Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents of fussy toddlers

If your toddler turns down the taste or crust of wholemeal tiger bread, you could try a brown variety as a stepping stone. Check the product description: brown doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal.

Parents who prefer wholemeal as a starting point

You want to know whether the bread really is wholemeal, rather than relying on its dark crumb or tiger crust. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread for young children.

Parents considering allergens or childcare rules

Check the allergen information for the specific bread and find out what you’re allowed to bring with you at your child’s nursery or school. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked bread appears on the label; for unpackaged bread, it must be available in another way.

What should you look for?

First, choose the type of bread that suits your goals and your toddler’s preferences. Then check the allergen information for the specific loaf and choose a size your household can use.

Wholemeal tiger bread

When to choose it: If your toddler will eat this variety and you want to make wholemeal bread your starting point.

Consider: Your child may not like the crust or taste. Check that the product description actually says ‘wholemeal’.

Brown tiger bread

When to choose it: If your toddler isn’t ready to accept wholemeal tiger bread and you’d like to try another variety.

Consider: Brown bread isn’t automatically wholemeal. The colour doesn’t tell you what type of bread you’re buying.

White tiger bread

When to choose it: If getting your toddler to accept the bread is the main challenge right now and you’re deliberately choosing a temporary step.

Consider: The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Type of bread Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ if that’s your starting point. Don’t judge the bread by its colour or crust alone. I want to know whether I’m really buying wholemeal tiger bread for breakfast. This type of bread is the top priority for around 40% of consumers.
Whether your child will eat it Think about the flavours and crust your child likes, and consider another variety if they won’t eat your first choice. If my toddler leaves a type of bread uneaten, I want to choose a practical next step. Whether a child will eat it is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Allergens and childcare rules Read the allergen information for the specific bread and ask about the rules at your child’s nursery or school. Before packing bread for my child, I need to know whether it’s suitable for the allergens we’re considering and complies with childcare rules. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.
Size and how you’ll use it Compare a whole loaf with a half loaf and consider how much your household uses; freeze slices if needed. When trying a new variety, I don’t want to buy more bread than we can use. This practical consideration comes first for around 10% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a tiger crust means the bread is wholemeal

    Tiger bread is available in different types. You can’t tell whether it’s wholemeal from its brown colour or crust.

    If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check that the product description says ‘wholemeal’.

  • Assuming you know the allergens from the bread’s name

    The name doesn’t tell you which allergens are listed for that particular bread. This matters if you need to consider cereals containing gluten or your childcare provider’s rules.

    For prepacked bread, read the current label. For unpackaged bread, ask where you can find the allergen information, and check separately with your child’s nursery or school what you’re allowed to bring.

  • Assuming all tiger bread is made with iodised baker’s salt

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands. That doesn’t tell you which salt was used in your loaf.

    If necessary, check the ingredients for a specific loaf or ask the bakery.

  • Buying a whole loaf to try a new variety

    If your toddler doesn’t like the taste or crust, a whole loaf might be more than your household can use.

    Where possible, start with a half loaf, offer a small portion and freeze any leftover slices.

Brands and shops to explore

The bread varieties listed below can help you compare types and sizes. Check the latest product information for the variety you choose when you buy it.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Tijger volkoren heel and a tarwe-tijgerbrood, so you can compare the product descriptions.

  • One tiger bread variety is clearly labelled ‘wholemeal’.
  • Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change, so check the latest packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists Boeren Tijger Volkoren alongside brown and white tiger bread, as well as a half-sized wholemeal variety.

  • The type of bread and whether you buy a whole or half loaf are separate choices.
  • Check which varieties are available at your shop and read the information for the loaf you choose.

Lidl

Lidl lists a Tijger volkoren and publishes ingredients and allergen information for its freshly baked range.

  • You can look specifically for a tiger bread variety labelled as wholemeal.
  • Check which allergen information applies to the bread in your local shop.

ALDI

ALDI lists Boeren tijger volkoren and Boeren tijger bruin as separate bread varieties.

  • The names distinguish between the wholemeal and brown varieties.
  • Check the latest packaging for the ingredients and allergen information for the bread you buy.

PLUS

PLUS lists Korenlanders Boeren tijger volkoren as a half loaf, as well as Boeren tijger wit as a whole loaf.

  • A half wholemeal loaf can be handy if you want to try a variety.
  • PLUS warns that product information can change, so check the latest packaging.

Dirk

Dirk lists a wider range of bread, including wholemeal varieties.

  • If you’re not set on a tiger crust, another variety labelled wholemeal is an option too.
  • If you specifically want wholemeal tiger bread, check the range at your shop.

Tiger bread on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

When should I choose wholemeal tiger bread for my toddler?

Choose a variety labelled wholemeal if your toddler will eat it and you want to make wholemeal bread your starting point. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends around two to three slices of bread a day for children aged 1 to 3, usually split between breakfast and lunch. How much a child eats varies from one child to another.

Is brown tiger bread the same as wholemeal tiger bread?

No. The colour and the word ‘brown’ don’t prove that a loaf is wholemeal. Check the product description and look specifically for ‘wholemeal’ if that’s what you want.

Does tiger bread contain gluten, and can I take it to my child’s nursery?

Check both points for the specific bread and childcare provider. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products appears on the label, while information for unpackaged products must be available in another way. Also ask your child’s nursery directly about its rules for bringing in bread.

How can I tell if tiger bread is made with iodised baker’s salt?

Check the bread’s ingredients or ask the bakery which salt was used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands, but the name ‘tiger bread’ doesn’t tell you which salt it contains.

How can I try a new tiger bread variety without having lots left over?

If available, choose a half loaf, start with a small portion and freeze any leftover slices. Both Jumbo and PLUS list a half-sized wholemeal tiger bread variety, but check which size you can buy.