Looking for a thick slice of white bread for a generously filled sandwich or toastie? Check that the bread is sliced and look at the actual thickness of the slices: the name of the loaf alone won’t tell you. If you eat it regularly for lunch, compare the fibre and salt on the packaging too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible.
If you take bread with toppings such as cheese, egg or hummus, you’ll want a slice that holds together when you fill it and carry it with you. Check the thickness and firmness of the bread you choose, and whether it’s already sliced.
Want white bread for lunch but also keeping an eye on fibre and salt? Compare the nutritional information for each specific loaf, ideally per 100 g. A thick slice doesn’t tell you anything about its fibre content.
If allergens are a concern, check the information for the exact bread you’re choosing. Also choose a loaf size that suits your lunch plans and your freezer space.
First, decide whether the slice needs to suit your fillings and how you’ll carry it. Then compare the nutritional information and choose a loaf size that works for how often you have lunch at university.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness and firmness | Check the actual thickness of the slices and whether the bread is sold sliced or as a whole loaf. Consider whether the slice will suit your fillings. | For a generously filled lunch, I want bread that holds together when I prepare it and take it with me; around 42% of consumers put this practical firmness first. |
| Fibre and nutritional value | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g on the packaging; also check the portion size if the slices vary. | If I take white bread with me often, I want to know how its fibre and salt content fits with my lunch. Around 33% of consumers give this nutritional information top priority. |
| Loaf size and storage | Choose a half or whole loaf to suit your lunch days, and read the storage instructions on the packaging. | With a changing timetable, I don’t want to buy more bread than I can use or freeze; loaf size and storage matter most to around 25% of consumers. |
A name such as casino loaf or tiger bread doesn’t confirm how thick the slices are. Slice thickness also tells you nothing about the bread’s fibre or salt content.
Check the slice to make sure it suits your lunch plans, and read the label of the bread you choose for its nutritional information.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible. A thicker slice doesn’t make it wholemeal.
If fibre is important in your everyday lunch, compare the nutritional information for white bread with that for wholemeal or brown bread.
If you only take bread with you on a few days, a whole loaf may be more than you can use in time.
Choose a loaf size that suits your lunch days and freeze portions if you don’t expect to finish the bread in time. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Ingredients and allergens can vary from one product to another. Even a product page you looked at earlier may not match the loaf in front of you now.
For pre-packed bread, check the current label. For unpackaged bread in the canteen, ask for the allergen information for that specific product.
These ranges can help you find different types of bread. Check the slice and product information for the loaf you actually choose.
Albert Heijn lists several types of white bread in its online range.
Jumbo has an online category for different types of white bread.
ALDI’s fresh daily bread range includes soft white bread and hearth-baked loaves.
Lidl’s bread range includes white bread alongside other types.
Dirk’s range includes white bread and other types, including white bâtard bread.
Not because of the slice thickness: it tells you nothing about the fibre content per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 1.2 g of fibre for a 45 g white bread roll. For your lunch, compare the nutritional information for the specific bread you choose.
You can’t tell from the type of bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread when baker’s salt is added. Check the ingredients of the bread you buy.
For pre-packed bread, read the label of the product you’ve chosen. For unpackaged canteen bread, ask for the allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of pre-packed foods, and that sellers must also inform consumers about allergens in unpackaged foods.
Choose a loaf size that suits the number of days you’ll use it, and freeze portions if that works better for you. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and throw away mouldy bread, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
