Picnic organisers catering for fussy eaters
You want a neutral base for different toppings, without a strong wholemeal or herb flavour being the only option. Offering plain and wholemeal side by side gives everyone more choice.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Consumers comparing wholemeal options and fibre
You want to know whether a toast is genuinely wholemeal and also check the nutritional information per 100 g. Fibre and salt are separate things to compare.
Picnickers who want to take crunchy toast with them
You look for individual inner packs and a sturdy box for the journey, to help protect the toast from moisture and breakage.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether choice of flavour, a clearly labelled wholemeal option or protection during transport matters most for your picnic. Then check the label on the toast you plan to take.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Choice of flavour | Choose a plain option to go with a range of toppings. For mixed toast, check the proportion of wholemeal flour. | If you’re packing for a group with different tastes, you won’t want one strongly flavoured type of toast to dictate all the choices; around 36% of consumers put flavour choice first. |
| Wholemeal, fibre and salt | Check that it is labelled wholemeal and compare fibre and salt per 100 g across similar toast products. | If I want to serve a wholemeal option, I want to be able to see what I’m buying on the label without overlooking the salt. Around 36% of consumers give wholemeal and fibre the highest priority. |
| Transport and crunch | Look for individual inner packs and take a sturdy, dry box; follow the storage advice on the label. | On the way there, I want to stop the toast breaking or getting damp, especially if I’m not opening the pack until we reach the park. Around 28% of consumers prioritise protection during transport and keeping their toast crunchy. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming dark or multigrain means wholemeal
A dark colour or the term multigrain doesn’t mean that all the flour used is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product can only be called wholemeal if it is made entirely from wholemeal flour.
Look for the word wholemeal on the label. If the toast contains both wholemeal flour and white flour, you can compare the ingredients, but don’t treat it as a fully wholemeal option.
-
Comparing fibre alone
A wholemeal label doesn’t tell you how much salt a toast contains. Albert Heijn lists 9.7 g of fibre and 1.9 g of salt per 100 g for Van der Meulen Melba wholemeal toast.
For similar products, compare both fibre and salt per 100 g, and consider how many pieces of toast you plan to serve.
-
Taking only a strongly flavoured option
Toast with herbs or olives won’t necessarily suit every topping or everyone’s taste in the group.
If tastes vary, take some plain toast too, and serve the wholemeal or flavoured option separately.
-
Transporting toast loose or somewhere damp
Toast can break and lose its crunch if it gets damp before you serve it.
Where possible, keep the inner packs sealed and carry the toast in a sturdy, airtight box in a dry place. Also follow the storage advice on the pack you choose.
Brands to consider
Van der Meulen Melba
Melba toast available in plain and wholemeal options, among others, making it a good fit for a picnic where you want to offer two flavours side by side.
- Albert Heijn lists Melba wholemeal toast as six packs of six pieces, with 9.7 g of fibre and 1.9 g of salt per 100 g.
- These nutritional values apply to the wholemeal option mentioned, not automatically to the plain one. Check the pack for the option you choose.
Jumbo
Offers crunchy plain toast and an option with green olives and basil. The latter is more of an extra flavour than a neutral base.
- The different flavours give you a choice between a simple base and a herby option.
- For its green olive and basil option, Jumbo lists 1.78 g of salt per 100 g, wheat and gluten, and possible traces of egg, milk, sesame and soya. If you have allergies, check the label for the option you choose.
Jos Poell
Toast Volkoren is an example of a separate wholemeal option to assess by checking its ingredients and nutritional information.
- Jumbo lists 10 g of fibre and 1.64 g of salt per 100 g for Jos Poell Toast Volkoren.
- For this specific product listing, Jumbo says the item is no longer part of its online range. When buying, check the label and the selection at the retailer you’re shopping with.
Toast products at Joybuy
Matching products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is dark or multigrain toast wholemeal too?
No, not automatically. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product can only be called wholemeal if it is made entirely from wholemeal flour. For a mixed product, check the ingredients and the stated proportion of wholemeal flour.
Should I always choose wholemeal toast for a picnic?
No. If some people prefer a milder flavour, you can offer plain toast alongside wholemeal toast. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain cereal products generally contain more fibre than white alternatives; also compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the toast you choose.
How can I keep toast crunchy in the park?
Keep the pack sealed until you’re ready to use it, and carry the toast in a sturdy box in a dry place. Smaller inner packs can be useful if you’re not serving everything at once; follow the storage advice on the label.
Can I assume that toast contains iodised baker’s salt?
No. You can’t tell from the product category whether the toast you choose contains iodised baker’s salt; check the ingredients on the pack.
What should I look out for if I have allergies?
Read the allergen information for the exact option you plan to take. For its green olive and basil toast, Jumbo lists wheat and gluten, and possible traces of egg, milk, sesame and soya; don’t assume this information applies to other toast products.