For a work-from-home lunch, if you want seeded multigrain bread with a clearly stated wholemeal base, don’t choose based only on the visible seeds or the word ‘multigrain’. Check for a wholemeal declaration and compare the nutritional values per 100 g. Also check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific loaf. How often you have lunch at home can also help you decide whether a fresh whole loaf, a smaller size or bread you can freeze would be most practical.
You want to choose bread based on an explicit wholemeal declaration and its fibre content, rather than just the word ‘multigrain’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholegrain products as being made from the entire grain.
You enjoy bread with kernels or seeds for texture, but want to assess the ingredients and nutritional values of that specific loaf separately.
If you have coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or another relevant food sensitivity, up-to-date allergen information should take priority over your texture preferences. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of checking the label if you have a food allergy.
First decide whether wholemeal and fibre, the texture of the seeds or a manageable amount of bread matters most to you. Then check the product information for the size you actually want to buy.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for an explicit wholemeal declaration and compare the fibre per 100 g in the breads you’re considering. | If I want my lunch bread to have a clearly stated wholemeal base, I don’t want to judge it by its colour or visible grains. Around 42% of consumers put this need first. |
| Seeds and ingredients | Check which kernels and seeds are listed in the ingredients and look at the allergen information on the packaging. | I want to know what’s in the bread for the bite I’m looking for, while a relevant allergy may limit my choice. For around 33% of consumers, checking the ingredients matters most. |
| Size and storage | Choose a loaf size that suits the days you have lunch at home, and follow the storage and freezing instructions for the product you choose. | If I don’t have lunch at home every day, I want to avoid a whole loaf being left uneaten. This practical consideration comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that the bread is made from the entire grain. You could end up choosing a loaf for its fibre without checking whether it has a wholemeal base.
Look for a wholemeal declaration and compare the fibre per 100 g; colour and visible grains are no substitute.
Bread with kernels or seeds may also contain ingredients that matter if you have a food allergy or coeliac disease.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information before buying. If you have coeliac disease, check separately whether the product is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
If you only have lunch at home on a few days, a whole fresh loaf may not suit how quickly you’ll use it.
Consider a smaller size, or check whether the bread can be frozen in portions according to the product instructions.
Without a suitable storage plan, you may have bread left over before you’re ready to use it.
Jumbo lists products including wholemeal multigrain bread and a half loaf of dark wholemeal multigrain bread with kernels and seeds.
PLUS lists Korenlanders varieties, including light multiseed bread and dark multigrain bread.
Dirk lists multigrain rolls from Bakker van der Akker with seeds and kernels, as well as a multigrain artisan loaf with grains and seeds.
Lidl describes its stone-baked multigrain baguette as a white baguette with kernels and seeds.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Liefde & Passie Multigrain and other multigrain products.
These multigrain baguettes and round multigrain loaves may suit a lunch you can prepare in advance. If you specifically want wholemeal bread or bread with particular seeds, check the ingredients and nutritional information for the variety you choose before deciding.
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A baguette option if you can plan your work-from-home lunch in advance; allow time to defrost and bake. The product name lists 4 × 135 g × 2. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information, and compare fibre and salt only when it’s clear whether the nutritional values are per 100 g or per serving.
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A baguette option if you want to portion out lunches in advance; it needs to be defrosted and baked before use. The product name lists 4 × 135 g. Check the latest packaging to see which seeds and allergens are listed, and whether this variety is explicitly described as wholemeal.
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An option if you want to spread a larger loaf across several lunches and can plan the preparation in advance. The product name lists 550 g × 2; allow time to defrost, bake and cool. Check the latest packaging for the ingredients, allergens and any wholemeal declaration for this variety.
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A round loaf for anyone who wants to make several lunch portions from one loaf and has time to prepare it. The product name lists 550 g; allow time to defrost, bake and cool. If fibre or salt affects your choice, check the latest nutritional information per 100 g.
No, the name ‘multigrain’ is no substitute for a wholemeal declaration. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholegrain products as being made from the entire grain; also check the fibre per 100 g in the bread you choose.
No, they don’t tell you on their own whether the bread is wholemeal or how much fibre and salt it contains. Compare the nutritional information for the specific product, and check the ingredients list if you’re looking for particular seeds.
Don’t rely on the name ‘multigrain’: it doesn’t confirm that the bread is suitable for someone avoiding gluten or wheat. If you have coeliac disease, look for an explicit gluten-free label. If you have a wheat allergy, check the latest ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose.
Don’t assume that every loaf contains iodine. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority discusses bread baked with iodised salt as a source of iodine; if the salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients for the specific loaf.
Choose a size that suits the days you have lunch at home and follow the storage instructions for that product. Jumbo says that one of its multigrain products can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month; don’t assume the same instructions apply to a different loaf.
