For a school holiday lunch featuring multigrain bread and seeds, bread clearly labelled as wholemeal is a good starting point: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal and brown bread for children. Then check whether your child likes the texture, and check the ingredients, allergens and portion sizes you need. Visible seeds or the word ‘multigrain’ do not automatically mean a loaf is entirely wholemeal.
If you choose bread for school holiday lunches based on its ingredients, first check whether it is labelled as wholemeal, then look at the seeds. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal and brown bread for children; when it comes to a particular multigrain loaf, the label is what matters.
If your child leaves a crusty loaf or one with lots of seeds, texture matters as well as ingredients. See which bread your child enjoys, but don’t skip the ingredients and allergen checks.
For lunches at home and on the go, choosing the right size can help you avoid opening more bread than you need. If you won’t get through a loaf quickly, you can freeze it in portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months.
First decide whether a wholemeal base is your priority. Then compare the texture and allergen information of the breads you’re considering, and choose a size that suits the number of lunches you have planned.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check whether ‘wholemeal’ appears on the packaging, and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. | If I want a wholemeal loaf as the basis for lunch, I won’t rely on visible seeds alone. Around 44% of consumers prioritise a wholemeal base. |
| Texture and allergens | Look at the seeds and read the allergen information on the current packaging, even if you already know about an allergy. | If my child doesn’t enjoy coarse bread, or I need to account for an allergen, I want to know exactly what’s in it. Around 33% of consumers prioritise texture and checking the ingredients. |
| Portions and storage | Choose between a whole loaf and individual rolls based on the number of lunches; freeze any bread you won’t get through quickly in portions. | When planning several school holiday lunches, I want to have enough bread without opening more than I need. Around 23% of consumers prioritise portions and storage. |
Bread with seeds can also contain wheat flour. For example, PLUS Licht Meerzaden lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour, so the name alone doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is entirely wholemeal.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’, then read the ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g.
The product examples mentioned include sesame and cereals containing gluten. The ingredients on the pack you’re buying matter more than a previous purchase or a product photo.
If you have a diagnosed allergy, check the current label every time, including any warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
You can’t tell which salt has been used in a particular loaf just from the name ‘multigrain bread’.
If baker’s salt or iodised salt is important to your choice, check the ingredients on the packaging.
If you eat fewer sandwiches than expected during the holidays, opened bread can dry out or go mouldy.
Choose a size that suits your planned lunches and freeze any remaining portions in good time. Throw away mouldy bread, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Bread that can no longer be eaten is an unnecessary waste of food.
The differences below relate to the specific breads mentioned, not every product from each brand. Always check the packaging of the loaf you’re actually buying before making your choice.
As well as larger loaves, Albert Heijn offers an individual multigrain roll for a single lunch portion.
Jumbo offers multigrain breads with seeds, including Jumbo Stevig Meergranen.
PLUS Licht Meerzaden is a round loaf for anyone considering a multi-seed option.
ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen as a half loaf.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Multikorn multigrain rolls as an option for individual lunch portions.
Lidl lists multigrain bread in its Dutch range.
This round multigrain loaf is an option if you want to cut your own portions for school holiday lunches. Check the packaging if a wholemeal base, particular seeds or allergens matter to your choice.
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A round multigrain loaf for anyone who wants to cut their own lunch portions.
Weight: 550 g. Check the current packaging to see whether the loaf is wholemeal, which seeds and allergens it contains, and whether you need to defrost or bake it before use.
No. Seeds and the word ‘multigrain’ don’t, by themselves, mean that bread is entirely wholemeal. For example, PLUS Licht Meerzaden lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour, so check the label and ingredients list.
Read the allergen information for the bread you’re buying, including any warnings such as ‘may contain’. The examples mentioned include sesame, soya and cereals containing gluten, but ingredients vary from one product to another.
Check the ingredients on the current packaging for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’. Don’t rely on the name of the bread or the presence of seeds alone.
For opened wholemeal bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping it in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. Freeze it in portions if you won’t get through it quickly, and throw away any mouldy bread.
