For a regular tea-time with children, wholemeal or brown bread that your child will eat is a sensible choice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists these types of bread as options for children aged 4 to 12. If your child isn’t keen on wholemeal yet, you can mix white and wholemeal bread for a while. If you’re packing bread for school or an after-school club, check the latest allergen information and any local guidelines too.
If your child prefers lighter or softer bread, you could try a finer-textured wholemeal loaf or mix white and wholemeal bread for a while. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends allowing time to get used to the different taste.
You’re looking for bread for a regular mealtime and want to compare the fibre and nutritional information, while making sure the taste and texture suit your child.
As well as choosing the bread, it’s important to check the latest ingredients and allergen information, along with the school or after-school club’s guidelines. Check these before packing bread for your child.
First decide whether wholemeal, your child’s willingness to eat it or allergen checks matter most for your tea-time. Then compare the packaging of the types of bread that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the type of bread and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. | For bread I serve regularly, I want to know how much wholemeal flour and fibre it contains. Around 46% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Taste and texture | Try a small amount or a finer-textured wholemeal loaf and see if your child eats it. | If my child leaves wholemeal bread but eats white bread, I’m looking for a manageable next step. Around 36% of consumers place the greatest importance on whether their child will eat it. |
| Allergens and guidelines | Read the latest allergen information and check the school or after-school club’s guidelines before packing bread. | If allergens or school guidelines are a concern, I want to know which bread I can safely pack for my child. Around 18% of consumers prioritise this check. |
A loaf’s colour or appearance doesn’t tell you how much fibre it contains. Bread is also sold in distinct varieties, including white, brown, multigrain and wholemeal.
Check the description and, where possible, compare the fibre per 100 g on the packaging.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. If your child has an allergy, an earlier product description may not be enough when you buy the bread again.
Read the latest packaging. For unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information and check the school or after-school club’s guidelines.
Wholemeal tastes different from white bread. If your child leaves the new bread uneaten, the change hasn’t achieved what you hoped.
Start with a small amount, alternate between white and wholemeal, or try a finer-textured wholemeal loaf.
Albert Heijn’s online bread category includes options such as white, wholemeal and gluten-free bread.
Jumbo’s online bread range includes white, brown, multigrain and wholemeal varieties.
Lidl describes a wholemeal kids’ bread made with extra-finely ground wholemeal flour.
ALDI’s fresh bread range includes white, wholemeal and multigrain options.
PLUS has online categories for white and wholemeal bread, and lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for its products.
Dirk’s bread category includes white, wholemeal, multigrain and sourdough options.
This wholemeal flatbread is an option if you’d like to try a different type of bread at tea-time. You’ll need to decide whether your child likes its taste and texture.
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An option if you’d like to try wholemeal flatbread instead of a standard sliced loaf. Check whether your child will eat this type of bread, and read the latest ingredients and allergen information before packing it.
No, the bread should also be something your child will eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal and brown bread as options for children aged 4 to 12. If your child isn’t keen on wholemeal yet, you can mix white and wholemeal bread for a while.
Give them time to get used to the different taste and, for example, start by mixing white and wholemeal bread, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends. You could also try a finer-textured wholemeal loaf and see if your child eats it.
Read the latest allergen information and check the guidelines at your child’s school or after-school club. This is particularly important if your child has an allergy or coeliac disease, or if there are rules about bringing food from home.
No, don’t assume that every loaf contains the same amount of iodine. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of bread made with baker’s salt for iodine intake. Check the latest ingredients for the bread you choose.
