According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a slice of wholemeal bread can be a snack for children aged 4 to 12. Choose a fine or coarse texture your child enjoys, and compare fibre per 100 g if that matters to you. If your child has allergies, always check the latest packaging and any arrangements with their school or after-school club.
If you want to offer bread as an after-school snack, check the wholemeal labelling and the fibre per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists a slice of wholemeal bread as a possible snack for children aged 4 to 12.
If your child doesn’t enjoy coarse grains, fine wholemeal bread may offer a different texture. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the bread you choose, rather than relying on the variant’s name alone.
If your child has an allergy, check the allergen information for the specific product. The breads described here list wheat and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients. Also check for warnings about possible traces of other allergens, and any arrangements with your child’s school or after-school club.
Start with the wholemeal labelling, then choose a texture your child will eat. Before packing it, check the allergens and storage instructions.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check that it is labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. | If I want to offer wholemeal bread after school and am keeping an eye on fibre, I want to know what I’m actually buying. For around 40% of consumers, wholemeal labelling and fibre come first. |
| Texture and ease of eating | Check whether the bread is fine or coarse, and whether a slice or flatbread better suits the way your child eats. | If my child leaves coarse grains uneaten, I look for a texture they will enjoy. For around 30% of consumers, whether a child will eat it is the top priority. |
| Allergens and packing | Read the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ information on the packaging. If necessary, check the school’s arrangements and the storage advice. | If my child has allergies, I want to know whether this specific bread is suitable for them and can be taken to school. Allergens and packing come first for around 30% of consumers. |
The colour of bread and terms such as ‘multigrain’ don’t tell you whether it is labelled wholemeal. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that, for a product to be labelled wholemeal, all of its grain ingredient must be wholemeal flour.
Check the product description and read the ingredients list on the packaging.
A value per serving and a value per 100 g aren’t directly comparable. A fibre value also won’t tell you which texture your child will enjoy.
Compare bread products on the same basis, preferably per 100 g, and take your child’s preferences into account.
Ingredients and warnings can vary between breads, and product information may change. That’s why it’s important to check the packaging of the bread you’re giving your child.
Read the latest allergen information before packing it, and if in doubt, ask about the arrangements at your child’s school or after-school club.
These examples show how specific breads differ. Check the packaging of the variant you choose, especially for nutritional values and allergens.
AH Boeren grof volkorenbrood heel is a coarse loaf containing, among other things, puffed and crushed grains.
Jumbo Fijn Volkoren is a finer bread for anyone who doesn’t want a coarse texture.
PLUS Boeren volkoren heel is a whole loaf with information available on fibre and freezing.
Dirk lists products including Vloerbrood volkoren heel and Bakker van der Akker Boeren Extra vezels volkoren heel.
ALDI sells a product called Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood heel.
Lidl lists Fijn volkoren and a kids’ bread made with extra finely ground wholemeal flour.
If you’d rather tear bread to eat with a dip than choose a standard slice, you could try this wholemeal flatbread. It’s a different style of bread from the fine and coarse loaves above.
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A flatbread for anyone who’d rather tear their bread or eat it with a dip than have a slice. The product information lists 6 g of fibre per 100 g. Contains wheat and cereals with gluten, and may contain soya and milk. Check the packaging for storage advice after opening.
Yes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists a slice of wholemeal bread as a possible snack for children aged 4 to 12. What you offer also depends on what else your child eats and how hungry they are after school.
Look for the wholemeal product description and check the ingredients list. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, all of the grain ingredient in a product labelled wholemeal must be wholemeal flour. A dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough.
No. The wholemeal breads described here and the Souq wholemeal flatbread list wheat or cereals containing gluten. If your child has an allergy or coeliac disease, always check the latest packaging, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.
You can’t tell from the type of bread alone. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for AH Boeren grof volkorenbrood heel. For other breads, check the ingredients list.
Follow the storage advice for the bread you choose. For the whole loaves described here, Albert Heijn and PLUS say they can be frozen at home and should be used within one month.
