If a wholemeal base and fibre content are your priorities for an office lunch, choose bread labelled as wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but this does not in itself mean that it is wholemeal. Then compare the seeds, fibre and salt per 100 g, check the latest allergen information and choose a size that suits the number of lunches you’re preparing.
For your working days, you want more than a loaf with visible seeds: you also want a clear wholemeal label and a fibre value you can compare. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 2,8 g of fibre per 35 g slice of wholemeal bread with seeds. Check the value for the bread you buy.
Your choice also depends on the types of seeds and the texture of the slice you’re taking with you. Loaves with a mix of seeds and those with mainly sunflower seeds have different ingredients, so check the ingredients list to see which seeds they contain.
You want to know whether you can portion and store the bread, and which allergens it contains if you’re preparing lunch for others too. Check the latest packaging, even if you’ve bought the product before.
Start with the type of bread and its nutritional information if wholemeal and fibre are your main priorities. Then decide which seeds you want and whether the allergens and pack size suit the lunches you’re preparing.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre on the same basis, preferably per 100 g. | If fibre is my main reason for choosing a loaf, I want to know whether it’s made with wholemeal grain rather than relying on its colour or a seeded crust. An estimated 36% of consumers are expected to prioritise a wholemeal base. |
| Seeds and texture | Check which seeds are listed in the ingredients and compare the stated proportion of seeds if this information is available for both loaves. | I’m looking for a slice with a texture I enjoy alongside my fillings. The seed mix is expected to be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the latest allergen information and relevant details about possible traces. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information. | When I’m buying lunch for myself or colleagues and need to take allergens into account, I want to be able to check the ingredients for each product. An estimated 21% of consumers are expected to put these checks first. |
| Size and storage | Choose a whole, half or sliced loaf to suit your lunches, and follow the storage instructions and any freezing advice on the packaging. | If I only need bread for a few working days, I want to be able to portion it easily at home without having lots left over. An estimated 14% of consumers are expected to give planning and storage top priority. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that a bread contains at least three types of grain. If you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal base, you can’t make that choice based on the word ‘multigrain’ or visible seeds alone.
Check whether the bread is labelled as wholemeal, then compare the fibre per 100 g.
A name such as ‘seeded’ doesn’t tell you whether a bread is suitable for someone with an allergy. Products may contain sesame, cereals containing gluten or soya, for example, and information about possible traces varies between loaves.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information each time you buy, even if it’s a loaf you already know.
You may have a whole loaf left over if you’re only preparing lunch for a few working days.
Choose a suitable size or freeze portions if the packaging says this is suitable.
Salt content also varies between products. Albert Heijn lists 0,65 g of salt per 100 g for AH Les Pains Bastille, while Jumbo lists 0,87 g per 100 g for Stevig Volkoren Zonnepit.
Compare the nutritional information for the products you’re considering per 100 g, rather than relying on words such as ‘hearty’ or ‘seeded’ alone.
These bread examples show what product information can be useful when choosing an office lunch. Always check the latest packaging for the variety you choose.
AH Les Pains Bastille is an example of a wholemeal seeded loaf you can compare for its ingredients, nutritional information and storage instructions.
Jumbo Stevig Volkoren Zonnepit is an example to consider if you’re specifically looking for bread with sunflower seeds.
Lidl describes Bio rustiek meergranen desembrood as an organic brown bread with seeds.
ALDI describes Boeren volkoren meergranen as bread with grains and seeds.
PLUS Boeren volkoren heel gives you a point of comparison if seeds aren’t essential.
Dirk’s bread range includes seeded, multigrain, sunflower seed and wholemeal varieties.
If seeds aren’t essential, you could also consider wholemeal flatbread for an office lunch. The product below isn’t seeded bread or sliced sandwich bread.
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An option for lunch if seeds aren’t essential and flatbread goes well with your fillings. This isn’t sliced sandwich bread. If you have an allergy, check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but that doesn’t automatically make it wholemeal. If you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal grain base, check for the wholemeal label.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 2,8 g of fibre per 35 g slice of wholemeal bread with seeds. This isn’t a fixed value for every brand: compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the bread you choose and, where stated, per portion too.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for the specific bread, especially if you’re buying lunch for someone else. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the allergens that must be declared have to appear on the label. Check relevant information about possible traces too.
Check the latest ingredients list for a mention of iodised salt or baker’s salt. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, don’t rely on the type of bread alone.
Yes, if the product information says the bread is suitable for freezing. Albert Heijn says this applies to AH Les Pains Bastille, and PLUS says the same for Boeren volkoren; both can be frozen at home on the day of purchase. Follow the storage and defrosting instructions for the bread you actually buy.
