Choose wholemeal bread if fibre is your priority. If a fussy eater prefers the familiar taste of white bread, brown bread can be a stepping stone: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it is made with wholemeal flour and white flour. For breads with names such as ‘best of both’, compare the ingredients and nutritional information. And if you’re having a savoury breakfast, consider the toppings too.
If the taste and texture of white bread are familiar, brown bread can be a stepping stone. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread contains both wholemeal flour and white flour. You can also compare the fibre content of the breads you’re considering.
If you often eat bread with a savoury breakfast and are mainly focused on fibre, you could start with wholemeal bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholegrain products as higher in fibre than white products made with refined flour.
If you want to be able to make the same bread choice regularly, search by bread type and check the current packaging. Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Lidl, ALDI, PLUS and Dirk stock different types of bread; availability and the ingredients of individual products may vary.
First decide between familiar white bread, brown bread as a stepping stone, and wholemeal bread. Then compare the nutritional information of the breads you’re considering.
Choose it when: fibre matters more to you than the familiar qualities of white bread.
Consider: whether the person eating it likes the taste and texture of the bread you’ve chosen.
Choose it when: you want to try bread made with both wholemeal flour and white flour as a stepping stone.
Consider: brown bread isn’t the same as fully wholemeal bread; compare the fibre content per 100 g.
Choose it when: the familiar taste and texture are the deciding factors for the person eating it.
Consider: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, white products made with refined flour contain less fibre than wholegrain products.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and taste | For packaged bread, look for the ‘wholemeal’ label. If you’re considering a stepping stone, compare the fibre content per 100 g. | I’m looking for bread a fussy eater will enjoy, but I also want to keep an eye on fibre. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
| Bread and savoury toppings | Compare the salt content per 100 g across different breads, and check the nutritional information for the toppings too. | For my savoury breakfast, I want to consider the toppings as well as the bread. This combination is a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Everyday shopping | Check which type and size of bread are available, and compare the price per kilo when the loaves come in different weights. | I want a bread choice that suits my regular shopping and household. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
The colour and the name ‘multigrain’ don’t mean that a bread is entirely wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes brown bread as a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.
If you want wholemeal bread, look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on packaged bread. Otherwise, compare the fibre content per 100 g.
Those words alone don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour, fibre or salt a particular bread contains.
Read the ingredients list and compare the nutritional information per 100 g before choosing a bread as a stepping stone.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, savoury toppings can contain a lot of salt or saturated fat. Comparing the bread alone won’t give you the full picture of your breakfast.
Check the nutritional information for the toppings you usually use as well.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The ingredients in the bread you choose are what matter.
For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt. If the bread is unwrapped, ask about it if it matters to your choice.
These supermarkets offer ways to compare different types of bread. Check the product information for the loaf you actually choose.
Its online range includes categories such as white bread and wholemeal bread.
Its bread category includes white, brown, multigrain and wholemeal bread.
Its bread range distinguishes between white, brown, multigrain and wholemeal bread.
Its range includes white bread, multigrain bread and wholemeal bread.
Its online bread categories include wholemeal bread.
Its range includes white bread, wholemeal bread, multigrain bread and sourdough.
These products offer a few different types of bread to consider for a savoury breakfast: a rye bread product, wholemeal flatbread and a loaf you could assess as a possible stepping stone. If you’re specifically looking for a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour, don’t rely on the product name alone.
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An option to consider if you’d like rye bread with your savoury breakfast instead of white bread made with wholemeal flour.
The product name states 500 g. Check the packaging for the bread’s shape if you’re looking for a particular type of slice or roll.
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This flatbread is an option if you’d like something different from an ordinary white loaf with your savoury breakfast.
The product name states Whole Wheat and 6 P. Check the current ingredients and nutritional information if the precise ingredients are important to your choice.
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A loaf to consider if you’re looking for a possible stepping stone between white and wholemeal bread. Check the packaging to see whether the ingredients suit what you’re looking for.
The product name states 550 g. Allow time to defrost and bake it, and follow the preparation instructions on the packaging. Compare fibre and salt only when the values per 100 g are clearly stated.
No. Those words alone don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour or fibre the bread contains. Check the ingredients list and compare the fibre content per 100 g. If you specifically want wholemeal bread, look for the ‘wholemeal’ label.
Brown bread can be a stepping stone if you want to try a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this is what brown bread is made from. Compare the fibre content of the breads you’re considering.
Yes, consider the bread and toppings together. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that savoury toppings can sometimes contain a lot of salt or saturated fat, so the nutritional information for the bread alone won’t give you the full picture.
No, don’t assume that it does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on packaged bread, or ask if the bread is unwrapped.
Check the current packaging for the specific loaf for its ingredients and listed allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that common allergens must be clearly indicated on the label; ingredients may vary from one loaf to another.
