For a savoury breakfast, start with bread for toasting if you want a bread-like slice; breakfast crackers and Melba toast are crisp alternatives with a different shape. Then compare similar products per 100 g for fibre and salt, and check the latest packaging if you have an allergy. If you’re specifically looking for medium-thick slices, check the slice thickness on the packaging or in store.
Which option is right for you?
For breakfast lovers who want a bread-like slice
If you’re having egg, cheese, cold cuts or a spread, you’ll want a slice you can toast yourself. Jumbo sells its Tostibrood Volkoren - Half as bread; the Bolletje Ontbijtcrackers and Van der Meulen Melba Toast reviewed here are different types of product.
For shoppers comparing crisp bases and fibre
If a cracker or thin piece of toast goes well with your toppings, compare the nutritional information of similar products per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g; the crackers and Melba toast reviewed here list their fibre content on their product pages.
For shoppers considering allergens or salt
Check the ingredients, allergens and salt content of the specific product, not just its name. Jumbo, Bolletje and Van der Meulen list different allergens and salt levels in their product information; if you have an allergy, always check the latest packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
For a savoury breakfast, first choose a shape that suits your toppings and the portion you want. Then check the nutritional information and ingredients for products in that category.
Wholemeal bread for toasting
Choose it when: you want a bread-like slice to toast yourself.
Bear in mind: if you’re considering the Jumbo Tostibrood Volkoren - Half reviewed here, check separately whether it has the medium-thick slices you prefer.
Breakfast crackers
Choose them when: you’d rather have a crisp base ready to top.
Bear in mind: a breakfast cracker isn’t a toasted, bread-like slice.
Melba toast
Choose it when: small, thin pieces of toast suit your toppings and breakfast portion.
Bear in mind: Van der Meulen describes the Melba Volkoren Toast reviewed here as extra-thin, not as medium-thick sliced bread for toasting.
| What to consider |
What to check when buying |
Who it matters to |
| Shape and slice thickness |
Check whether you’re buying bread for toasting, breakfast crackers or Melba toast. If you want medium-thick sliced bread, check the packaging or look at the shelf label for the slice thickness. |
I want a bread-like slice for my savoury toppings, or perhaps a small, crisp piece of toast; the shape therefore determines my choice. Around 45% of consumers put shape first. |
| Fibre and salt |
Compare similar products per 100 g for fibre and salt, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for nutritional information. |
When choosing between products in the same category, I want to weigh up their fibre and salt content. Around 33% of consumers put this nutritional information first. |
| Ingredients and allergens |
Read the latest ingredients and allergen list. If iodised baker’s salt is relevant to your choice, check the specific salt ingredient too. |
If I have a food allergy, I need to know which ingredients and allergens are listed before the shape or nutritional value comes into play. Around 22% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
-
Treating bread for toasting, crackers and Melba toast as the same thing
Jumbo Tostibrood Volkoren - Half is bread, Bolletje Ontbijtcrackers are crackers, and Van der Meulen Melba Volkoren Toast is described as extra-thin. The slice or portion you want will determine which option works best with your toppings.
Before comparing products, decide whether you want bread to toast or a crisp base that’s ready to eat.
-
Choosing based on the word ‘wholemeal’ alone
According to the product pages reviewed, Bolletje Ontbijtcrackers Volkoren Meergranen contains 15 g of fibre and 0.79 g of salt per 100 g, while Van der Meulen Melba Volkoren Toast lists 9.7 g of fibre and 1.9 g of salt per 100 g. The word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you the amounts of either nutrient in a specific product.
Compare fibre and salt per 100 g within the same product category, and read the ingredients list too.
-
Assuming a product contains iodised baker’s salt based on its name
The word ‘toast’ or the name of a bread product doesn’t tell you which type of salt it contains.
If iodised baker’s salt matters to your choice, read the ingredients list on the packaging.
-
Reading an online product page instead of the packaging
Ingredients and nutritional information can change. That’s why Albert Heijn advises customers to check the packaging alongside its product information.
Check the latest packaging before buying or eating a product, especially if you need to avoid an allergen.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo Tostibrood Volkoren - Half is a bread option you can toast yourself.
- For this product, Jumbo lists the ingredients and allergens, along with 6.4 g of fibre and 0.98 g of salt per 100 g.
- Check the packaging if you’re specifically looking for medium-thick slices.
Bolletje
The Bolletje Ontbijtcrackers Volkoren Meergranen reviewed here are a crisp breakfast option, not bread for toasting.
- Jumbo’s product information lists 15 g of fibre and 0.79 g of salt per 100 g for these breakfast crackers.
- When comparing shape and portion size, don’t treat them as medium-thick slices of bread.
Van der Meulen (Melba)
The Melba Volkoren Toast reviewed here is designed to be small and extra-thin.
- Jumbo’s product information lists 9.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The same product information lists 1.9 g of salt per 100 g; compare this figure within the product category and check that the size suits your toppings.
ALDI
ALDI Netherlands’ range overview includes different types of toast and crackers.
- The overview distinguishes between wholemeal and plain toast, as well as Melba toast.
- For information on slice thickness, ingredients or nutritional values, check the details for the individual product.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists Tastino Luxe wholemeal crackers as an alternative in the cracker category.
- The product page lists the item as an in-store product.
- Check the packaging of the specific crackers for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Joybuy products to consider
This selection includes crisp alternatives for a savoury breakfast and one type of bread for toasting. The crackers and crispbread aren’t medium-thick slices of bread; if slice thickness is important to you, check it for the bread for toasting too.
Image unavailable
Wasa High-Fiber Crackers, 300 g
An option if you’d prefer crackers with your savoury breakfast rather than a bread-like slice. The pack contains 300 g; check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the label.
View on Joybuy
Image unavailable
g'woon Wholemeal Crispbread, 375 g
A good choice if crispbread suits your breakfast toppings and you’re not looking for bread to toast. The pack contains 375 g; check the latest packaging for allergen information.
View on Joybuy
Image unavailable
Bolletje Whole Grain Crispbread, 265 g
This crispbread is a good choice if you want a crisp base, but not if you’re looking for medium-thick sliced bread for toasting. The pack contains 265 g; check the label for ingredients and allergens.
View on Joybuy
Image unavailable
Thinmax Hokkaido Toast Bread, 85 g
A bread option if you’d rather have bread than crackers with your savoury toppings. The pack contains 85 g; before buying, check the slice thickness and whether the flavour will go with your toppings.
View on Joybuy
Frequently asked questions
Is Melba toast the same as medium-thick sliced bread for toasting?
No. The Van der Meulen Melba Volkoren Toast reviewed here is described as extra-thin, while Jumbo sells its Tostibrood Volkoren - Half as bread. If you’re buying bread for toasting and want a particular slice thickness, check the packaging.
How do I compare fibre and salt in toast products?
Compare the nutritional information of similar products per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis for comparison; check both fibre and salt, rather than relying only on the product name or a serving size.
What should I check if I have a food allergy?
Read the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the specific product. The bread, cracker and Melba toast products reviewed here list different allergens, so don’t rely on the product category alone.
How should I store toast and crackers after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on your product’s packaging. The product information for the Bolletje Ontbijtcrackers reviewed here says to store them in a dark, dry place in a sealed container; for the Melba toast reviewed here, it recommends storing it in a closed tin after opening.