Choose wholemeal bread if fibre is your main reason for buying bread for a Christmas market meal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is high in fibre, and it’s a good idea to replace white bread with wholemeal or brown bread wherever possible. If your guests would prefer white bread, or the buffet calls for a particular type of loaf, compare the nutritional information and allergens for the exact product before you decide.
If you’re buying bread for a Christmas market meal and want to focus on fibre, compare the wholemeal label and the nutritional information per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholemeal bread as high in fibre.
Sliced, fine wholemeal bread can work well for sandwiches or a shared buffet. For example, ALDI lists sliced fine wholemeal bread. Check the label on the product you choose rather than assuming its fibre content from its name.
If you’re buying bread for several guests, you’ll need the allergen information for each product you choose. Also check for information about possible cross-contamination: Jumbo says this cannot be ruled out for its products.
First, decide whether fibre, the type of bread you want or serving it to guests is the priority for your Christmas market meal. Then compare the specific loaves on a like-for-like basis.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and wholemeal bread | Check the wholemeal label and ingredients; compare the fibre content per 100 g. | I want to prioritise fibre when choosing bread for the celebration, rather than judging by its colour. For around 50% of consumers, choosing wholemeal bread is the top priority. |
| Type and texture of bread | Check the type of bread and compare the nutritional information for the specific white or fine wholemeal variety. | My guests want a lighter style of bread, but I still want to be able to assess the fibre content of the product I choose. Around 30% of consumers prioritise an accessible style of bread. |
| Serving and storage | Choose a suitable shape and quantity; read the storage instructions and allergen information for each product. | For a shared buffet, I want to be able to serve the bread and plan ahead, while keeping ingredients that matter to guests in mind. For around 20% of consumers, practical considerations are the most important factor. |
A dark colour or a multigrain name doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether bread is wholemeal. If fibre is your main reason for choosing it, that distinction matters more than its appearance.
Look for the wholemeal label, read the ingredients and compare the fibre content per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholemeal bread as bread made from the whole grain.
Extra fibre in one type of white bread doesn’t make all white bread equivalent to wholemeal bread. What’s more, a white bread with added fibre previously listed by Jumbo was no longer part of its online range.
Check the product description, ingredients and fibre content per 100 g for the bread you’re actually buying.
Ingredients and possible traces vary from product to product. Jumbo warns that cross-contamination cannot be ruled out for its products.
Read the allergen statement for each specific variety. If you have concerns about a serious allergy, ask the shop or manufacturer for product information.
The quantity and storage options can affect whether buying in advance is practical for a buffet. Freezing instructions apply to the specific loaf, not to every wholemeal variety.
Decide how much you want to serve and follow the storage and freezing instructions on the packaging. PLUS says its Boeren wholemeal bread can be frozen at home on the day of purchase.
Albert Heijn has separate online categories for white bread and wholemeal bread.
Jumbo has online categories for white and wholemeal bread, and provides allergen information.
Lidl’s freshly baked range includes a rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf.
ALDI lists both fine wholemeal bread and an extra-high-fibre wholemeal variety.
PLUS lists wholemeal breads in different shapes, including a wholemeal baguette.
Under its Bakker van der Akker bread label, Dirk lists different wholemeal formats, including rolls and hearth-baked loaves.
These products are labelled as wholemeal and come in different shapes: flatbread for sharing, a round loaf and crispbread. Choose the shape that suits your meal, and check the nutritional information, allergens and any preparation instructions on each pack.
No image available
This flatbread could work well for a buffet where guests can share the bread, but it’s a different shape from a sliced whole loaf. Check the full ingredients and allergen information for the pack you choose, including any details about cross-contamination.
No image available
A round loaf is a good option if you want to cut your own portions for the buffet. Allow time to defrost and bake it; check the preparation time on the packaging. Only compare its fibre content with other bread once you’re clear what quantity the stated value applies to, and read the current allergen information.
No image available
This crispbread offers a different type of bread for a shared meal; it isn’t a soft whole loaf or baguette. Check that it suits your planned buffet, and read the nutritional and allergen information on the packaging.
Choose wholemeal bread if fibre is your main reason for choosing between the two types of bread for your Christmas market meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholemeal bread as high in fibre and advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread wherever possible. If the type of bread or serving style you want is more important, check the nutritional information for the specific product.
No. Don’t go by the colour or the word ‘multigrain’ alone. Check whether the bread is labelled as wholemeal, read the ingredients list and compare the fibre content per 100 g if fibre matters to you.
Yes, as long as the storage instructions for your chosen bread fit your plans. For example, PLUS says its Boeren wholemeal bread can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; follow the packaging instructions for any other bread.
No. Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific variety before choosing bread for your guests. PLUS’s wholemeal baguette lists wheat, rye, barley and spelt, among other ingredients, while Jumbo says cross-contamination cannot be ruled out for its products.
