If fibre is your priority with a sweet breakfast, choose bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ rather than judging by its colour. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, while white bread is made from refined flour. Finely milled wholemeal bread can make the change in texture easier; also check the topping separately, as the Voedingscentrum says some toppings can be high in sugar, salt or saturated fat.
You want to keep enjoying a sweet breakfast, but choose your bread mainly by checking whether it is labelled ‘wholemeal’ and looking at the nutritional information. According to the Voedingscentrum, this label tells you more about the flour used than a brown colour or the name ‘multigrain’.
You want to replace white bread without immediately switching to a coarse texture. Finely milled wholemeal bread is worth considering; Lidl, for example, describes a loaf made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour. Check the packaging of the particular variety you buy.
You’re looking for bread that fits your usual shopping routine and preferred shape. Check which varieties and delivery or collection options are available at each shop at the time; online ranges can vary from one location to another.
Choose this if: fibre and replacing white bread are your priorities; check that the bread is labelled ‘wholemeal’.
Bear in mind: the texture may feel different from the white bread you’re used to. Finely milled wholemeal is an option if you prefer a less coarse texture.
Choose this if: a light texture matters more for this breakfast than choosing bread made with wholemeal flour.
Bear in mind: white bread is made from refined flour; the Voedingscentrum recommends replacing it with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal flour and fibre | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the fibre content per 100 g of specific loaves. | If I want to replace white bread, I want to know which flour the bread is made with and how much fibre it contains. Around 37% of consumers prioritise wholemeal flour and fibre. |
| Bread and sweet toppings | Check the topping’s nutritional information separately, including sugar, salt and portion size. | I want to put together a sweet breakfast without looking at the bread alone. For around 27% of consumers, the combination with the topping is the main consideration. |
| Soft texture | Consider finely milled wholemeal bread if you find a coarse texture off-putting, and check the product label too. | Coarse bread often goes uneaten at home; a finer texture is what makes the difference to my choice. This is the priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check your preferred bread shape and current shop, delivery or collection options. | I want to be able to buy this bread regularly through a shopping route that works for me. This is also the main requirement for around 18% of consumers. |
Colour, seeds and the name ‘multigrain’ do not, on their own, mean that a loaf is made entirely from wholemeal flour. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
If this is your main criterion, look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the packaging or shelf label.
According to the Voedingscentrum, some sweet toppings can be high in sugar, salt or saturated fat. Choosing wholemeal bread does not change what is in the topping.
Think of the bread and topping as two separate choices. Fruit or 100% peanut butter with no added salt or sugar are among the options suggested by the Voedingscentrum.
A comparison on the packaging applies to the product named and the stated basis for comparison. For example, ALDI compares one of its own high-fibre wholemeal breads with standard wholemeal bread; this does not tell you anything about every loaf sold by the shop.
Compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the specific varieties you’re considering.
Product ranges and recipes can change. This is particularly important if you choose bread based on its ingredients or allergens.
Check the latest product information and read the label on the packaging when you buy it.
Albert Heijn offers several types of wholemeal bread, including round, tiger and Zaans loaves.
Jumbo has an online category featuring different wholemeal breads, including fine, coarse and tiger varieties.
Lidl features, among other products, a loaf made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.
ALDI’s bread range includes white bread and several wholemeal varieties.
PLUS has product pages for its own-brand wholemeal bread, with details of ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
Dirk offers several varieties of wholemeal bread from Bakker van der Akker.
These products offer different types of bread to consider for a sweet breakfast, from flatbread to rye bread and round loaves. An English label such as ‘whole wheat’ does not, on its own, confirm that a product is labelled as Dutch wholemeal bread; check the packaging if this is essential to your choice.
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A flatbread to consider if you’re looking for a different type of bread for breakfast. Before choosing it to go with your topping, check the packaging for the wholemeal label, ingredients and allergens.
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A rye bread product to consider if you’d like to try a different type of bread alongside white bread. Check the bread’s shape and Dutch product description on the packaging; the title and description do not indicate the same shape.
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A pack of two round loaves if that’s the shape you’re looking for. This product needs to be defrosted and baked; follow the preparation instructions and check the packaging for the product description and ingredients if you want fully wholemeal bread.
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A 550 g round loaf if you’re looking for this shape in a single-loaf pack. It needs to be defrosted and baked; check the preparation instructions, product description and ingredients on the packaging.
Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the packaging or shelf label. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; colour or the name ‘multigrain’ alone does not guarantee this.
Yes, but assess the topping separately from the bread. The Voedingscentrum suggests fruit and 100% peanut or nut butter with no added salt or sugar; for other sweet toppings, check the nutritional information and consider your usual portion size.
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you buy. For its Boeren volkoren heel, for example, PLUS recommends storing it in a cool, dry place and says it can be frozen on the day of purchase; don’t assume the same instructions apply to another product.
Check the label on the specific pack each time. Ingredients and allergens vary between breads; for example, PLUS Boeren volkoren heel product information lists wheat, barley and soya.
