Choosing wholegrain multigrain bread for late-night snacks

Who is this choice relevant for?

Fibre-conscious late-night snacker

Wants a bread base that is confirmed as wholegrain and compares fibre per 100 g, rather than trusting the name ‘multigrain’ alone.

Portion and freshness planner

Only eats bread occasionally late in the evening, so looks for half loaves or rolls, or checks the freezing instructions for the product they choose.

Allergen-conscious bread buyer

Needs to check which grains and other allergens are in a multigrain loaf, or listed on the packaging, before buying.

What should you look for when buying?

If wholegrain is your main priority, start by checking the base ingredients. Then use the nutritional information and pack size to compare products for your late-night snack.

What to consider	What to check before buying	Who is this important for?
Wholegrain base and fibre	Read the bread description and ingredients; compare fibre per 100 g.	If I eat bread late at night, I want to know whether the grain base is genuinely wholegrain and how much fibre the product contains. Around 50% of consumers put this check first.
Allergens and ingredients	Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare salt per 100 g and check whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed if that matters to you.	If there’s an allergen I need to avoid, a suitable ingredients list matters more than how the bread looks. Around 30% of consumers consider this check the most important.
Portion size and storage	Check whether it’s a whole or half loaf, or rolls, and read the storage and freezing advice.	If I only have a slice now and then, I want to avoid the rest going stale. Choosing a smaller portion is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholegrain’

According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means the bread contains at least three types of grain. The term alone doesn’t tell you whether all the grains used are wholegrain.

Check the wholegrain description and ingredients list, then compare fibre per 100 g.
Judging it by the front of the pack alone

A dark colour or prominent claim on the packaging is no substitute for nutritional information when you’re comparing loaves.

Compare the ingredients, fibre and salt per 100 g; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products using the same quantity.
Skipping the allergen information on bread with grains and seeds

The word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which specific ingredients and allergens the bread contains.

Before buying, read the full ingredients list and allergen information for the specific product.
Buying a whole loaf for an occasional late-night snack

If you only eat bread now and then, a whole loaf may go stale before you finish it.

Consider a half loaf or a pack of rolls, or follow the freezing instructions if they’re provided for your chosen product.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s bread range includes AH Extra lang lekker waldkorn volkoren heel.

Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the ingredients for this product.
Check the packaging when you buy it for the latest ingredients, allergen and nutritional information.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s range includes Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen in a half-loaf format.

The product information for this half loaf lists 8.0 g of fibre and 0.98 g of salt per 100 g.
Check the allergen information for the version you choose too; the values for a half loaf don’t automatically apply to other Jumbo breads.

PLUS

PLUS sells Korenlanders Volkoren meergranen bollen in a pack of four.

PLUS lists 7.8 g of fibre and 0.93 g of salt per 100 g for these rolls.
The product information lists wheat, rye, barley, oats, soya, milk and sesame, among other ingredients; check the label if you need to avoid any ingredients.

Dirk

Dirk’s range includes Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren heel and a Multikorn version.

The product names distinguish between the bread varieties shown.
Use the label on the version you choose to compare fibre, salt and allergens.

ALDI

ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen heel alongside other wholegrain breads.

The product name Boeren volkoren meergranen heel specifies both wholegrain and multigrain.
Features ALDI lists for another wholegrain bread don’t automatically apply to this multigrain loaf; compare the labels for each product.

Lidl

Lidl’s freshly baked bread range includes multigrain and wholegrain bread.

Lidl directs customers to the ingredients and allergen information for its freshly baked bread.
Check the packaging for the specific bread for its ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.

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Frequently asked questions

Is multigrain bread automatically wholegrain?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means the bread contains at least three types of grain; it doesn’t tell you whether all the grains used are wholegrain. If you’re specifically looking for wholegrain multigrain bread, read the bread description and ingredients list.

How do I compare the fibre in two loaves?

Compare the fibre listed per 100 g so you’re assessing both loaves on the same basis. Also check the ingredients and salt per 100 g; the wording on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you everything about the product.

Does all multigrain bread contain iodised salt?

You can’t tell from the name ‘multigrain bread’. Check the ingredients list for the loaf you choose to see whether it contains iodised salt or baker’s salt. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Extra lang lekker waldkorn volkoren heel.

Can I freeze bread for late-night snacks?

Some breads can be frozen according to the product information. Albert Heijn and PLUS provide freezing advice for the products mentioned; follow the instructions on the packaging for your bread.

What should I check if I need to avoid an allergen?

Before buying, read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific loaf. Multigrain products can combine different grains and other ingredients, so the product name alone isn’t enough to check.