For children’s tea time, first choose a loaf explicitly labelled wholemeal if that’s your priority. Then consider whether your child enjoys eating seeds and kernels. A loaf labelled multigrain or seeded isn’t automatically wholemeal. If the bread is going to school or will be shared, check the allergens for that specific loaf and the venue’s rules.
If wholemeal is your priority, start by checking the product name and ingredients. Then consider which seeds, flavour and slice are best for tea time. The Voedingscentrum recommends wholemeal bread as an option for children to take to primary school.
If the bread is going to be taken in or shared, you’ll need to consider the allergens in the product you choose as well as the rules at school or after-school care (BSO). Check the latest information on allergens, including cereals containing gluten and, where relevant, sesame or soya. Don’t rely on the type of bread alone.
A chunky seed mix or firm crust won’t suit every child. If you’re looking for a finer slice, consider a wholemeal option made with more finely milled flour. Lidl, for example, describes a children’s bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour; check each specific loaf to see whether it also contains seeds.
First decide whether wholemeal, allergen information, texture or convenience is your main priority for children’s tea time. Then compare only loaves that meet that requirement.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and compare fibre only on a like-for-like basis, for example per 100 g. | If I regularly serve seeded bread, I want to know that it’s genuinely wholemeal and not just dark in colour. For around 33% of consumers, choosing wholemeal comes first. |
| Allergens and sharing | Read the product’s latest allergen information and ask the seller for details if you’re buying unpackaged bread. Also check the rules at school or after-school care (BSO). | If the bread is going to be taken in or shared, I need to know whether it’s suitable for the allergies and arrangements at that venue. For around 27% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
| Texture and ease of eating | Check for visible seeds, the crust and the size of the slices. If a chunky texture isn’t suitable, consider a finer wholemeal option. | My child is more likely to leave bread with chunky seeds, so I look for a texture they enjoy eating. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Size and storage | Choose a loaf size that suits you and follow the storage instructions if you want to freeze portions. | If we only eat seeded bread occasionally, I want to choose an amount we can use and store. For around 20% of consumers, practicality matters most. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means that different types of grain have been used; it doesn’t mean the bread is made exclusively with wholemeal flour. Bread with seeds may also contain wheat flour; the ingredients for PLUS Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden list both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour.
If you’re looking for wholemeal, start with the product name and then read the ingredients list. Consider the seeds separately from the types of flour used.
Other allergens may also be present in seeded bread. The product information for PLUS Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden lists soya and sesame as well as gluten.
Check the full, up-to-date allergen information every time you buy, including any warnings about possible traces. If the bread is going to be taken in or shared, also check the venue’s rules.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. So don’t assume a particular type of bread will provide a certain amount of iodine.
Check the label to see whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed. If it matters to your choice, ask which salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
A pronounced crust or chunky seeds may mean a child leaves the slice uneaten, even if the other ingredients suit your preferences.
Try a small portion first and see whether a finer-textured loaf goes down better. Follow the product instructions if you want to freeze any leftover portions.
These brands offer different types of bread with grains or seeds. Always compare the specific product: a range description doesn’t tell you which ingredients and allergens are in every variety.
Albert Heijn offers, among other things, a sliced multigrain loaf with sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and sprouted rye.
Jumbo offers wholemeal multigrain loaves with seeds and kernels.
Lidl offers both an organic brown sourdough multigrain loaf with seeds and kernels, and a separate children’s bread concept made with finely milled wholemeal flour.
Aldi offers wholemeal, multigrain and seeded bread, among other options, and describes a multigrain loaf made with grains and seeds.
Plus offers, among other products, Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden, a loaf whose ingredients include seeds and different types of wheat flour.
Dirk offers a multigrain hearth loaf described as bread with grains and seeds.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means that different types of grain have been used; it doesn’t mean that all the flour is wholemeal. Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check the ingredients if this is essential to your choice.
Check the allergen information for the specific loaf, including cereals containing gluten and, depending on the ingredients, allergens such as sesame or soya. Also read any warnings about possible traces. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information before you buy.
It depends on the rules at the school or after-school care setting and on the children who will be eating the bread. Ask in advance about arrangements for allergens and sharing food, and check the latest allergen information for the bread you’ve chosen.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list; if you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used if you want to take this into account.
Choose a size that suits how much you’ll use, or freeze portions if the product instructions allow it. Check the storage advice for your loaf rather than following the instructions for another brand or variety.
