When choosing premium bread for a nursery lunch, don’t rely on the name, crust or appearance alone. Start with a clearly labelled wholemeal or brown loaf, then check the exact product against the nursery’s nutrition and allergy requirements. A hearth-baked or baker’s loaf may suit a special lunch; if texture is more important to the children, a finer wholemeal loaf could be an alternative. Check the ingredients, allergens and type of salt used for each bread separately.
Looking for a familiar wholemeal or brown bread that suits the group’s age range and dietary requirements. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal and brown bread for children aged 4 to 12 because of their fibre content; for younger children, the nursery’s requirements should take precedence.
Needs to check which allergens are present in the bread supplied before serving it, including when it comes unpackaged from a bakery. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that information about allergens present must be available for unpackaged foods.
Looking for bread with a different shape, crust or texture for lunchtime, without overlooking the product description and allergen information. A hearth-baked loaf and a fine wholemeal loaf offer different options for presentation and texture.
First, check the type of bread and the information you need to meet the nursery’s requirements. Then decide which shape and texture will work for the planned lunch.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base | Check that the specific bread is labelled wholemeal or brown. Compare nutritional values on a like-for-like basis only, for example per 100 g. | When I’m buying bread for a regular group lunch, I first want to know what type of bread I’ll be serving; this is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Allergens and requirements | Compare the latest allergen information for the product supplied with each child’s individual requirements. Ask for the product specification if the bread is unpackaged. | If a child has documented allergy requirements, I need to assess the exact bread before it reaches the table; this check is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Shape and texture | Once you’ve completed the essential checks, consider whether the crust, texture, shape and portioning are right for this lunch. | For a special lunch, I want to choose bread that suits the occasion and the children in the group; this consideration matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
A bread’s name and distinctive crust don’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal. In its advice for children, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between wholemeal and brown bread, and white bread.
Check the product description before comparing shape and presentation for lunch.
Albert Heijn and PLUS point out that product information can change. So information from an earlier order may not match the product supplied this time.
Check the current packaging or supplier specification against the requirements of the children who’ll be eating.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using bakers’ salt isn’t compulsory. So you can’t tell which type of salt has been used from words such as ‘premium’, ‘organic’ or ‘wholemeal’.
Check the ingredients for bakers’ salt or iodised salt, or ask the baker which type of salt is used in this bread.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that information about allergens present must also be available for unpackaged bread. A general description such as ‘contains gluten’ may not provide all the information you need about the specific grain.
Ask the supplier for allergen information about the exact bread and make sure it’s available when the bread is served.
AH Wholemeal Hearth-Baked Loaf is an example of a wholemeal hearth-baked bread for a special lunch.
The own-brand range includes different types of wholemeal bread, including fine and coarse varieties.
Wholemeal kids’ bread is an option to consider if you’re looking for a finer texture.
Aldi lists options including fine wholemeal bread, farmhouse tiger wholemeal bread and premium hearth-baked loaves.
PLUS Farmhouse Wholemeal Loaf has online information about its ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Bakker van der Akker Farmhouse Wholemeal Loaf is a fresh wholemeal bread in Dirk’s range.
These breads offer different options for a wholemeal lunch or a special bread moment. Check the packaging supplied for the product you choose against the nursery’s allergy requirements; the shape of the bread alone doesn’t determine whether it’s suitable.
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An option if you’d like to serve individual loaves at lunch. Check the latest allergen information against the nursery’s requirements, and look at the packaging to see which type of salt is used in this product.
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A round wholemeal loaf for a lunch where the shape of the bread matters too. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling, and check the allergen information for the loaves supplied.
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A round wholemeal option for a special bread moment. Plan time to defrost, bake and cool it before lunch, and check the latest allergen information against the nursery’s requirements.
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A rye bread option to consider if it’s suitable for the type of lunch you’re planning. Before deciding on portions, check whether the packaging supplied contains rolls or sliced rye bread, and check the allergen information against the nursery’s requirements.
No. A premium name says nothing about whether the bread is wholemeal or suitable under the nursery’s requirements. First check the type of bread and the allergen information, then decide whether its shape and texture are right for lunchtime.
Yes. Ask for allergen information about the exact bread before serving it. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about allergens present must also be available for unpackaged foods.
Take the warning into account when assessing the bread for the child concerned. Check the latest packaging information against the child’s individual dietary and nursery requirements; a general product name isn’t a substitute for this check.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using bakers’ salt isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients or ask the baker which type of salt is used in the bread you’ve chosen.
