Households keeping an eye on fibre
If you’re looking for a wholegrain product for a lunchbox, read the product description and ingredients list, then compare the fibre content per 100 g across products.
Who is this choice relevant for?
Parents who need to check allergens
When packing a lunchbox, check the allergen information for the exact product, including any warnings about traces. Your school’s rules may also be relevant.
Families who prefer a particular texture
A child who enjoys crunchy crispbreads needs something different from one who would rather take a soft sandwich to school. That choice also affects how you pack the topping.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether crunchy crispbreads or a soft sandwich would suit the lunchbox better. Then check the description, nutritional information and allergens for the specific product.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain and fibre | Read the product description and ingredients list; compare fibre per 100 g. | I want to choose a clearly labelled wholegrain product for the lunchbox and compare its fibre content. Around 31% of consumers put this first. |
| Allergens and school rules | Check the full allergen information, including warnings about traces, and ask about your school’s rules. | If allergens matter when packing a lunchbox, I want to know whether the exact product meets the rules for my child. For around 31% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
| Lunchbox format and texture | Choose between crunchy crispbreads, rusks and soft bread; think about how you want to pack the topping. | My child would rather have a soft sandwich than a crunchy crispbread, or the other way round. For around 23% of consumers, the format of the lunch matters most. |
| Salt and ingredients | Compare salt per 100 g and check the ingredients list if the type of salt used is important to you. | As well as the product format, I want to assess the salt content and the type of salt used. Around 15% of consumers prioritise these labelling details. |
Pitfalls to avoid when choosing
-
Relying on ‘wholegrain’ in the product name alone
The Albert Heijn and Jumbo sandwich breads reviewed include ‘wholegrain’ in their names, but their product descriptions call them half-wholemeal wheat bread. So a soft sandwich is not necessarily the same as a fully wholegrain crispbread.
If fully wholegrain is a must for you, read the product description and ingredients list on the pack.
-
Checking for gluten but overlooking other allergens
According to the product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, Van der Meulen Melba Wholegrain Toast contains sesame and soya as well as cereals containing gluten. Other allergens or possible traces are also relevant for the Bolletje rusks and Jos Poell toast reviewed.
Read the full allergen information on the current packaging and make sure the lunchbox meets your child’s needs and the school’s rules.
-
Looking at fibre alone
The crunchy products reviewed also vary in salt content, format and portion size. What’s more, a value per 100 g doesn’t tell you how much will go into the lunchbox.
First compare the nutritional values on the same basis, per 100 g, then consider the portion you want to pack.
-
Assuming every bread product contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory. The product category alone therefore doesn’t tell you which type of salt was used in a particular toast or bread product.
If it matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’.
Brands compared
Van der Meulen
The 120 g pack of Melba Wholegrain Toast reviewed contains thin, crunchy crispbreads for toppings served on the side or packed separately.
- Albert Heijn and Jumbo list wholemeal wheat flour and 9,7 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The product information lists cereals containing gluten, sesame and soya, and 1,9 g of salt per 100 g. These details apply to this variety, not every product from the brand.
Jos Poell
The Wholegrain Toast reviewed consists of small, crunchy crispbreads, offering an alternative to Melba toast.
- For the variety reviewed, Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information lists wholemeal wheat flour and 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The toast contains wheat and gluten; possible traces of egg, milk, soya and sesame are also listed. Check the current range if you want to buy this variety.
Bolletje
Wholegrain Rusks are a round, crunchy option if rusks would suit the lunchbox better than toast.
- For Bolletje Wholegrain Rusks, 13 pieces, Jumbo lists 11 g of fibre per 100 g and around 1,3 g per rusk.
- Rusks aren’t toast. The variety reviewed contains egg, gluten and wheat; sesame may also be present.
Rusks as a crunchy alternative on Joybuy
If rusks suit your child’s school lunchbox, this Bolletje variety is a crunchy wholegrain option to consider. Rusks aren’t toast and won’t replace a soft sandwich.
Image unavailable
Bolletje Wholegrain Rusks, 13 pieces
For a lunchbox where crunchy rusks are a better fit than toast.
The pack contains 13 pieces. For this variety, Jumbo lists 11 g of fibre per 100 g.
The rusks reviewed contain egg, gluten and wheat; sesame may also be present. Before packing, check the current packaging and your school’s rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is wholegrain toast automatically gluten-free?
No. ‘Wholegrain’ describes the grain used, not whether a product is gluten-free. The wholegrain crispbreads reviewed contain wheat or other cereals containing gluten; check the allergen information for the exact product.
What should I do if my school has rules about allergens?
Check your school’s rules and pack the lunchbox accordingly. Also read the current packaging to see which allergens are present and whether it carries warnings about possible traces.
Does toast or bread always contain iodised salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory. Check the ingredients list for the specific product for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’, rather than assuming based on the name toast or bread.
How can I keep toast crunchy in a lunchbox?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and, if keeping the crunch matters, pack toast and moist toppings separately where possible. The storage advice for the Jos Poell Wholegrain Toast reviewed is to keep it in a cool, dry, dark place.