if you’d rather take a separate portion for each lunch.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn explains the difference between wholemeal and other bread descriptions. Use this as a starting point, then assess the bread you choose individually.
- The explanation helps distinguish between the labels wholemeal and multigrain.
- For your lunch, compare the ingredients and nutritional values on the packaging of the variant you choose.
Jumbo
Two wholemeal multigrain breads from Jumbo provide specific values you can compare on the same basis.
- Jumbo lists 7,8 g and 8,0 g of fibre per 100 g for the two products reviewed; their product information also gives the salt values.
- These values apply to those specific breads, not the entire range. Check the ingredients and allergens when you buy them too.
Lidl
Lidl describes a multigrain bread containing, among other things, wheat, barley and buckwheat.
- The grains listed give you a starting point for comparing ingredients.
- Lidl says its fresh bread range can vary by store. Check the nutritional information for the variant you choose too.
Aldi
Aldi offers an Extra High Fibre Wholemeal Bread as a separate wholemeal alternative for anyone looking beyond the multigrain category.
- The product name explicitly says wholemeal, making it easy to check the rest of the label.
- The features of this bread don’t automatically apply to other Aldi breads.
PLUS
PLUS offers wholemeal multigrain rolls as an option for individual lunch portions.
- For its Korenlanders rolls, PLUS lists the ingredients, allergens, nutritional values and freezing information.
- These rolls contain, among other things, gluten-containing grains, soya, milk and sesame; check the packaging if you have a relevant allergy.
Dirk
Dirk presents Bakker van der Akker Casino Multigrain Wholemeal Half Loaf as an example of a half loaf with both descriptions in its name.
- The half-loaf format is a practical option to compare with a whole loaf or individual rolls.
- Read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the packaging before choosing this bread for a specific dietary goal.
Multigrain bread at Joybuy
These products are multigrain breads and rolls in a range of formats. If a wholemeal base matters for your office lunch, check the current labelling of each product and compare the nutritional values on the same basis.
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g'woon multigrain rolls, 4 pieces
The pack of four rolls suits lunches you’re packing individually. Check the current packaging to see whether this variant is wholemeal, and only compare fibre and salt when the values are given on the same basis.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 x 135 g x 2
The baguette format is an option if you plan your lunches around individual rolls. Allow time for thawing and baking, and check the preparation instructions, wholemeal status and allergens on the packaging you choose.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
A 550 g round loaf lets you cut your own lunch portions. Allow time for thawing and baking, and check the packaging for wholemeal status, allergens and the basis used for the nutritional values.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain; that alone doesn’t mean the bread is entirely wholemeal. Look for the wholemeal label on the specific product, then read the ingredients and nutritional information.
How do I compare fibre and salt for my work lunch?
Compare the fibre and salt values of both breads per 100 g. For two wholemeal multigrain breads, Jumbo lists 7,8 g and 8,0 g of fibre per 100 g respectively; also check the salt value and ingredients of each individual bread.
Can I freeze bread for several working days?
Yes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it and taking out what you need each day. This lets you divide a whole loaf between several office lunches.
How do I check whether my bread contains baker’s salt?
Read the ingredients list for the bread variant you’ve chosen and check whether baker’s salt is listed. A mention on another bread, even from the same brand, doesn’t tell you what’s in the pack you have.