Students who want to take wholemeal bread to school
For them, the ‘wholemeal’ label matters more than a bread’s artisan appearance. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread contains fibre, vitamins and minerals.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Families who want to prepare lunch quickly
If sandwiches are made and wrapped in advance, whether the bread is sliced and how easy it is to find both matter. Check that your chosen variety is sliced and that its ingredient information suits the lunch.
Families who need to consider gluten or other allergens
Standard bread made with wheat, rye or barley is not suitable for anyone who needs to follow a gluten-free diet. Check the latest allergen information for the student in question, as well as the school’s allergy policy.
What should you look for when choosing?
For a secondary school lunch, first establish whether the choice is limited by the need for wholemeal bread or an allergen requirement. Then compare what the student will enjoy eating with what is practical to buy, prepare and store.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status and fibre | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the fibre per 100 g across products. | If wholemeal bread is the preferred basis for lunch, I wouldn’t rely on the word ‘sourdough’ alone. For around 33% of consumers, whether bread is wholemeal would be the first consideration. |
| Flavour and crust | Check the crust and thickness of the slices for the specific variety; don’t assume all sourdough has the same texture. | A firm crust should still be pleasant for the student to eat from a lunchbox. For around 25% of consumers, flavour and texture would come first. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information. Ask for it before buying unpackaged bread. | If gluten or another allergen needs to be avoided, the bread you choose must meet that requirement. For around 25% of consumers, checking allergens would be the first priority. |
| Portions and availability | Check the size, whether it is sliced and its availability at your chosen shop. | For several school days, I want to be able to prepare portions without having to rely on a particular day’s shopping. For around 17% of consumers, this practical convenience would be the main consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘sourdough’ means ‘wholemeal’
Bread can be made with sourdough starter without being wholemeal. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, you could end up taking home the wrong variety.
Check the wholemeal label and the ingredients list on the bread itself.
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Calling spelt or sourdough bread gluten-free
Spelt is a type of wheat, so standard bread made with spelt, wheat, rye or barley is not a gluten-free alternative.
If eating gluten-free is essential, choose a product clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and avoid contact with standard bread when packing it.
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Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan
For opened wholemeal sourdough bread, the Voedingscentrum recommends keeping it in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days.
Choose a size you can use up, or freeze any spare slices in portions before they go stale.
If a large loaf is left uneaten, the remaining slices may dry out or go mouldy.
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Counting on online delivery of shop-baked sourdough
Jumbo says its shop-baked sourdough breads cannot be ordered online. This matters when planning a school lunch, as it affects how you can buy the bread.
Check the variety and allergen information at your chosen shop, and find out whether the bread can be sliced.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The Liefde & Passie and OerDesem ranges include sourdough varieties, including sliced wholemeal bread.
- A sliced wholemeal variety can be handy for sandwiches in a lunchbox.
- Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the packaging of your chosen variety.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes a range of rustic sourdough breads, including a wholemeal variety with pumpkin and a brown multigrain variety.
- According to Jumbo, this range of bread is left to rise with sourdough starter for more than 24 hours.
- Jumbo says these shop-baked sourdough breads cannot be ordered online.
Lidl
Lidl lists a rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough bread.
- The product description makes clear that this is a wholemeal wheat variety.
- Check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the product in store.
ALDI
ALDI describes a bread range that covers everything from white to wholemeal.
- The range gives you a starting point when looking for a suitable lunch option in store.
- Check with your local store to see whether it has a sourdough variety and whether it is labelled wholemeal.
PLUS
PLUS provides product information for Korenlanders Kleintje wholemeal poppy seed sourdough bread, which you can use to assess the variety.
- For this specific bread, PLUS lists 51% wholemeal wheat flour, 8% sourdough starter and 7,3 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The listed ingredients include wheat, rye and barley. Also check the latest on-pack warnings for other allergens.
Dirk
Dirk lists both wholemeal bread and sourdough in its bread category.
- The category is a useful starting point for comparing breads in store.
- Check each loaf to see whether it is both wholemeal and sourdough, and read its label.
A Joybuy product for this lunch situation
This product is worth considering if you need a gluten-free alternative to standard sourdough bread. It is not a substitute for choosing wholemeal sourdough bread.
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Gv Baguette Mini 7 Pieces
If you’re looking for a gluten-free alternative for a school lunch, check whether the latest packaging for these mini baguettes labels them as gluten-free. Before buying, also check the preparation instructions, the actual pack contents and the allergen information, including any mention of soya, lupin and mustard. Don’t choose this product on the assumption that it is wholemeal.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough bread automatically wholemeal?
No. Sourdough tells you nothing about whether the bread is wholemeal. Check for the ‘wholemeal’ label and read the ingredients list for your chosen variety.
Is standard sourdough bread suitable for someone who needs to follow a gluten-free diet?
No. Standard sourdough bread made with wheat, spelt, rye or barley is not a suitable alternative. Choose a product clearly labelled ‘gluten-free’ and take care to avoid contact with standard bread when preparing lunch.
How can you check allergens in unpackaged bread from a shop?
Before buying, ask for the allergen information for the specific bread if it is not clearly displayed near the shelf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also provides information about allergens in unpackaged foods, so don’t rely on the bread’s name alone.
How long can you keep opened wholemeal sourdough bread?
The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal sourdough bread for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer. Freeze slices in portions if you won’t use the bread within a few school lunches.