For a coffee get-together, choose wholemeal bread if fibre is your priority; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread wherever possible. If your guests prefer soft white bread, consider finely milled wholemeal or serve both types. If anyone has an allergy, always check the label on the bread you’re serving.
You want to serve bread with coffee and are choosing between white and wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholegrain products as higher in fibre than white flour alternatives. A dark colour alone doesn’t tell you whether bread is wholemeal.
Not everyone at the table will choose the same bread. If some guests expect white bread while others prefer wholemeal, you could consider finely milled wholemeal or serve two types side by side.
If you’re buying bread for someone with an allergy, read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that common allergens must be listed on the label.
First decide whether wholemeal is your priority or whether your guests would prefer white bread. Then consider the type of loaf, how much you need and the label on the product you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word wholemeal on the label. Only compare fibre values if they’re given on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | I want to replace white bread with bread that I can confirm is wholemeal. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Taste and texture | Consider whether finely milled wholemeal will suit your guests, or serve white and wholemeal bread side by side. | My guests have different preferences, and I don’t want to assume everyone likes coarse bread; around 29% of consumers put this consideration first. |
| Quantity and availability | Choose a suitable loaf size and check where a particular variety is available; ranges can vary between shops. | For a small coffee get-together, I don’t want to buy more bread than I need, and I want to be able to find the variety I’ve chosen. This is the first consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens on the packaging. | A guest has an allergy, so I need to know what’s in the bread before serving it; around 14% of consumers put this check first. |
The colour, seeds or presence of several types of grain don’t, on their own, tell you whether the flour used is wholemeal.
Look for the explicit wholemeal label and read the ingredients if this is a deciding factor in your choice of bread.
The ingredients in a bread can change. This matters if you’re buying for a guest with an allergy.
Check the packaging of the bread you’re going to serve, even if you’ve previously looked at a product page or a similar variety.
If you usually eat white bread, switching to wholemeal may mean a change in texture and a higher fibre intake.
You could try finely milled wholemeal or serve it alongside white bread at your coffee get-together. Lidl recommends increasing your fibre intake gradually.
Albert Heijn offers several wholemeal breads, including whole and half loaves.
Jumbo offers Fijn Volkoren (finely milled wholemeal), among other varieties, and publishes product information for it.
Lidl lists Fijn volkoren (finely milled wholemeal), among other options, as a bread available to buy in store.
ALDI offers both white bread and wholemeal varieties in its bread range.
PLUS offers several wholemeal breads and publishes product information for Boeren volkoren heel (whole farmhouse loaf).
Dirk offers white bread and several wholemeal varieties, including whole and half loaves.
These products are most relevant if you’re looking for a wholegrain option for the coffee table alongside white bread. The list includes different types of bread, from rye bread and flatbread to round loaves and crispbread; check the packaging of each product for a wholemeal label.
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The pack of 9 may be a good choice if you want to serve rye bread to several guests. Check the packaging for a wholemeal label; if anyone has an allergy, also read the ingredients and warnings about possible traces.
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This Lebanese flatbread is a different way to serve bread than a whole loaf when you’re setting the table for several guests. The pack contains 6 pieces; check the wholemeal label and current allergen information before serving.
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This pack of two round loaves may suit a larger coffee gathering where you want to share bread. Allow time to defrost and bake before serving; also check the packaging for the wholemeal label and allergen information.
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This 550 g round loaf is a separate option if you want to serve just one loaf. Allow time to defrost and bake it, and check the wholemeal label before buying and the allergen information before serving.
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This crispbread can be served alongside regular bread if you’d like to offer your guests a crunchy option too. The pack contains 375 g; it isn’t a substitute for soft bread. Check the packaging for the wholemeal label and allergen information.
No. The colour and the word multigrain don’t prove that bread is wholemeal. Look for an explicit wholemeal label and check the ingredients. In 2024, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority pointed out that the term had not been used correctly on every product it examined.
It’s sensible to make the switch gradually if you’re going to eat more fibre. Lidl recommends avoiding a sudden, substantial increase in fibre and drinking enough fluids.
No. The fact that bread is wholemeal doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with a specific allergy. Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens on the packaging of the bread you’re serving.
Follow the storage advice for the specific bread and choose an amount that suits your guests when you buy it. PLUS says that Boeren volkoren heel can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month; don’t assume the same advice applies to other breads.
No, don’t assume this applies to every loaf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine can be added to bread through bakers’ salt. Check the ingredients list to see whether this applies to the bread you’re buying.
