Choose a half or small multigrain loaf based on how many sandwiches you want to make and what you’ll do with any leftovers. ‘Half’ doesn’t tell you how many slices you’ll get; also check whether you want brown or wholemeal bread, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the children who’ll be there.
For a small children’s party, you want enough bread for sandwiches without ending up with more than you need. Check the weight and how a half loaf is sliced; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can freeze any bread you won’t need straight away in portions as soon as you get home.
If the type of bread matters to you, look beyond the label ‘multigrain’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal. Check the product description and the ingredients of the loaf you’re buying.
If children with different food allergies will be joining in, ask in advance what you need to take into account. Then check the allergen information and any warnings on the packaging of the bread you’ll actually be serving.
Work out how many sandwiches you want to make and whether you can freeze any unused bread. Then compare the type of bread and its label; check that your chosen half loaf is available before you shop.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Compare the weight and how the loaf is sliced with the number of sandwiches you want to make. Consider whether you can freeze any leftover bread in portions. | When the group is small, I want to have enough bread ready without having lots left over. That’s why getting the quantity right comes first for around 36% of consumers. |
| Type of bread and nutritional information | Check whether the bread is described as brown or wholemeal. Only compare fibre figures on the same basis, for example per 100 g, and check whether iodised baker’s salt is listed on the label if you wish. | When choosing bread for children, I want to know whether a multigrain loaf is also brown or wholemeal. That’s the first thing around 29% of consumers look for. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Ask about relevant allergies in advance and check the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning on the packaging. | If children with a food allergy will be eating, I want to be able to check which bread I can serve. For around 21% of consumers, allergens are the most important consideration. |
| Availability | Check with the shop that your chosen variety is available and that it is actually a half or small loaf. | I don’t want to find out while shopping that the half loaf I had planned to buy isn’t available. Availability matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that a loaf contains at least three types of grain. The name, colour and visible seeds don’t, on their own, tell you whether it’s wholemeal.
Read the product description and ingredients. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check whether wholemeal flour is listed.
The word ‘half’ doesn’t tell you how many sandwiches you’ll get from a pack. For example, Lidl and PLUS both list a small 400 g variety, but you’ll need to check the number of slices for the loaf you choose.
Estimate how many sandwiches you’ll need in advance, then check the weight and how the loaf is sliced. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing any bread you won’t need straight away in portions as soon as you get home.
The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you exactly which grains and other ingredients are in a particular loaf. Products from Jumbo and PLUS list different ingredients and potential allergens.
Ask about allergies in advance and check the label on the loaf you’ve bought just before serving. Take cross-contamination into account if it’s relevant to anyone attending.
A loaf shown online may not be available at your local shop. For example, Lidl says its half loaf featured here is only available in store.
Check availability before planning your shopping, and read the packaging of the variety you pick up.
These examples show the half or small loaves listed by the retailers mentioned. Check the current packaging and availability of the specific product you want to buy.
Albert Heijn has a product page for AH boeren meergranen maanzaad half.
Jumbo describes Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half as a half wholemeal multigrain loaf.
Lidl lists a Halfje donker meergranenbrood weighing 400 g.
Aldi lists Boeren volkoren meergranen Half as a half-loaf variety.
PLUS lists Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half as a small 400 g loaf.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but the name doesn’t mean those grains are wholemeal. Read the product description and ingredients if you want to choose a wholemeal loaf.
If iodine content matters when choosing your bread, check whether iodised baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights baker’s salt in its advice about bread for children; don’t assume you know what’s in the loaf from its name alone.
It’s best to freeze any bread you won’t need straight away in portions as soon as you get home. For opened wholemeal bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping it in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months; it may dry out if kept in the freezer for longer.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the label of the exact loaf you’re buying. The varieties described by Jumbo and PLUS list different grains and other allergens or possible traces, so the name of the bread alone isn’t enough to help you choose for a group.
