For an after-school snack, first choose bread labelled as wholemeal, then compare the nutritional information and ingredients. A crusty hearth-baked loaf is a good fit for a more leisurely snack at home. If your child leaves bread with a coarse texture, a more finely milled wholemeal loaf may be more practical. For every loaf, check the latest allergen information and, if it matters to your choice, whether baker’s salt has been used.
You’re looking for wholemeal bread for an after-school snack and want to check its fibre content on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal bread for children because of its fibre content. Compare individual products on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g.
You want to offer wholemeal bread, but whether your child eats it depends on its taste and texture. A more finely milled variety is worth trying, although what appeals will vary from child to child and from product to product.
If the bread is going to school, an after-school club or a playdate, check the ingredients and allergens, as well as any rules about bringing in food. If your child has coeliac disease or a relevant allergy, it’s also important to avoid cross-contamination.
First decide whether you’re looking for everyday bread for a quick snack or a loaf with more crust and texture to enjoy at home. Then check that it’s labelled wholemeal, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and see whether the ingredients are suitable for the person who’ll be eating it.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is it most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | For packaged bread, look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. Also consider what you’ll put on the bread. | I want to choose an after-school sandwich based on comparable ingredients, rather than judging by its dark colour alone. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this nutritional basis. |
| Taste and texture | Decide whether your child would prefer a fine crumb or a crisp crust. | If coarse bread is left uneaten, I’d rather look for a finer variety; for a snack at home, a crunchier option might be just the thing. For around 30% of consumers, whether it’s enjoyed is the deciding factor. |
| Allergens and arrangements | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, and check the school or after-school club’s rules. | When packing bread for a child with a relevant allergy, I need to know what’s in it and what rules apply. For around 20% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
The appearance of a loaf doesn’t tell you enough about what’s in it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking beyond the front of the packaging.
For packaged bread, check the wholemeal label and compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.
For someone with coeliac disease or a relevant allergy, ordinary wheat or rye bread is not a substitute for bread that meets their dietary requirements. Cross-contamination can also be an issue for people with coeliac disease.
Check the information on the exact product and, if the bread is going with your child, take the school or after-school club’s rules into account.
A claim about one product doesn’t automatically tell you anything about the salt content, allergens or taste of other breads.
Compare the nutritional information on a like-for-like basis, and read the ingredients and allergen information too.
If you only use the bread now and again, some of it might go stale before you finish it.
Choose a size that suits how much you’ll use, or freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends.
These product examples show the information you can compare. The features listed won’t necessarily apply to other breads from the same brand.
AH Vloerbrood volkoren heel is an example to consider if you’re looking for a crisp crust for a more leisurely snack.
Jumbo lists Schotel Meergranen Volkoren and Schotel Volkoren Verlaagd Koolhydraat as separate bread options.
Lidl’s wholemeal kids’ bread may be worth considering if your child prefers a fine texture.
ALDI Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood heel is worth a look if you want to compare fibre and salt.
PLUS Boeren volkoren heel is a specific product you can use to compare nutritional information and ingredients.
Dirk lists both Vloerbrood volkoren heel and Bakker van der Akker Boeren Extra vezels volkoren heel.
This selection includes rye bread, a round wholemeal loaf for a snack at home and crispbread as a crunchy alternative. Crispbread is different from an ordinary slice of bread, so compare the products based on what you want to serve, not just the word ‘wholemeal’ in the name.
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A rye option if you’re looking for something other than a wheat sandwich for snack time. Check the shape of the bread on the product packaging before buying. Rye and wheat are relevant when checking the allergen information.
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A round wholemeal loaf for anyone with time to prepare a snack at home. Allow time for thawing, baking and cooling. When you buy it, check the label for the basis used to compare fibre and salt, and for wheat as an allergen.
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Crispbread for anyone looking for a crunchy snack instead of an ordinary sandwich. Check the wholemeal label and nutritional information on the packaging, as well as the allergen information for ingredients including wheat, rye, barley and sesame.
For packaged bread, look for the wholemeal label. A dark colour, a multigrain name or an artisan look isn’t enough on its own; also read the ingredients and compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
Ordinary wholemeal bread made with wheat, rye or barley isn’t a suitable gluten-free alternative. Check the label on the exact product and avoid cross-contamination if a strict gluten-free diet is needed.
Check the latest allergen information for the bread and ask the school or after-school club what rules they have about food brought in from home. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking about relevant allergies in advance when providing food for groups.
Don’t assume it does: check the ingredients or ask the baker. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of bread made with baker’s salt if iodine is a consideration.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing it in portions as soon as you buy it, then taking out what you need. That way, you won’t have to thaw a whole loaf each time. Bread may become drier if it’s kept in the freezer for longer.
