Choose finely milled wholemeal bread if you want a less coarse slice for weekday breakfasts without giving up the wholemeal label. If that bread goes uneaten, a loaf made with both wholemeal flour and white flour could be a stepping stone, but it is not the same as a loaf whose grain content is entirely wholemeal. Check the ingredients for each product, the texture the person eating it prefers and the size you can finish.
If a coarse bite makes the switch difficult, finely milled wholemeal bread is worth considering. Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label rather than judging by colour or a topping of seeds. Taste varies between loaves and from one person to another.
If you regularly eat bread on weekdays, choose a loaf size that suits the number of breakfasts you need it for. You can also compare the fibre content per 100 g, and follow the storage or freezing instructions for the loaf you choose.
If you want to keep buying a particular wholemeal loaf, check whether it is available at your local store or for delivery to your area. Range and product information can vary, so check the packaging of the loaf you buy too.
Start by choosing between fully wholemeal bread and a mixed-flour loaf. Then consider whether the texture, size and preparation suit a busy morning.
Choose it when: you want a less coarse bite but still want bread labelled ‘wholemeal’.
Bear in mind: a fine grind won’t tell you how a particular loaf will taste or whether a fussy eater will enjoy it.
Choose it when: you’re looking for a stepping stone because fully wholemeal bread is going uneaten.
Bear in mind: a mix of wholemeal and non-wholemeal flour doesn’t offer the same certainty about the grain content as the ‘wholemeal’ label. Check the ingredients of the particular loaf.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and texture | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label if your aim is fully wholemeal bread. For a mixed-flour loaf, check which types of flour it contains. | If coarse slices are left uneaten, I want a finer bite without giving up the wholemeal label. Around 44% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
| Size and storage | Choose a whole or half loaf according to how much you’ll use, and read the product’s storage and freezing instructions. | On weekdays, I want to be able to grab some bread without throwing a large amount away later. For around 33% of consumers, that everyday convenience matters most. |
| Local availability | Check that your chosen loaf is available at your local store or for delivery to your area, and check the current packaging. | I want to be able to pick up my usual loaf with my regular shopping. That’s the main consideration for around 23% of consumers. |
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that a product can only be labelled wholemeal if its grain content consists entirely of wholemeal flour. A dark colour, seeds or the name ‘multigrain’ are no substitute for checking. A fine grind may affect the bite, but it doesn’t guarantee a particular taste.
Colour and visible seeds don’t tell you whether the grain content consists entirely of wholemeal flour.
Check the product’s ‘wholemeal’ label. If the bread contains different types of flour, check the ingredients of the variety you’ve chosen.
A finer grind can change the bite, but taste and whether it’s well received still depend on the loaf and the person eating it. Lidl describes its own wholemeal kids’ bread as extra finely milled; that doesn’t tell you how every finely milled wholemeal loaf will taste.
If a smaller size is available, try that first. Treat a mixed-flour loaf as a separate choice rather than an equivalent to fully wholemeal bread.
If not everyone is eating breakfast, some of the loaf may be left over before you can use it. Freezing options and storage instructions vary by product.
Choose a whole or half loaf to suit your breakfasts, and follow the packaging instructions. PLUS says its Boeren volkoren heel loaf can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month. Don’t assume the same applies to other bread.
These examples show some of the types of bread you may find at different supermarkets. Always check the specific product and its packaging before choosing.
The bread range includes options such as AH Tijger volkoren and OerDesem volkoren Allinson.
Jumbo sells a Fijn Volkorenbrood for anyone looking for a finer texture.
Lidl describes a wholemeal kids’ bread made with extra finely milled flour.
ALDI’s bread range includes options such as fijn volkoren, boeren tijger volkoren and extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood.
PLUS provides product information for its Boeren volkoren heel loaf.
Dirk’s bread range includes options such as Batard volkoren.
These are bread options for anyone who also considers portion size or bread style at breakfast. Rye bread, Lebanese flatbread and a round loaf aren’t automatically a substitute for the finely sliced wholemeal bread discussed above. Check the label and ingredients for each product.
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The pack of 9 may suit you if you want to plan breakfast portions. Rye bread is a different option from a regular sliced loaf. Check the wholemeal label, ingredients and allergens on the packaging, and decide whether you like the texture.
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This Lebanese bread is an option if flatbread works for your breakfast; the pack contains 6 pieces. It isn’t a standard sliced loaf. Before choosing it as a wholemeal option, check the product description, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
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This 550 g round loaf needs more preparation than a slice you can grab straight away: allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling. If you’re considering it as a loaf made with different types of flour, check the ingredients and product description on the packaging. The name alone doesn’t make the proportions clear.
No. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be labelled wholemeal if its grain content consists entirely of wholemeal flour. So check the product description, and if the bread contains different types of flour, check the ingredients too.
That depends on the particular loaf and the instructions on the packaging. PLUS says its Boeren volkoren heel loaf can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within one month. Other loaves may come with different instructions.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the particular loaf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared have to be clearly shown on the label. Don’t assume that a ‘wholemeal’ label means the bread is free from wheat or gluten.
