For Christmas market snacks with generous toppings, choose a loaf clearly labelled as wholemeal and check the slices before buying pre-sliced bread. If you need to control the thickness yourself, choose a loaf that is confirmed to be unsliced; this will take more preparation. Terms such as fine, coarse and firm don’t tell you how thick a slice is.
If you’re preparing generously topped sandwiches for a Christmas market, you’ll want slices that suit your toppings and the way you plan to serve them. Check pre-sliced bread in advance, or choose a loaf confirmed to be unsliced if you want to control the thickness yourself.
If you specifically want wholemeal bread, check the product description. If baker’s salt matters to your dietary choices, check the ingredients separately or ask the baker.
You can compare different wholemeal breads at Albert Heijn, Jumbo, ALDI and Lidl. As well as the name, check the size, whether the bread is sliced and what preparation you’ll need to do yourself.
First decide whether controlling the slice thickness is your priority for your Christmas market snacks, or whether you’d rather save time with pre-sliced bread. Then check the wholemeal description and, if it matters to your choice, the ingredients.
Choose this if: you want to tailor the slices to your toppings.
Keep in mind: you’ll need time to slice it and make the slices an even thickness. Check that the whole loaf you choose is actually unsliced.
Choose this if: quick preparation and evenly sized portions matter more than choosing the slice thickness yourself.
Keep in mind: check the actual slice thickness before buying bread for generous toppings.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Look at the pre-sliced bread or ask about the slicing setting; if you’re buying a whole loaf, check that it’s unsliced. | With generous or moist toppings, I want to choose a slice that suits the snack I’m serving. Around 50% of shoppers prioritise a sturdy slice. |
| Product description and ingredients | Check that it’s described as wholemeal; check separately for baker’s salt if it matters to your choice. | When I consciously choose wholemeal bread, I want to check the product description and, if needed, find out which salt has been used. Around 30% of shoppers prioritise checking the label. |
| Preparation | Check whether the bread is sliced and whether you can order it or need to collect it in store. | When I’m sorting snacks along with the rest of my shopping, I want to portion the bread without any extra slicing. Convenience is the top priority for around 20% of shoppers. |
These words distinguish between types of bread, but they don’t tell you how thick the individual slices are. So the name alone isn’t a useful way to check whether the bread will work for a snack with generous toppings.
Look at the slices in store, ask about the slicing setting or choose unsliced bread if you want to control the thickness yourself.
According to the Voedingscentrum, not all bread is made with baker’s salt. So the wholemeal description doesn’t tell you whether baker’s salt has been used in that loaf.
If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients or ask the baker.
The appearance of a loaf doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether it’s described as wholemeal.
Check the product description and read the product information if you’re unsure.
You can compare a range of wholemeal breads from these brands. For each loaf, check whether it’s sliced and whether the slices will suit the snack you have in mind.
The range includes whole, half, sliced and unsliced wholemeal loaves.
Jumbo uses terms such as fine, coarse and firm for some of its wholemeal bread range.
The fresh daily range includes several wholemeal breads, including Fijn Volkoren.
When comparing packaged loaves, you can also check the nutritional information.
This option suits anyone who wants to tailor the slices to their Christmas market snack. Bear in mind the preparation needed before you can slice it.
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If you want to choose the slice thickness for your snacks, you can slice this bread yourself once it’s been prepared and cooled.
Round 550 g wholemeal loaf. Allow time for defrosting and baking; follow the preparation instructions before slicing the bread. Check for yourself that the slices suit your toppings, and read the ingredients if baker’s salt matters to your choice.
Choose a wholemeal loaf confirmed to be unsliced so you can slice it yourself, or ask the shop to confirm the desired slicing thickness. Also check that the loaf and slices are suitable for the toppings you plan to use.
No, these names don’t confirm the slice thickness. Jumbo uses them for different types of wholemeal bread; for a snack with generous toppings, look at the slices yourself or ask the shop about the slicing setting.
Look for the wholemeal product description and read the product information if you’re unsure. Don’t judge by a dark colour or multigrain appearance alone.
No, don’t assume that it does. According to the Voedingscentrum, not all bread is made with baker’s salt; check the ingredients or ask the baker if this matters to your purchase.
