For packed lunches, choose a white loaf that gives you the number of slices your family will actually eat, or freeze some straight away. Before packing it, check the current label for wheat, gluten and other allergens, and take any school requirements into account. If white bread is often on the menu, also consider the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to replace it with brown or wholemeal bread as often as possible.
If bread regularly goes to school, it’s not just the size of the loaf that matters, but how many slices you use too. Choose a whole or half loaf to suit your packed lunch needs, or freeze portions for later.
If someone has an allergy or the school has specific requirements, the label on the particular loaf matters. The white breads from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS that we reviewed list wheat or cereals containing gluten. Other allergens listed vary by product.
If you want to keep buying white bread but are also checking the nutritional information, compare the fibre per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with brown or wholemeal bread as often as possible. Whether an alternative makes it into the packed lunch also depends on what the pupil likes to eat.
Work out how much bread you need for packed lunches, then check the label before choosing. Next, look at the nutritional information and how you can store any unused slices.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount needed per school week | Work out how many slices you need and whether a whole or half loaf is the right size. | If I’m making several packed lunches a week, I want a loaf whose slices will actually get used. Around 33% of consumers put getting the right amount first. |
| Allergens and school requirements | Read the current ingredients and allergen information. For unpackaged bread, ask the shop for the details. | If I’m packing bread for a pupil with an allergy, the specific product needs to meet their needs and any school requirements. This check is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Fibre and type of bread | Compare fibre per 100 g and check the product name if you’re considering brown or wholemeal bread. | I want to know what’s in a loaf before deciding whether white bread should remain a regular choice for packed lunches. This is the top consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Storage and availability | Read the storage instructions, decide which portions you can freeze and check that the size you want is available at your local branch. | If I don’t need bread every day, I want to store any unused slices and be able to buy the right size. Around 20% of consumers rank this first when choosing. |
If you only need some of the loaf for the packed lunches ahead, you may end up with unused slices.
Choose a size that suits how much you use, or divide the loaf into portions and freeze them as soon as you get home, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises for bread.
As well as wheat or cereals containing gluten, some of the products from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS that we reviewed also list other allergens. The information can vary by product.
Read the label on the loaf you’re buying and check any school requirements before packing it.
A loaf’s name won’t tell you how much fibre it contains per 100 g. White bread and wholemeal bread are also different types of bread.
Use the nutritional information to compare fibre, and check the product description if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread.
Lidl says its fresh bread range can vary by branch. So a bread variety shown online may not necessarily be available at the shop where you do your shopping.
Check with your local branch that the bread and size you want are available before relying on them for a packed lunch.
These chains offer different ways to choose white bread for packed lunches. Always compare the specific loaf, as label information and availability can vary by product or shop.
Albert Heijn displays online information for products including AH Wit heel, a whole white wheat loaf.
At Jumbo, you can compare standard white bread with specific white alternatives, including gluten-free bread.
Lidl is worth considering if you want to pick up fresh bread or white rolls from a nearby shop.
Aldi offers fresh white bread daily in different sizes, alongside other types of bread.
PLUS displays online product information for items including PLUS Boeren wit heel.
Dirk is an option if you want to pick up white bread or white rolls while you’re out shopping.
Don’t assume ordinary white bread is suitable: the white breads from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS that we reviewed list wheat or cereals containing gluten. Check the current label for the specific product you’re considering for the pupil, and check any school requirements.
You can’t tell from the type of bread alone. AH Wit heel lists iodised salt in its ingredients; if this matters to your choice, check the ingredients of the loaf you want to buy.
Divide the loaf into portions as soon as you get home and freeze what you’ll need later, or choose a smaller size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions; follow the storage instructions on the packaging too.
Check the nutritional information per 100 g and consider brown or wholemeal bread too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with these types as often as possible; when choosing, take into account which bread the pupil will actually eat.
