Mother’s Day toastie bread: white, wholemeal or gluten-free?

Who is this bread for?

Brunch makers looking for soft bread

For toasties, croque-monsieurs or French toast, you’ll want slices that suit the way you’re preparing them and are easy to top. Albert Heijn describes its white toastie bread as soft and square.

Toast lovers keeping an eye on fibre

If you’ll also be using the bread for everyday lunches after Mother’s Day, you can compare the type of bread and its fibre content per 100 g. The white and wholemeal AH varieties reviewed differ in this respect.

Households where eating gluten-free is essential

If you’re buying bread for someone with coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or gluten sensitivity, check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product. You should also take care to avoid cross-contamination during preparation.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a Mother’s Day breakfast or lunch featuring sliced toastie bread, your main priority will determine whether texture, fibre or gluten-free suitability matters most. The term ‘medium sliced’ doesn’t tell you the exact thickness of each slice, so check the bread and its packaging if slice thickness is important for your recipe.

White toastie bread

Choose this if: you’re looking for a soft, square base for classic toasties or sandwiches.

Consider: according to Albert Heijn, the white AH option contains 1,6 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 7,2 g in the wholemeal version reviewed.

Wholemeal toastie bread

Choose this if: you want sliced bread for toasties and sandwiches, and wholemeal ingredients and fibre are important to you.

Consider: the AH option reviewed contains cereals containing gluten and soya, so it isn’t a gluten-free choice.

Gluten-free toast bread

Choose this if: you or a guest needs to eat gluten-free and the specific bread is suitable.

Consider: gluten-free products also need to be prepared carefully, away from crumbs from ordinary bread.

What to consider	What to check when buying	Who it matters to
Texture and preparation	Check the shape and slices, and make sure the product description suits the way you plan to prepare it.	I want bread for brunch that’s easy to top and can be served as a soft toastie. For around 46% of consumers, texture comes first.
Wholemeal ingredients and fibre	Check whether it’s labelled wholemeal, the ingredients and the fibre content per 100 g.	I’ll also use this bread for lunch after Mother’s Day, so I want to know how much fibre it contains. For around 36% of consumers, wholemeal ingredients and fibre are the main priorities.
Gluten-free suitability	Read the gluten-free claim and check the ingredients and allergen information; take cross-contamination into account during preparation.	The bread needs to be suitable for my guest, who has to eat gluten-free. For around 18% of consumers, this is their top priority.

Common mistakes

Judging fibre content by colour

A dark appearance doesn’t tell you how much fibre the bread contains. Albert Heijn lists 1,6 g of fibre per 100 g for the white toastie bread reviewed, and 7,2 g per 100 g for the wholemeal version.

Check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre content in the nutritional information per 100 g.
Overlooking allergens in a familiar type of bread

The white and wholemeal AH toastie breads reviewed contain cereals containing gluten and soya. You should also check the allergen information on the specific packaging of any other bread.

Read the current ingredients and allergen information, especially if you’re buying for a guest.
Assuming all bread is made with iodised baker’s salt

According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread in the Netherlands doesn’t have to be baked with iodised baker’s salt. So you can’t assume that iodised salt has been used just from the type of bread.

Check the ingredients if baker’s salt is important to your choice, or ask your baker.
Buying gluten-free bread but forgetting about preparation

If someone has coeliac disease, contact with crumbs containing gluten during toasting or adding toppings can be a problem.

Use clean utensils and a clean work surface, and keep the bread away from crumbs from ordinary bread.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has white and wholemeal versions of its Extra lang lekker toastie bread, both of which were reviewed. This lets you compare two types of bread from the same product range.

According to Albert Heijn, the white version contains 1,6 g of fibre per 100 g and the wholemeal version 7,2 g per 100 g.
Both versions reviewed contain cereals containing gluten and soya.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers products including a half loaf of white toastie bread. Its wider bread range also includes gluten-free options.

For the Jumbo Tosti Brood Wit - Half reviewed, Jumbo lists 2,3 g of fibre per 100 g.
The white toastie bread reviewed contains wheat and gluten; check the label of gluten-free alternatives separately.

Céréal

Jumbo describes the Céréal Gluten Free Lactose Free Volkorenbrood 240 g reviewed as sliced toast bread without gluten or lactose.

This specific bread is an option to consider when eating gluten-free is essential.
Check the full allergen information for this product too, and take care to avoid cross-contamination during preparation.

Bolletje

Bolletje offers products including rusk and crackers as crunchy breakfast options.

Rusk or crackers could be a good fit for a breakfast where you’d like to serve something crunchy.
These are different types of product from soft, sliced toastie bread for making toasties.

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Frequently asked questions

Is iodised baker’s salt required in bread?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread in the Netherlands doesn’t have to be baked with iodised baker’s salt. If iodised salt is important to your choice, check the ingredients or ask your baker.

Which toastie bread contains more fibre: white or wholemeal?

The wholemeal version from Albert Heijn that was reviewed contains more fibre than the white version reviewed: according to Albert Heijn, 7,2 g and 1,6 g per 100 g respectively. For other breads, always compare the nutritional information per 100 g rather than judging by colour alone.

How do I prepare toast for someone with coeliac disease?

Choose bread with an explicit gluten-free claim and read the allergen information. Avoid contact with crumbs from ordinary bread during preparation by using clean utensils and a clean work surface; also take care if you’re using a shared toaster.

Can I buy toastie bread in advance for Mother’s Day?

That depends on the storage instructions for the bread you choose. Albert Heijn says the white and wholemeal toastie breads reviewed are suitable for freezing at home on the day of purchase. Check the packaging for the shelf life and storage instructions for your product.