Parents who pack sandwiches every day
A slice that’s easy to fill needs to suit the filling, your child and their lunchbox. Ask about slice thickness: a label such as ‘whole’ or ‘half’ describes the size of the loaf, not the slice.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Families looking to choose wholemeal
If you pack tiger bread regularly, look for an option explicitly labelled wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain products contain more fibre and other nutrients than white grain products; also consider whether your child enjoys the bread.
Parents who need to check allergens
If a gluten-free diet is required or your child has a wheat allergy, start with the ingredients and allergen information, not the crust or slice. Also check the rules at your child’s school or childcare provider.
What should you look for when choosing?
If there’s an allergen requirement, check it before choosing a type of bread. Then consider the grain, the slice you want and what your local shop has available.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal option | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name or on the packaging; don’t assume bread is wholemeal because the crust is brown. | If bread is going into the lunchbox regularly, I want to choose wholemeal as long as my child will eat it; this is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Slice thickness | Ask whether the bread is available medium-sliced or can be sliced that way; ‘whole’ and ‘half’ don’t confirm the slice thickness. | I’m looking for slices that are easy to fill and fit in the lunchbox; slice thickness is the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, and ask about the rules at the school or childcare provider. | If gluten or wheat needs to be avoided, I first need to know which bread I can pack; this check comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Local availability | Check with your local branch to see whether the bread and slice you want are available. | I want to be able to choose a bread my local shop stocks on school days; local availability matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming brown tiger bread is wholemeal
A brown colour doesn’t prove that bread is wholemeal. Jumbo lists brown and wholemeal as separate tiger bread varieties.
Check that it’s explicitly labelled wholemeal, and read the latest packaging if that’s your preference.
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Thinking ‘whole’ or ‘half’ refers to slice thickness
These words describe the size of the loaf. They don’t tell you whether the slices will suit the sandwiches you want to pack.
Ask for medium-sliced bread, or check whether the shop can slice it that way.
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Packing regular tiger bread without checking allergens
Wheat bread containing gluten isn’t suitable for a gluten-free diet. Product ingredients and allergen information can also change, as Albert Heijn points out in its bread information.
Read the latest packaging before packing the bread, and check the rules at your child’s school or childcare provider.
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Assuming the online range is the same as your local branch
A bread listed online may not be available in the same version at every branch. Lidl says its fresh bread range can vary between branches.
Check the type of bread and the slice you want with the shop where you’re buying it.
Brands to consider when you’re looking
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists options including AH Tiger Wholemeal Loaf and wheat tiger bread.
- An explicit wholemeal label helps you tell different types of bread apart.
- ‘Whole’ doesn’t confirm that the bread is medium-sliced. Albert Heijn recommends checking the packaging, as product information can change.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists farmhouse tiger bread in white, brown and wholemeal varieties.
- The separate labels make it clear that brown and wholemeal are different varieties.
- The type of bread or the label ‘half’ doesn’t tell you whether it’s medium-sliced; check the version you want when you buy it.
Lidl
Lidl has an oven-fresh bread range that can vary between branches.
- Your local bread range gives you the chance to ask about tiger bread varieties and the slice you want.
- Check what’s currently available at your local shop rather than assuming every branch stocks the same version.
PLUS
PLUS offers bread categories online, including a wholemeal bread category.
- The bread range can be a starting point for checking what’s available locally.
- Ask specifically about tiger bread and medium-sliced bread; the general bread category doesn’t confirm either for an individual product.
Products related to this topic
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Which tiger bread should I choose for a regular school lunch?
An explicitly labelled wholemeal option is an obvious choice if your child will eat it and there are no conflicting allergen requirements. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain products contain more fibre and other nutrients than white grain products; also check that the slice fits in the lunchbox.
Is brown tiger bread always wholemeal?
No, the brown colour or tiger crust doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal. Jumbo lists brown and wholemeal as separate tiger bread varieties, so check the product name and latest packaging before choosing.
Can I pack regular tiger bread if a gluten-free diet is required?
Regular wheat bread containing gluten doesn’t meet the requirements of a gluten-free diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that people with coeliac disease need to follow a gluten-free diet for life; in that case, choose bread explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the packaging and the rules at your child’s school or childcare provider.
Where can I check allergens in pre-packed bread?
Check the ingredients list on the latest packaging. According to the European Union, allergens in pre-packed foods must be clearly highlighted in the ingredients list; don’t rely solely on product information you’ve read before when buying it again.