If you’re looking for a higher-fibre option, first check whether the multigrain bread is explicitly labelled wholemeal: ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t confirm this. Then compare the fibre per 100 g on the label and choose a type of bread that’s easy to share or prepare before you leave. If you’re taking perishable fillings with you, keep them chilled.
You’re looking for bread to make several sandwiches and want to know whether it really is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain cereal products contain more fibre than products made with white flour; ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t tell you that.
You want to hand out bread without having to cut up a whole loaf in the park. Individual wholemeal multigrain rolls or pre-sliced bread could work well; check the storage instructions on the pack you choose.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact loaf before taking it with you. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre emphasises the importance of checking labels if you have a food allergy.
First decide whether wholemeal is your priority. Then choose between sliced bread, individual rolls and bread you need to bake at home. Before you leave, check your fillings and how they’re packed, too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for an explicit wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g on the pack. Colour and visible seeds aren’t a substitute for checking. | If I’m specifically looking for wholemeal bread for a picnic, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. For around 33% of consumers, choosing wholemeal bread and checking its fibre content comes first. |
| Portions and preparation | Check whether the bread is sliced, easy to share out or needs baking before you leave. Read the storage and preparation instructions. | When I’m eating with a group, I want to be able to share out the bread without cutting it or baking anything there and then. Around 27% of consumers prioritise easy portioning and transport. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current pack of the exact product. | If I’m buying bread for someone with an allergy or specific ingredient requirements, I need to know what’s in that particular loaf. For around 20% of consumers, checking this comes first. |
| Keeping fillings chilled | Check whether your fillings need to be kept chilled and, if so, take a cool bag with ice packs. Wrap your sandwiches hygienically. | If my fillings need to stay chilled, I want to stop them getting warm on the way or in the park; the type of bread doesn’t change that. For around 20% of consumers, safely transporting filled sandwiches comes first. |
Having several grains or visible seeds doesn’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. You could end up taking bread that doesn’t meet your original preference for more fibre.
Use the wholemeal label as your first filter, then compare the fibre per 100 g on the pack.
Ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. This is especially important if you’re checking for a particular ingredient or the bread’s composition.
Use the product page to help you decide, but check the label on the pack you’re actually taking with you when you buy it.
Choosing fresh bread doesn’t tell you how long perishable fillings can be kept out of the fridge. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping food chilled and using clean hands and utensils when picnicking.
Make your sandwiches shortly before you leave, use a cool bag with ice packs for chilled fillings, and keep your food out of direct sunlight.
A bake-at-home baguette isn’t ready to pack for a picnic straight from the packet. For example, PLUS says its wholemeal multigrain baguettes need to be baked in the oven.
Choose bake-at-home bread if you can prepare it at home according to the pack instructions and let it cool. If you want to leave without doing any preparation, look for sliced bread or ready-to-eat rolls.
These supermarket brands offer a range of multigrain breads and formats. For your picnic, always compare the specific product rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Albert Heijn lists, among other options, whole multigrain loaves and a multigrain roll labelled wholemeal.
Jumbo lists wholemeal multigrain bread and packs of wholemeal multigrain rolls.
Lidl lists multigrain bread and provides an ingredients and allergens overview for its freshly baked bread range.
ALDI lists Boeren wholemeal multigrain bread in both a whole and a half loaf.
PLUS lists wholemeal multigrain rolls and wholemeal multigrain baguettes to bake at home.
Dirk’s search results include multigrain bread, wholemeal multigrain bread and multigrain rolls.
These breads are labelled Whole Wheat and could suit a picnic where wholemeal bread is a priority. Their product names don’t confirm that they contain a mix of grains; if you’re specifically looking for multigrain bread, check the ingredients of the loaf you choose.
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An option if you want to share out six pieces of bread at your picnic. The Whole Wheat label doesn’t confirm a multigrain mix, so check the pack for ingredients and allergens, too.
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A round loaf for anyone with time to defrost it, bake it and let it cool before slicing it for the picnic. Check the baking time on the pack; the product name doesn’t confirm a multigrain mix.
No. The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t, by itself, confirm that the bread is wholemeal. Look for an explicit wholemeal label and check the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority has also reported that wholemeal claims on some products it investigated weren’t always justified.
The fibre value per 100 g helps you compare similar loaves without assuming that every multigrain bread has the same ingredients. Use the wholemeal label as your first indication, then check the nutritional information on the pack.
No, not every baker uses iodised baker’s salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but its use isn’t compulsory. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list; for unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used.
Keep any fillings that need refrigeration chilled while you’re travelling and during your picnic. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends using clean hands and utensils when picnicking; choosing multigrain bread doesn’t change how the fillings need to be stored.
Read the allergen information on the current pack of the exact loaf you’re buying. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, common allergens must be clearly listed on the label. If you have a food allergy, don’t rely solely on a product page you viewed earlier, as product information can change.
