Wholemeal, Brown or White Bread for a Sunday Roast?

Who is this choice relevant to?

Host with fussy eaters

You’re looking for bread to serve with your Sunday roast that will also appeal to guests who are used to white bread. Finely milled wholemeal is worth considering if they enjoy its flavour and texture.

Meal planner focused on wholemeal and fibre

You want to know whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal and how much fibre it contains. Check the product name and compare the nutritional information per 100 g.

Label-conscious shopper

You take the ingredients and allergens in the bread you serve into account. If iodised baker’s salt matters to your choice, check for it on each product’s label too.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, choose a bread your guests will enjoy. Then check whether its wholemeal status, fibre content and quantity suit your plans.

Finely milled wholemeal

When to choose it: You want to try a wholemeal loaf with people who aren’t keen on a coarse texture.

The trade-off: A fine grind doesn’t guarantee that the bread will taste like white bread.

Brown bread

When to choose it: Your guests’ taste preferences matter more than serving fully wholemeal bread.

The trade-off: Brown bread isn’t automatically wholemeal; its ingredients vary from product to product.

White bread

When to choose it: Your guests want only white bread with this meal.

The trade-off: If you’d also like to serve wholemeal bread, you can choose a smaller second loaf and adjust the quantity to suit your group.

What to consider	What to look for	Who it’s for
Flavour and texture	Check the type of bread and its ingredients. If you’re unsure what everyone prefers, try a smaller loaf.	If my guests are used to white bread, I want to serve something they’ll enjoy. This flavour and texture preference comes first for around 50% of consumers.
Wholemeal and fibre	Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and always compare fibre on the same basis, such as per 100 g.	I want to be sure the bread is wholemeal and compare its fibre content; this is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers.
Quantity and convenience	Choose a whole or half loaf to suit the number of guests. If you’re buying bake-at-home bread, allow time to prepare it.	Bread is a side dish for me, so I don’t want lots left over or to find myself baking it unexpectedly just before the meal. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration.

Common mistakes

Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal

The colour or a multigrain name doesn’t tell you whether all the grain ingredients are wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all the grain ingredient is wholemeal flour.

If you want wholemeal bread with your Sunday roast, look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and read the ingredients for the specific product.
Assuming all bread is made with baker’s salt

According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt is not compulsory. So you can’t assume bread contains it just because it’s sold in the Netherlands.

If this matters to your choice, look for baker’s salt or iodised salt on the label. For unpackaged bread, ask which ingredients have been used.
Choosing a speciality brown bread as a neutral side

According to Albert Heijn, AH Liefde & Passie Rozijn pistache bread contains ingredients including raisins, pistachios and honey. These ingredients can affect whether it suits the meal and your guests.

If you’re serving bread to share, read the ingredients, especially if you’re considering taste preferences or allergens.
Buying a whole loaf for every preference

If bread is only a side dish, two whole loaves may be more than your group needs.

See whether smaller or half loaves would suit the number of guests, and plan what you’ll do with any leftovers.

Brands to consider

Jumbo

Jumbo Fijn Volkoren is a specific loaf you can assess by checking its ingredients and nutritional value.

Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g for Fijn Volkoren.
The word ‘fine’ doesn’t tell you whether your guests will enjoy its flavour and texture.

Lidl

Lidl describes a kids’ loaf made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour as an option for anyone looking for a finer texture.

According to Lidl, this bread tastes like brown bread and contains as much fibre as wholemeal bread; this is Lidl’s own product description.
Check the name, ingredients and nutritional information of the loaf you actually buy.

ALDI

ALDI Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood Heel is worth considering if having a wholemeal loaf is your priority.

ALDI describes this particular loaf as 100% wholemeal.
The wholemeal label alone doesn’t tell you whether fussy eaters will enjoy the flavour and texture.

Albert Heijn

AH Liefde & Passie Rozijn pistache bread shows why you should check the ingredients of brown bread individually.

Albert Heijn lists 24% wholemeal wheat flour and 23% wheat flour for this product.
It also contains raisins, pistachios and honey, so it won’t be a neutral choice for every group.

Dirk

Dirk’s bread range includes white, brown and wholemeal varieties to compare individually.

Dirk distinguishes between brown bread and bread that is fully wholemeal.
Check the ingredients and loaf size of the variety you want to buy.

Related Joybuy products

Frequently asked questions

Is brown bread always a mix of white and wholemeal bread?

No, the ingredients in brown bread vary from product to product. If you want fully wholemeal bread, look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and check the ingredients. To compare fibre, check the nutritional information per 100 g.

Is iodised baker’s salt compulsory in bread?

No, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory. Check the label to see whether the bread is made with it. If it matters to your choice, ask about the ingredients when buying unpackaged bread.

How do I choose bread if a guest has an allergy?

Check the allergen information for the exact bread you plan to serve; don’t rely on its colour or category. For example, Albert Heijn lists wheat and pistachios among the ingredients of AH Liefde & Passie Rozijn pistache.

How can I avoid having lots of bread left over?

Adjust the quantity to the number of guests and see whether a half loaf or two smaller varieties would work better than two whole loaves. If you choose bake-at-home bread, remember to factor in when you’ll need to prepare it.