Busy breakfast makers
If you want to make sandwiches before heading out, look for pre-sliced bread and consider whether you can store individual portions of slices.
Which type of bread works best for you?
For a quick breakfast on the go, the main difference comes down to the type of bread, its label and how easy it is to store.
Fibre-conscious breakfast eaters
If you want to compare different breads by fibre content, first check that they are labelled wholemeal, then compare the stated fibre per 100 g. The name ‘multigrain’ alone does not tell you how much fibre a loaf contains.
Label checkers
If ingredients or allergens are a deciding factor, check the packaging of the bread you choose. You can also check the salt per 100 g and whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed for each product.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with a type of bread that works for you on busy mornings. Then compare breads labelled wholemeal using the nutritional information per 100 g, and check any ingredients that matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick to prepare and easy to store | Check whether the bread is sliced, what portion size you are buying, and the storage or freezing instructions. | If I’m making breakfast just before heading out, I don’t want to have to slice a whole loaf first, and I want to be able to store any slices I don’t use. For around 40% of consumers, convenience matters most. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare the stated fibre per 100 g on a like-for-like basis. | If fibre is my main reason for choosing bread, I want to compare a specific nutritional value rather than judge by the colour or the word ‘multigrain’. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current allergen information and check the salt per 100 g; if needed, look for iodised salt or baker’s salt. | If certain ingredients are a deciding factor for me, I want to be able to check the packaging of the exact bread I’m buying. For around 30% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that, for a product labelled wholemeal, all the grain ingredient must be wholemeal flour. Colour and visible seeds do not confirm that it is wholemeal.
First check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal. Then compare the nutritional information, ingredients and texture you want.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodised salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains iodine. You’ll need to check which type of salt has been used in each loaf.
If this matters to your choice, look for iodised salt or baker’s salt in the ingredients list.
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Relying only on an online allergen list
The ingredients in bread can change. An old product page is therefore no substitute for the information on the packaging of the product you actually buy.
If you have an allergy, read the current ingredients and allergen information on the product you buy.
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Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan
If you don’t eat bread every day, bear in mind how long it will keep once opened. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a storage life of 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer for opened wholemeal bread.
Choose a portion size you’ll use, or freeze slices in portions.
If a whole loaf is left for too long, some of it may go to waste before you get to eat it.
Brands to consider
The examples below refer to specific breads or ranges. Always compare the product you’ve chosen before buying.
Albert Heijn
AH Rond volkoren heel is a whole loaf with nutritional values and ingredients listed in its product information.
- Albert Heijn lists 6,9 g of fibre and 0,9 g of salt per 100 g for this loaf, and iodised salt in the ingredients.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so check the packaging when you buy it.
Jumbo
Jumbo Fijn Volkoren is a finely textured wholemeal loaf for anyone looking for this type of bread.
- Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre and 1,0 g of salt per 100 g for this product.
- The product information lists wheat and barley among the allergens; check the current packaging.
Lidl
Lidl offers a freshly baked bread range and a wholemeal roll for anyone looking for an individual bread option.
- An individual roll may suit you if you don’t want to take a whole loaf with you.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the specific product in store.
Aldi
Aldi offers Fijn Volkoren, among other products, as well as a variety called Extra Vezelrijk Volkorenbrood.
- Aldi describes Fijn Volkoren as sliced, saving you the effort of cutting bread when making sandwiches.
- For the extra-fibre variety, compare the fibre and salt per 100 g on the current packaging rather than relying on the product name alone.
PLUS
PLUS Boeren volkoren heel is a whole loaf with published ingredient and nutritional information.
- PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g for this loaf; baker’s salt is included in the ingredients.
- Check the packaging for the current ingredients and allergen information when you buy it.
Dirk
Dirk offers volkoren vloerbrood, among other products, as well as Bakker van der Akker Boeren Extra vezels volkoren heel.
- These options include a whole loaf and a separate variety labelled as having extra fibre.
- Compare the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the label of the variety you choose.
Wholemeal options at Joybuy
These products include different types of bread for breakfast, including flatbread and crispbread, as well as loaves that need preparing. Choose based on the type of bread and when you plan to eat it. Crispbread isn’t soft wholemeal bread, and a loaf that needs baking isn’t ready to spread straight away.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun, 500 g
Consider this rye bread option if you want to plan breakfast portions in advance. Check the packaging to see whether it is rolls or sliced bread: the product information describes it in both ways.
If you have allergies, check the current information for cereals containing gluten, including wheat and rye, and check which type of salt has been used if needed.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
This flatbread is an option if you fancy something other than sliced bread for breakfast. Check that the portion size and the way you plan to top it suit your morning.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, and check which type of salt has been used if needed.
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Bolletje Whole Grain Crispbread, 265 g
Choose this crispbread only if a crunchy breakfast option is what you’re after; its texture is different from soft wholemeal bread.
If you have allergies, check the current packaging for cereals containing gluten, sesame and any mention of possible lupin. Check which type of salt has been used if needed.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
This pack of two 550 g loaves is better suited to anyone who plans breakfast in advance than to someone who wants to make a sandwich straight after buying it. Allow time to defrost, bake, cool and slice the bread.
Before comparing nutritional values, check the packaging to see what they refer to. Also read the current ingredients and allergen information.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
This 550 g variety is a good choice if you can prepare a whole loaf in advance. For a quick breakfast, remember to allow time to defrost, bake, cool and slice it.
Check what the nutritional values refer to on the packaging, and read the current ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if bread is wholemeal?
Check whether ‘wholemeal’ appears in the product description. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, all the grain ingredient in a product labelled wholemeal must be wholemeal flour; a dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ is not enough.
How can I tell if bread contains iodised salt?
Look for iodised salt or baker’s salt in the ingredients list, or ask which ingredients are used if you’re buying unpackaged bread. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains iodine, so don’t judge by the type of bread alone.
Can I freeze wholemeal bread for several breakfasts?
Yes, wholemeal bread can be frozen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping it in the freezer for 1–3 months; storing it in separate portions makes it easier to take out only what you need.
Is ordinary wholemeal bread gluten-free?
No, the product examples mentioned here that contain wheat, rye or barley are not gluten-free. If you have an allergy or coeliac disease, check the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact product you’re considering.
How do I compare fibre and salt between two loaves?
Compare the values per 100 g so that differences in slice size don’t skew the comparison. Also consider the type of bread and its ingredients: nutritional values alone won’t tell you whether the product suits your quick breakfast.