If you’re making sandwiches for Christmas brunch, choose a whole seeded loaf and check that it’s genuinely wholemeal: ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’. Baguettes and rolls are handy for smaller portions to share. Part-baked bread needs a little more preparation, but you can bake it just before serving. Whatever you choose, check the current ingredients and allergen information.
For sandwiches, choose a whole seeded loaf. Don’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it doesn’t mean that a loaf is wholemeal. Check the product name and ingredients.
If you’re serving bread in smaller portions with soup, cheese or dips, baguettes and multigrain rolls are worth considering. Check the product description to see whether it contains the seeds you’re looking for.
If you have a food allergy or other dietary requirement, the name of the bread isn’t enough. Check the latest information for each product for cereals containing gluten, sesame and any other allergens or ‘may contain’ warnings.
First decide whether you want a whole loaf for sandwiches or smaller portions to share. Then check the grains, seeds, allergens and when you plan to serve the bread.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check the ingredients. Compare the fibre content of breads on the same basis: per 100 g. | When I buy bread for brunch sandwiches, I want to know whether it’s made with wholemeal flour rather than judging by its dark colour. Around 31% of consumers put this first. |
| Seeds and shape | Check which seeds are listed and choose between a whole loaf, baguette and rolls to suit how you plan to serve them. | For a sharing platter, I want portions that are easy to share, and the texture of the seeds matters to me. This is the deciding factor for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ warnings, on the packaging. | If an allergen limits my choice, I need to be able to check the specific loaf before serving it. This is a key consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Storage and baking | If you’re buying in advance, check the storage and preparation instructions. Make sure freezing or baking later fits your plans. | If I buy bread well ahead of Christmas dinner, I want to be able to plan when it will be served. Around 19% of consumers give timing the highest priority. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ tells you how many types of grain are used, not whether the whole grain is included. Bread can also contain wheat flour.
If you want a wholemeal base, check the product name and ingredients before comparing fibre per 100 g across different loaves.
Ingredients and allergens vary from loaf to loaf. The multigrain products mentioned include cereals containing gluten and sesame; a ‘may contain’ warning could also affect your choice.
Check the latest packaging for the specific product, even if you’ve bought the same bread before.
If you’re buying in advance, the bread needs to stay fresh until you’re ready to serve it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing wholemeal bread in portions as soon as you buy it if you plan to eat it later.
Plan when to freeze or bake the bread, and follow the storage and preparation instructions for the product you choose.
AH Vloerbrood meergranen heel is a whole brown loaf for brunch sandwiches.
Jumbo’s Schotel Meergranen Volkoren is a wholemeal multigrain loaf with seeds for sandwiches.
PLUS offers a whole round loaf with Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond, and a sharing-friendly option with Korenlanders Stokbrood bruin meergranen.
ALDI offers both Boeren volkoren meergranenbrood and a multigrain baguette with seeds.
Dirk offers Bakker van der Akker Multikorn multigrain rolls with seeds, as well as a rustic part-baked multigrain baguette.
Lidl describes a multigrain bread made with wheat, barley, buckwheat and seeds, available in store only.
This selection includes round loaves for Christmas brunch, baguettes to share and rolls for individual portions. The Lekhaven products also include instructions for defrosting and baking. Check the packaging for preparation instructions and to confirm whether a loaf is wholemeal.
No image available
A baguette cut into portions for brunch or drinks.
The product information lists sunflower, sesame and linseed, and includes instructions for defrosting and baking. Follow the packaging for baking times, and check it for wholemeal status, fibre per 100 g and allergens.
No image available
A round loaf to slice for brunch.
The description lists sunflower, linseed and sesame seeds, as well as instructions for freezing, defrosting and baking. If wholemeal is important to you, check the ingredients. Compare fibre content using the per-100 g value on the packaging.
No image available
A baguette option to share at the Christmas table.
The description lists sunflower, sesame and linseed, and includes baking instructions. Check the pack size before buying, as the product title and description differ. Also check the latest allergen information and whether it’s wholemeal.
No image available
Rolls for individual portions at brunch or with drinks.
The ingredients information lists linseed and iodised salt, among other things. Sesame appears in the allergen information but not in the list of ingredients; check the latest packaging to clarify this. Check the label too if a wholemeal base matters to you.
No image available
A round loaf to slice for Christmas brunch.
The product information lists sunflower, linseed and sesame seeds, and describes how to freeze, defrost and bake the loaf. Check the packaging for baking times, whether the bread is wholemeal and which allergens are listed.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but that doesn’t tell you whether the whole grain is used. Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name, then check the ingredients.
Check the allergen information for the specific loaf on its latest packaging. The products mentioned contain or list cereals containing gluten and sesame, among other things. Other allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings could also affect your choice.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can freeze wholemeal bread in portions as soon as you buy it, then take out as much as you need. Also follow the storage and preparation instructions for your chosen bread, especially if you plan to bake it later.
No. The conditions for iodised baker’s salt described by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority don’t mean that every loaf has to contain iodine. If you want to know whether iodised salt has been used, check the ingredients of the bread you choose.
