For a regular after-school snack, first look for bread explicitly labelled as wholemeal: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that at least three types of grain have been used, not that the bread is wholemeal. Then check that it’s sliced and that the slice thickness and half or whole loaf size suit how you’ll use it. If there are allergies or rules at school or childcare, check the current packaging, and freeze portions straight away if you won’t eat the bread quickly.
You don’t want to rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone; you want to know whether the bread is wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists a wholemeal sandwich as a possible snack for children aged 4 to 12.
Before packing the bread, check the current ingredients and allergen information, and find out what the school or childcare setting allows. Allergens in multigrain bread may include gluten-containing cereals and sesame.
You’re looking for sliced bread for a quick snack, without a whole loaf being left uneaten. A half loaf or portions frozen straight away may suit the way you use it better.
Start with the description on the bread, then check the ingredients. Only then choose the quantity and slice thickness that you’ll actually use.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for an explicit wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information for specific loaves. | For a regular snack, I want to know whether the bread is wholemeal, not just made from several types of grain. This is the deciding factor for around 50% of these consumers. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and check the rules at the school or childcare setting. | When I pack bread, the ingredients and the rules at the setting need to suit our circumstances. This is the first thing around 30% of consumers consider. |
| Slicing and quantity | Check whether the bread is sliced, look at the actual slice thickness and choose a half or whole loaf to suit how much you use. | When we only have a sandwich now and then, I want slices ready to go without leaving lots of bread uneaten. Convenience and managing the supply come first for around 20% of these consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that at least three types of grain are used. The name alone doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.
If you want wholemeal bread, look for an explicit wholemeal label and read the ingredients list.
Breads with similar names may list different ingredients and allergens. Product information can also change.
Check the current packaging. For unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information and check with the school or childcare setting before packing it.
Bread left for too long can dry out or go mouldy, so a larger pack isn’t necessarily right if you only need a few snacks.
If necessary, choose a half loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it if you want to keep it.
A label such as ‘sliced’ or ‘half’ doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are.
Look at the slices or packaging before deciding whether they’ll suit your filling and lunchbox.
Always compare the specific loaf you’re considering: ‘multigrain’, ‘half’ and ‘sliced’ don’t all describe the same thing.
AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen gesneden is a sliced bread made with ingredients including wheat, rye, millet, sunflower seeds and sesame.
Jumbo describes Waldkorn Meergranen Brood Half as a half loaf of brown multigrain bread with seeds.
ALDI describes Boeren volkoren meergranen Half as sliced wholemeal bread in a half-loaf size.
Dirk’s bread range includes Bakkers meergranen half and Multikorn volkoren half.
PLUS has a multigrain bread category that includes Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit and Brood van Soma Haverkorn.
Lidl describes a half loaf of dark multigrain bread and provides ingredients and allergen information for its freshly baked range.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain; that doesn’t automatically make it wholemeal. If you want wholemeal bread, look for an explicit label on the loaf and check the ingredients list.
Yes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists a wholemeal sandwich as a possible snack for children aged 4 to 12. Choose an amount that fits in with what else your child eats, and don’t assume that ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’.
Before eating, read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you’ve chosen. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be clearly stated on the label. For unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information available.
If you want to keep bread, it’s best to freeze it in portions straight after buying it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking out only what you need each time; also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
No, don’t assume this applies to every loaf. The Dutch government says that iodine can be obtained from bread to which it has been added, among other sources. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen gesneden. Check the ingredients of the variety you buy.
