When choosing breakfast bread for your toddler, first check the packaging to see whether it is wholemeal or brown, then check the ingredients, fibre, salt and allergens. ‘Multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t tell you this on their own, so also consider whether the crust, texture and portion are right for your toddler.
You want to be able to check on the packaging whether the bread is wholemeal or brown, and how much fibre and salt it contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal and brown bread as options for children aged 1 to 3.
You’re looking for a slice and portion your toddler can manage, even if a firm crust or coarse texture is tricky for them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises not offering too much at once and cutting food into smaller pieces if needed.
Before packing the bread, you need to know which allergens it contains and what arrangements are in place at the setting. Check the latest product information and ask separately about the school or nursery’s policy.
Start with the product description and allergen information. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and consider whether the slice is easy for your toddler to eat.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal content and fibre | Check whether the bread is described as wholemeal or brown. Compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g; ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. | When I’m looking for bread for everyday use, I want to be able to assess what’s in it rather than judge by its dark colour. For around 36% of consumers, being able to check the wholemeal content and fibre comes first. |
| Allergens and setting policies | Check the cereals and any other relevant allergens listed on the current packaging or allergen information sheet. Ask the school or nursery what arrangements are in place. | Before I send bread in with my child, I want to know whether the ingredients are suitable for their dietary restrictions and the setting’s arrangements. Around 29% of consumers give checking allergens top priority. |
| Crust and ease of eating | Check how firm the crust is and whether the slice contains coarse pieces, seeds or kernels. Adjust the portion and piece size to suit your toddler’s chewing ability. | A coarse slice isn’t helpful if my toddler finds it difficult to eat. Ease of eating is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Size and availability | Compare the loaf size with what your household uses, and check whether it’s available in store or online too. | If we don’t eat much bread, I look for a size that suits our needs and is easy to buy. For around 14% of consumers, this practical consideration takes priority. |
Multigrain bread isn’t automatically made entirely from wholemeal flour. For Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen, PLUS lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour.
Read the product description and ingredients list, and compare the fibre per 100 g if this matters to you.
The sourdough process doesn’t make bread containing gluten cereals gluten-free. The sourdough breads from Albert Heijn and PLUS that were reviewed list these cereals.
If you need to avoid gluten, check the latest allergen information and don’t rely on the word ‘sourdough’ alone.
A firm crust and coarse texture can be difficult for a toddler to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends cutting food into smaller pieces if you’re unsure whether a child can chew it properly.
Check the slice and offer a manageable portion while your toddler eats sitting down and under supervision.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is especially important if you need to exclude certain ingredients from your toddler’s diet.
Check the packaging when you buy the bread, or ask for the latest allergen information if it’s sold loose.
Albert Heijn describes AH OerDesem donker meergranen heel as a 800 g wholemeal multigrain sourdough loaf.
Jumbo includes a brown multigrain loaf in its sourdough range and says it is made using fresh sourdough with a rising time of more than 24 hours.
PLUS Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen is a part-baked 300 g loaf.
Lidl describes a 600 g organic brown multigrain sourdough loaf with seeds and kernels.
ALDI describes Boeren volkoren meergranen as sliced wholemeal bread; it has not been identified as sourdough.
Dirk lists a multigrain artisan loaf by Bakker van der Akker, made with cereals and seeds.
No. ‘Multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’. Read the product description and ingredients list: for its Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen, PLUS lists both 27% wholemeal wheat flour and 23% wheat flour.
No. Sourdough doesn’t make bread containing gluten cereals gluten-free. The breads from Albert Heijn and PLUS that were reviewed list these cereals; if you need to avoid gluten, check that a specific product is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends around two to three slices of bread a day, usually split between breakfast and lunch. This isn’t an amount to eat all at breakfast; don’t offer too much at once.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, sellers of unpackaged food must provide information about the 14 specified allergens. Before buying, ask which cereals and other allergens relevant to your child are in the bread. Separately, check the school or nursery’s arrangements before packing it.
