For a school lunch, first look for bread that is clearly labelled as wholemeal, then check which seeds it contains. A coarse texture is only a good choice if your child enjoys it; if there are food allergies, the current label and the school’s rules should guide your decision. To compare nutritional values, check the fibre and salt content of specific products per 100 g.
If your child has a food allergy or the school has specific rules, ingredient and allergen information should come before the choice of seeds or texture. Check the label on the exact loaf and ask about the school’s rules for packed lunches. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains what allergen information must appear on labels.
If you choose wholemeal bread as the basis for lunch, check the packaging to make sure it is wholemeal, then compare the fibre and salt content per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 2.4 g of fibre for a 35 g slice of coarse wholemeal bread; check the product’s own nutrition information for the values in your chosen loaf.
Seeds and coarse grains can make a child more or less likely to eat a loaf. If your child doesn’t enjoy that texture, a finer wholemeal bread is an alternative to consider. Lidl describes its kids’ wholemeal bread as being made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour; this doesn’t mean the bread contains seeds.
Start with allergens and the school’s rules. Then compare the wholemeal label and nutrition information, and only choose a coarse, seedy texture if your child will eat it in their lunchbox.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and school rules | Read the ingredient and allergen information for the exact loaf. For unwrapped bread, ask about allergens and check the school’s rules. | If a food allergy or school rule limits lunch choices, the bread must meet those requirements first. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal content and nutrition information | Check the wholemeal label and compare the fibre and salt content per 100 g on the packaging. | If you mainly want to know what the bread contains in addition to seeds, look for a clear product name and nutrition table. This matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Seeds and texture | Check which seeds are listed and whether your child likes a coarse texture. | A loaf with seeds is little use if your child leaves their sandwich uneaten because of the texture. This is the top priority for roughly 21% of consumers. |
| Size and storage | Check the loaf’s weight, packaging and storage instructions, including any advice on freezing. | When trying a new seeded loaf, I don’t want to buy more than we’ll eat at home. Portion size and storage are the main considerations for around 14% of consumers. |
A name such as multigrain doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour or fibre a loaf contains. Visible seeds are no substitute for checking the nutrition table, either.
Check the product name, ingredients list and nutrition information per 100 g on the current packaging.
Bread may contain cereals with gluten, and a seeded variety may contain sesame. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products and be available before purchase for unwrapped bread.
Read the information for every new variety, and ask about allergens when buying unwrapped bread. Remember to check the school’s rules, too.
A loaf with the same name may have a different composition from what you expect. That’s why the information on the packaging of the product you buy is important for checking ingredients and allergens.
Use a product page to compare loaves, but check the current label when you buy.
If coarse seeds are new to your child, they may leave their sandwiches in their lunchbox. The size of the loaf can also make a difference.
Consider trying a smaller loaf first, or follow the chosen bread’s freezing instructions if you want to store it in portions.
These examples show the bread names and product features you can compare. Always check the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information on the packaging of the variety you choose.
Albert Heijn lists an 800 g coarse wholemeal sunflower seed loaf.
Jumbo describes a wholemeal multigrain loaf containing, among other things, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and linseed.
Lidl describes a kids’ wholemeal bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour as an alternative if a coarse texture is a concern.
ALDI describes its Wadden bread as dark brown wholemeal bread with seeds and grains.
PLUS gives specific storage instructions for its farmhouse wholemeal bread.
Dirk lists wholemeal varieties from Bakker van der Akker, including a loaf labelled extra fibre.
No. Standard wholemeal bread may contain cereals with gluten. If you need a gluten-free diet, check that the exact product is labelled gluten-free and read the allergen information.
Yes, if sesame allergy is a concern. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, sesame is one of the allergens consumers must be informed about. Seeded breads don’t all contain the same seeds, so check the label of the variety you choose.
Compare the fibre content per 100 g on both packs, then consider the portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 2.4 g of fibre for a 35 g slice of coarse wholemeal bread; this average isn’t the nutritional value of every brand.
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you choose. PLUS says its farmhouse wholemeal bread can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month; these instructions don’t automatically apply to other breads.
