Who is this choice relevant to?

Eaters who reject bits in bread

If visible seeds or an unfamiliar texture put them off, start with a small portion and no pressure to eat. This follows the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice on fussy eating in children.

Families who are also keeping an eye on fibre

If you’re looking for bread the eater is willing to try and want to compare fibre content too, the wholemeal description and nutritional information per 100 g are more useful than the word ‘multigrain’ alone.

Households that need to check allergens

Ingredients and warnings can vary between seeded breads. The Jumbo and PLUS breads described here list, among other things, cereals containing gluten, soya or sesame; check the current packaging for the version you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a fussy eater, start with a texture and portion size you’re happy to try. Then compare the wholemeal description and nutritional information, and check allergens if they’re relevant to the eater.

What to consider What to check Who is it important for?
Texture and first taste Check which seeds and kernels are listed, and consider choosing half a loaf for the first taste. If visible seeds are a sticking point, I want to start with a small portion and no pressure to eat. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers.
Fibre and wholemeal Look for an explicit wholemeal description and compare fibre per 100 g, rather than relying on the name ‘multigrain’ alone. I want bread that will be eaten, but the wholemeal base and fibre content are decisive for me. This is the first consideration for around 27% of consumers.
Allergens Check the current packaging for the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements. If I have an allergy, I need to know which ingredients and cross-contamination warnings apply to this bread. Around 27% of consumers give this check priority.
Quantity and where to shop Check whether the version you want is available as half a loaf or in individual portions, and read the storage advice. I want to try a small amount of bread first, so there’s less left over if I don’t like the new texture. This small first taste matters most to around 13% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multigrain means wholemeal

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The name doesn’t tell you whether all the flour used is wholemeal.

    When comparing fibre, look for an explicit wholemeal description and check the nutritional information per 100 g.

  • Assuming bread with lots of seeds will be easy to try

    The seeds or coarse texture may be exactly why a fussy eater rejects the bread.

    Start with a small portion, perhaps from half a loaf, and don’t put pressure on them to eat it. For fussy eating, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small portions and no pressure to eat.

    If they don’t like the texture, you may have more bread left over from a whole loaf than from half a loaf.

  • Guessing which allergens are present from the front of the pack

    As well as cereals containing gluten, seeded bread may also contain sesame or soya. Warnings about possible cross-contamination vary by product.

    Check the current ingredients and both the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements every time you buy it, especially if someone has an allergy.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    The type of bread alone doesn’t tell you which salt was used in that particular product.

    If the use of baker’s salt matters to you, check the packaging or ask the baker.

Brands and places to shop for inspiration

Jumbo

Jumbo stocks products including Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half and Stevig Meergranen.

  • The product pages list ingredients and nutritional information, so you can compare these two loaves separately.
  • Ingredients and allergens vary by version; don’t use the details for one loaf to assess the other.

PLUS

PLUS Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden is a brown multigrain bread with sunflower seeds, linseed and sesame.

  • For this version, PLUS lists the ingredients, allergens and 5,5 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The ingredients include both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour; ‘light multiseed’ isn’t a wholemeal description.

ALDI

ALDI stocks products including Boeren Volkoren Meergranen and a multigrain baguette with seeds and kernels.

  • The different product formats—a whole loaf or a baguette—offer different ways to try the texture.
  • For an allergen or nutritional comparison, check the information on the bread you buy.

Lidl

Lidl stocks a multigrain bread with seeds and a white multigrain baguette with kernels and seeds.

  • The loaf and baguette are different product formats to compare with the texture you’re looking for.
  • If you have allergies or want to compare fibre per 100 g, use the nutritional information on the packaging you choose.

Dirk

Dirk stocks products including Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half and multigrain rolls with seeds and kernels.

  • Half a loaf may suit a first taste if you don’t want to buy a whole loaf straight away.
  • Check the label if the exact ingredients, allergens or fibre content will determine your choice.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn stocks several multigrain options, including sliced multigrain bread.

  • You can check each version to see which bread format and ingredients are right for the first taste you have in mind.
  • Ingredients and allergens can change, so check the current product information or packaging.

Bread products at Joybuy

These multigrain baguettes and rolls can be tried individually if you want to offer a small amount first. If you have a question about wholemeal content or allergens, check the current packaging for the version you choose.

Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g

You can try a small first portion from one baguette without using all four at once.

Allow time to defrost and bake. The product information recommends defrosting for around 4 hours and baking for 5–7 minutes at 220 °C. If you have an allergy, check the current packaging. For a fibre comparison, first check whether the nutritional values are given per 100 g or per portion.

View at Joybuy
g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 rolls

g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 rolls

With four individual rolls, you can start with just one if the eater wants to try a new texture.

Check the current packaging for allergen information, especially the sesame warning. For a fibre comparison, also check whether the nutritional values are given per 100 g or per portion.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread always wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made with at least three types of grain; that doesn’t automatically make it wholemeal. Look for an explicit wholemeal description and compare fibre per 100 g if that matters to your choice.

How can I get a fussy eater to try seeded bread?

Start with a small portion and don’t put pressure on them to eat it. This follows the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice for children who eat little or are fussy eaters. Then see how they react to the seeds and texture before offering them more of the same bread.

Which allergens should I check in seeded bread?

If you have an allergy, check all the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging for the bread you choose. The versions described from Jumbo and PLUS list, among other things, cereals containing gluten, soya and sesame; possible cross-contamination warnings vary by product.

How can I tell whether baker’s salt has been used in a loaf?

Check the packaging or ask the baker. The description ‘multigrain bread’ alone doesn’t tell you whether baker’s salt has been used in that loaf.