Choose a wholemeal baguette or wholemeal flatbread if you’d like guests to share and dip their bread. Sliced wholemeal bread is a better choice for sandwiches you’re preparing in advance. For your chosen option, check that it’s labelled wholemeal, compare the fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the allergen information. Keep sandwiches with perishable fillings chilled until you serve them.
You want to serve bread at your barbecue that is actually labelled wholemeal, rather than relying on its dark colour or the name ‘multigrain’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that wholemeal bread is made from the whole grain and contains plenty of fibre.
You’re putting dips, salads and grilled dishes on the table and want bread that guests can easily cut or tear. The shape makes it easier to serve; check the fibre, salt and allergens for each product.
You’re taking account of ingredients your guests need to avoid, or want to compare salt levels. Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and nutrition details on the pack you buy.
First, decide whether you want to share and dip the bread or prepare sandwiches in advance. Then compare the nutrition information and ingredients of the options that suit your plans.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutrition information. | If fibre is my priority, I don’t want to rely on the colour or name of the bread alone. For around 31% of consumers, verifiably wholemeal bread with a focus on fibre is the top priority. |
| Shape for serving | Choose a baguette or flatbread to share and dip, or sliced bread for sandwiches prepared in advance. Also check the weight or number of pieces. | For dips, I want bread that guests can easily help themselves to, whereas for sandwiches I prefer to have slices ready to go. Easy serving is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | Compare the salt per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information on each pack. Check which type of salt has been used too, if that affects your choice. | When guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know exactly what’s in this particular bread. For around 23% of consumers, salt or ingredient information matters most. |
| Quantity and availability | Compare the weight and number of pieces with your serving plans, and check whether your chosen option is available in store or through your preferred ordering method. | For a group, I want to serve enough bread without choosing an awkward size. The right quantity and an available option are the main consideration for around 15% of consumers. |
A dark colour or a name such as ‘multigrain’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.
Look for the wholemeal label, then check the ingredients and nutrition information for the option you’ve chosen.
A comparison with a reference bread doesn’t necessarily show how two breads differ in their current nutritional values. For example, ALDI compares its Extra High Fibre Wholemeal Bread with regular wholemeal bread.
Compare the fibre and salt figures per 100 g before making your choice.
A label such as vegan or lactose-free doesn’t mean a bread is free from gluten-containing cereals, nuts or sesame. PLUS lists several gluten-containing cereals in its Korenlanders Wholemeal Baguette and says it may contain oats, nuts and sesame.
Check the ingredients list and allergen warning on every pack, especially when buying for guests with allergies.
If you’re serving meat, fish or salads on or alongside the bread, it’s important to handle the fillings properly too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises throwing food away if it has been out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Serve small quantities at a time, keep perishable items chilled until serving, and use separate plates and tongs for raw and cooked foods.
Alongside regular wholemeal bread, it offers a wholemeal wheat baguette that you can serve in pieces.
Offers wholemeal bread in different shapes, including loaves and rolls.
Offers fine wholemeal bread as an option for anyone who wants to serve a whole loaf.
Offers an Extra High Fibre Wholemeal Bread for anyone who wants to compare the nutritional values of regular loaves.
Offers Korenlanders Wholemeal Baguette as a bread to share with dips and barbecue dishes.
Offers a wholemeal loaf and an extra-fibre option for anyone who would rather serve a regular loaf.
These Joybuy products suit two ways of serving bread at a barbecue: wholemeal flatbread for sharing and dipping, and a round wholemeal loaf to slice after baking.
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A flatbread to tear and share with dips.
The pack contains six pieces and weighs 330 g. The product information lists 6 g of fibre and 0.48 g of salt per 100 g.
Contains wheat and gluten-containing cereals; may contain soya and milk. Check the current label if the type of salt used is also important to your choice.
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A whole loaf for anyone who wants to prepare it and serve slices at the barbecue.
This round wholemeal loaf weighs 550 g. Allow time to defrost, bake and cool before serving, and follow the current packaging for baking times.
Read the nutrition information and allergen details on the packaging before comparing this bread with other options or serving it to guests with specific dietary needs.
No. Brown bread may contain a combination of wholemeal flour and white flour, whereas wholemeal bread is made from the whole grain. Look for the wholemeal label if that’s a requirement for your barbecue.
You can cut a wholemeal baguette into pieces or tear wholemeal flatbread for dipping. Choose a shape your guests can easily help themselves to, then check the nutrition information and allergens for that option.
No, don’t assume it does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands because baker’s salt can contain added iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list; Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the wholemeal baguette reviewed.
Serve sandwiches with perishable ingredients in small quantities and keep the rest chilled. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises throwing food away if it has been out of the fridge for more than two hours. When barbecuing, also make sure you use separate utensils for raw and cooked foods.
Don’t assume that wholemeal bread is gluten-free. The PLUS wholemeal baguette mentioned contains gluten-containing cereals, and the Souq flatbread contains wheat. For the guest in question, check the explicit product label, ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
