Choose your bread based on how you plan to serve it: sliced bread for sandwiches, a round or rustic loaf to share, and rolls, flatbread or wraps for individual portions. Then check the wholemeal labelling, ingredients and allergens for each product. If you’re buying the bread in advance, plan what you’ll use in time or freeze.
If bread is a regular part of your barbecue, whether it’s wholemeal may matter more than its shape. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain products contain more fibre and other nutrients than comparable white grain products.
If you’re buying bread ahead of time, the number of portions and when you’ll store it matter. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. Its quality may deteriorate after that.
If someone has a food allergy or needs to eat gluten-free, check the specific bread before choosing how to serve it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking allergens on the label and asking about possible contact with gluten when buying bread from a bakery.
First decide how you want to serve the bread. Then compare the wholemeal labelling and nutritional information of products that suit the way you plan to serve it.
Choose this: if you want to make sandwiches in advance or lay out slices ready to serve.
Consider: the slices make for easy portions, but this isn’t as well suited to slicing and sharing at the table.
Choose this: if you want to put a whole loaf on the table alongside the other dishes.
Consider: you’ll need to slice the bread yourself to serve individual portions.
Choose this: for individual portions, fillings or bread to serve with dips.
Consider: these options vary in composition, so check exactly what the wholemeal labelling refers to on each product.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for wholemeal labelling and compare fibre content on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | If bread is an important side dish, I want my choice to reflect my preference for wholemeal. Around 50% of consumers put wholemeal first. |
| Serving and storage | Choose between slices, a loaf to share and individual portions; match the quantity to when you’ll be serving it. | I want to sort out the bread in advance without having to do lots of slicing on the day or ending up with a large amount left over. For around 30% of consumers, convenience matters most. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen product. Ask for product information when buying unpackaged bread. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know which bread is suitable before buying. Checking the product is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
The colour, shape or name of a loaf doesn’t tell you on its own whether it’s the wholemeal option you’re looking for. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between wholegrain and white grain products.
Check the product description, then compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific product.
An extra type of bread gives guests more choice, but it can also mean more leftovers.
Plan how much bread you want to serve and freeze any portions you won’t use in time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months.
You can’t tell whether bread contains baker’s salt from its shape or wholemeal labelling.
If the type of salt used matters to you, check the label or ask the baker. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends checking the product details.
If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, you can’t rely on the bread’s name or appearance to tell you whether it’s suitable.
Discuss this before buying, read the label and ask about the ingredients when buying unpackaged bread. If the bread needs to be gluten-free, also check whether it may have come into contact with gluten.
These shops offer different types of wholemeal bread. Choose based on the specific product and its current packaging, not just the shop’s name.
Has an online category for wholemeal bread.
Has an online category for wholemeal bread.
Offers options including rustic wholemeal sourdough.
Offers a range of wholemeal breads.
Has an online wholemeal bread category with a range of bread shapes.
Offers options including a wholemeal floor loaf.
These products offer options for serving with dips, making filled portions and sharing. For the wraps, check the ingredients separately if you’re specifically looking for a fully wholemeal product. For the rye bread, consider how you plan to serve it.
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Flatbread to serve with dips or share at the table. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging if your guests need to avoid certain ingredients.
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Wraps are ideal for individual filled portions. If you’re looking for a product made entirely from wholemeal flour, check the ingredients for this option.
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A round loaf to slice and share at the table. Allow time to defrost, bake and cool it before serving.
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A rye bread option to consider if you’d like to compare it with wheat varieties. Before buying, check that its shape suits the portions you want to serve.
Wholemeal bread is a good choice if you prefer wholegrain products alongside your other dishes. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, these contain more fibre and other nutrients than comparable white grain products. Compare the specific types of bread and portion sizes before you buy.
It depends on how you’re serving it: slices are handy for sandwiches prepared in advance, a whole loaf can be shared at the table, and rolls or flatbread work well for individual portions or dips. Then check the ingredients and nutritional information for each product.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide, opened wholemeal bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer. Its quality may deteriorate after that. If you’re buying it earlier than you plan to serve it, make sure you freeze it.
Don’t assume that all wholemeal bread is made with baker’s salt. If the type of salt used matters to you, check the label or ask the baker, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Don’t choose based on the bread’s shape. Check whether the specific product is suitable and read the ingredients and allergen information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also advises asking whether gluten-free bread from a bakery has come into contact with gluten.
