Families who value fibre
If you regularly pack bread for lunch, check the wholemeal label and compare the fibre content per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes wholemeal bread as part of its Wheel of Five healthy eating guide.
Who might this choice matter to?
Pupils who prefer white bread
It’s important that lunch gets eaten, too. A finer-textured wholemeal loaf or brown bread may be worth trying if a direct switch doesn’t go down well. In a survey of parents of primary school pupils, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre identified taste and the ability to store and eat food at school as factors affecting packed lunches; this was not a survey of secondary school pupils.
Families who need to check allergens
The colour of bread doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy or someone who needs to avoid gluten. Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for the bread you choose, and discuss lunch arrangements with the school if necessary.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, check for any allergens that are relevant to the pupil. Then compare the type of bread and its fibre content, and choose something they’ll actually want to take with them and eat.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and nutritional value | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, for example per 100 g. | I often pack bread and want to compare the fibre content of different loaves. Around 36% of consumers are said to consider fibre and nutritional value their main priority. |
| Taste and texture | If needed, try a finer-textured wholemeal loaf or brown bread as a stepping stone; see whether the lunch gets eaten. | If wholemeal sandwiches come home untouched, I look for a type of bread my child will eat. Around 29% of consumers are said to put acceptability first. |
| Practical shopping | Check the pack size and current availability at your chosen shop; consider a smaller loaf if you’re not sure whether it’ll be a hit. | For a regular school lunch, I want to buy an amount of bread that will get eaten at home. Practical considerations are said to be the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information; if a gluten-free diet is essential, check for a gluten-free label. | If an allergen needs to be avoided, I want to be sure about the bread I actually pack. For around 14% of consumers, this check is said to be their top priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal
The colour of bread and a general multigrain label don’t, by themselves, tell you whether it’s made from the whole grain.
Look for the wholemeal label on the product you choose, and use the nutritional information per 100 g when comparing fibre content.
-
Choosing white bread to avoid gluten
Ordinary white wheat bread contains gluten; a lighter colour doesn’t make it gluten-free.
If a gluten-free diet is needed, choose a product clearly labelled gluten-free and take care to avoid contact with other bread when preparing it.
-
Relying on out-of-date allergen information
Product information can change. If there’s an allergy, what matters is the composition of the bread you actually pack.
Check the packaging again, and ask for the latest allergen information if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
-
Assuming all bread is made with baker’s salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So if this matters to your choice, don’t rely on the type of bread alone.
Check the ingredients list on packaged bread or ask your baker.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The online range includes several types of wholemeal bread, including full and half loaves.
- Different loaf sizes give you options if taste or portion size is a factor.
- Check the latest nutritional and allergen information for the loaf you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo Fijn Volkoren is a specific product you can assess by checking its ingredients and nutritional value.
- Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g for this bread.
- This value doesn’t automatically apply to other Jumbo breads; check the allergens on the pack you choose, too.
Lidl
Lidl describes a wholemeal bread for children made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.
- Its fine texture may make this particular bread worth considering if a coarser loaf isn’t a hit.
- Refer to the information on the product you buy for its ingredients and allergens.
Aldi
Aldi’s range includes a sliced loaf called Fijn Volkoren.
- The pre-sliced loaf is convenient when making sandwiches.
- Read the packaging if fibre content or allergens are key considerations.
Plus
PLUS Boeren volkoren heel has an ingredients list and nutritional information table online.
- PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre per 100 g for this specific loaf.
- PLUS notes that product information may change; check the packaging, especially for allergens.
Dirk
Dirk’s range includes a wholemeal batard, alongside other types of bread.
- The wholemeal batard is a familiar option if you’re looking for this type of loaf.
- Check the latest packaging for the fibre content and allergens of the bread you choose.
Bread and crispbread on Joybuy
These products offer bread or crispbread as a base for a packed lunch. Consider the difference between soft bread, crunchy crispbread and bread that needs preparing first. None of the ordinary grain products listed here is automatically suitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten.
Image unavailable
Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 stuks
A flatbread to consider if a regular sandwich isn’t the shape you want for lunch.
The product name specifies wholemeal bread and a pack of six. If there are allergies, check the latest information about wheat and gluten, and about the possible presence of soya or milk.
Image unavailable
Bolletje Rye Bread Bun 500 g
A rye bread option to consider if you’re looking for something different from regular sandwiches for lunch.
The product name specifies 500 g. Only compare its fibre content with other breads when it’s clear whether the value is per 100 g or per serving; if there are allergies, check the packaging for wheat, rye and gluten.
Image unavailable
g'woon Wholemeal Crispbread 375 g
Crispbread is a crunchy base for toppings, not a soft alternative with the same texture as a sandwich.
The product name specifies wholemeal crispbread weighing 375 g. If there are allergies, carefully check the latest packaging for the grains and other allergens listed.
Image unavailable
Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
The pack of two round loaves is a good fit if you want to prepare bread for several lunches.
This frozen product needs to be thawed and prepared before use. Check the preparation instructions on the packaging before planning to serve it on a school day, and read the latest ingredients information if there are allergies.
Image unavailable
Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g
This single-loaf version offers a different pack size from the two-loaf option.
The ingredients Joybuy lists for this product include wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten. This frozen bread needs to be prepared; follow the instructions on the packaging and check the latest ingredients information if there are allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Why choose wholemeal bread rather than white bread for a school lunch?
Wholemeal bread is a good choice if you want to focus on fibre and nutrients in an everyday packed lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre does not include white bread in its Wheel of Five healthy eating guide. Just make sure you choose a bread the pupil will actually eat, and check the allergens for each product.
Is brown bread the same as wholemeal bread?
No. Look for an explicit wholemeal label if you want bread made from the whole grain. Brown bread can be a practical stepping stone for a pupil who doesn’t yet enjoy wholemeal bread.
Is white bread gluten-free?
Ordinary white wheat bread isn’t gluten-free. If gluten needs to be avoided, check for a gluten-free label and read the latest allergen information for the specific product.
Does bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on packaged bread or ask which salt has been used for unpackaged bread.