Which lunch option suits you?

Quick lunch preppers

If you want to make sandwiches ahead of time on workdays, sliced bread that’s ready to use and easy to portion is especially handy.

Wholemeal and fibre seekers

If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check the product name and the fibre content of the exact variety. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t mean that bread is wholemeal.

Flavour and freshness planners

If you want to bake your bread just before lunch, allow time for preparation and make sure there’s an oven available at home or at work.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want bread that’s ready to eat or needs baking. Then compare the wholemeal labelling, nutritional information and ingredients of the type that fits your lunch plans.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this most important for?
Preparation and portions Check whether the bread is sliced, comes as individual rolls or needs baking. For bake-at-home bread, check the preparation instructions. If I want to make my lunch before leaving, I don’t want to need an oven or a knife. For around 36% of consumers, convenience on workdays comes first.
Wholemeal and nutritional information Look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging and compare fibre and salt per 100 g for the exact products. For my everyday sandwiches, I want to know whether the bread really is wholemeal, rather than assume it is because it says ‘multigrain’. Around 29% of consumers give this check top priority.
Sourdough and when you’ll eat it Check the sourdough labelling and choose a product type that suits when you want to eat the bread. If I want to bake the bread just before lunch, that timing matters more to me than quick preparation. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. If the bread is unwrapped, ask for this information. If I need to avoid an ingredient or allergen, I can’t rely on the product name alone. For around 14% of consumers, this check is their first priority when buying.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that a bread contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t mean that it’s made entirely with wholemeal flour. For example, PLUS Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit contains both wholemeal wheat flour and white wheat flour.

    Look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging if that’s one of your criteria, then read the ingredients list.

  • Assuming ‘sourdough’ tells you about the nutritional value

    The sourdough labelling doesn’t tell you how much fibre or salt the exact variety contains. The stated values also vary between breads in this product category.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients.

  • Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan

    A whole loaf can go to waste if you only plan a few lunches ahead. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives separate storage times for opened wholemeal bread kept in a bread bin or in the freezer.

    Divide the bread into lunch portions and freeze any that you won’t use within a few days.

  • Trying to work out allergens from the name

    Ingredients vary between breads. Jumbo’s sourdough rolls, for example, list wheat, rye, spelt and sesame. ‘Multigrain’ or ‘sourdough’ is no substitute for allergen information.

    Read the current packaging or ask for allergen information if the bread is unwrapped.

Brands and products to consider

These examples show the types of products you might come across. Always check the information for the variety you choose before buying.

Albert Heijn

AH OerDesem donker meergranen is a sliced whole loaf for anyone who wants to make sandwiches in advance.

  • Albert Heijn describes this variety as wholemeal multigrain sourdough, weighing 800 g, and lists 6,6 g of fibre per 100 g and iodised salt.
  • The bread contains gluten-containing cereals. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.

Jumbo

Jumbo Desem Broodjes Meergranen is a pack of four part-baked rolls for individual lunch portions.

  • For this variety, Jumbo lists 6,6 g of fibre and 1,10 g of salt per 100 g.
  • The rolls aren’t labelled as fully wholemeal. The ingredients list includes wheat, rye, spelt and sesame, among other ingredients.

PLUS

PLUS Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit is a part-baked loaf for anyone with time and an oven to prepare it.

  • For this variety, PLUS lists 21% wholemeal wheat flour, 17% white wheat flour and 7% sourdough.
  • Baking it takes time. The ingredients include several gluten-containing cereals.

Lidl

Lidl describes its Rustiek meergranen desembrood as white multigrain sourdough with kernels and seeds.

  • This is a specific product to look at if you’re searching for multigrain sourdough.
  • Lidl lists it as an in-store product. Check its ingredients and nutritional information before comparing it with other breads.

ALDI

ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen as sliced bread for anyone who mainly looks for a wholemeal label.

  • The product name explicitly describes this variety as wholemeal multigrain.
  • Don’t assume this bread is sourdough. Check the product details if sourdough is important to you.

Dirk

Dirk lists both multigrain bread and sourdough bread in its bread range.

  • The range gives you options to explore both types of bread.
  • Check whether an individual loaf is both multigrain and sourdough, and read the relevant product information.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means the bread contains at least three different types of grain; it doesn’t mean that all the flour used is wholemeal. If that’s the deciding factor for you, look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging.

Does sourdough tell you how much fibre or salt a bread contains?

No, the sourdough labelling doesn’t determine those nutritional values. Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g in the nutritional information for the exact breads you’re considering.

How should I store bread if I’m preparing lunches in advance?

Freeze any portions you won’t use within a few days. For opened wholemeal bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storage for 2–4 days in a bread bin or 1–3 months in the freezer. Also follow the instructions on your bread’s packaging.

How can I tell whether a bread contains iodised salt?

Check the ingredients list for the exact variety. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH OerDesem donker meergranen, as does Jumbo for its Desem Broodjes Meergranen. Don’t assume it’s present based on the words ‘multigrain’ or ‘sourdough’.

Where can I find allergen information for unwrapped bread?

Ask at the bakery counter before buying. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for food must be clearly available. The allergens present depend on the specific bread.