Choose wholemeal bread if fibre is a priority at your weekday breakfast: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is particularly rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. If you prefer the taste or texture of white bread, try comparing it with finely milled wholemeal bread. Whichever you choose, check the current ingredients and allergen information, and think about how much bread you’ll actually use.
If you often have bread for breakfast during the week, wholemeal bread can be a good starting point. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that wholemeal bread is particularly high in fibre. Also check that its taste and ingredients suit your household.
If a soft, familiar texture is what matters most, finely milled wholemeal bread could be worth comparing. Whether you like it will depend on the bread and your household’s tastes.
If you don’t need the same amount of bread every morning, consider the loaf size and whether you can freeze portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it, then taking out what you need each day.
First decide whether fibre or the familiar taste of white bread matters more to you. Then consider the loaf size, the current packaging and how much preparation you can fit into a working day.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutrition table. Brown or multigrain does not automatically mean wholemeal. | I want to choose bread made with wholemeal flour for my regular breakfast. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Taste and texture | If you don’t like a coarser texture, compare white bread with finely milled wholemeal bread. A smaller loaf can be handy when you’re trying a new option. | You’ll want to eat the bread on busy mornings too, so familiar taste or texture matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
| Convenience in the morning and storage | Check the size, whether the bread is ready to eat and how it should be stored. If you have allergies, always read the current ingredients and allergen information. | If my bread needs vary, I want to take out only what I need and store the rest. This convenience is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
The colour and the word multigrain don’t tell you whether all the grain ingredients are made from wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this distinction determines whether bread can be labelled wholemeal.
Look for the word wholemeal on the packaging and, if in doubt, check the ingredients list and the fibre per 100 g.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes baker’s salt as the permitted way to add iodine compounds to bread. This doesn’t mean that every individual loaf contains iodine.
If iodine matters to your choice, check the information for that bread or ask the retailer.
The name white or wholemeal doesn’t give you a complete picture of the ingredients and allergens. Recipes and online product information can change.
If you have an allergy or another dietary restriction, read the current packaging for the specific bread.
If you eat little bread or your needs vary, a whole loaf may not suit what you’ll get through during the working week.
Choose a suitable size or freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it, following the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice.
These shops offer options for comparing white bread with wholemeal varieties. Check the specific bread and its current packaging before you choose.
Albert Heijn’s online range includes AH Rond volkoren heel.
Jumbo’s online range includes finely milled wholemeal bread, wholemeal rolls and white bread varieties.
Lidl describes its freshly baked range as including wholemeal bread, multigrain bread and white rolls.
ALDI describes its daily fresh bread range as including white bread and various wholemeal varieties.
PLUS’s online range includes white and wholemeal bread, including Rond fijn volkoren heel.
Dirk’s range includes white bread, wholemeal bread, multigrain bread and a range of loaf sizes.
These two bread options have Whole Wheat in their product names, but differ in shape and preparation: one is Lebanese flatbread, while the other is a round loaf that needs to be baked before eating. If you’re specifically looking for bread made with wholemeal grain, check the grain ingredients on the current packaging.
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An option if you’d like flatbread for breakfast instead of regular slices.
Pack size: 6 P. If you have allergies, check the current packaging for wheat, gluten and possible traces of soya or milk.
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An option if you can plan ahead for defrosting, baking and cooling before breakfast; this bread isn’t ready to eat straight away on a rushed morning.
Weight: 550 g. Check the current ingredients and allergen information. If you’re specifically looking for the Dutch wholemeal label, don’t rely on Whole Wheat in the name alone.
Look for the word wholemeal on the specific product. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, all the grain ingredients must be made from wholemeal flour for bread to carry this label; a brown colour or the word multigrain isn’t enough.
No. Don’t assume this is the case for an individual loaf without checking. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes baker’s salt as the permitted way to add iodine compounds to bread, but this doesn’t confirm the ingredients of every product. If you have a specific question about iodine, ask the retailer for the product information.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the bread you want to eat. Information for one variety doesn’t automatically apply to another, and product details can change.
If you won’t get through a whole loaf quickly, freeze it in portions as soon as you buy it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking out what you need for each day; also follow the storage and date guidance on the packaging.
