Choose wholemeal bread if fibre is a priority at breakfast every day. If you particularly value the soft bite of white bread, try finely milled wholemeal or brown bread as a stepping stone. White bread can remain the familiar choice, but it does not provide the same fibre base as wholemeal. When trying an alternative, check the product description, and consult the information for the specific loaf if you have allergies.
If you’re used to the bite of white bread, you could try brown or finely milled wholemeal without going straight for a coarse texture. In a blind taste test by the Netherlands Bakery Centre, brown and wholemeal bread received no significantly different overall ratings. What someone personally enjoys eating is a separate question.
If sandwiches are a regular fixture at the breakfast table, your choice of everyday bread matters. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholemeal bread as containing more fibre and other nutrients than white bread.
If you don’t need a whole loaf every day, you can freeze portions as soon as you get home. This follows the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage advice and makes it easier to take out only what you need for each breakfast.
Choose this if: fibre is your priority. Finely milled wholemeal is worth trying if a coarse crumb puts you off.
Bear in mind: a fine texture doesn’t guarantee that a fussy eater will enjoy the taste and bite.
Choose this if: you’d like to try a different colour or crumb from white bread.
Bear in mind: brown bread isn’t automatically wholemeal. Check the description of each product.
Choose this if: a familiar, soft slice is still the deciding factor at a rushed breakfast.
Bear in mind: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, white bread contains less fibre and fewer other nutrients than wholemeal bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre in your everyday bread | Look for the wholemeal description and, if needed, compare the nutritional information per 100 g. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain alone doesn’t mean a loaf is entirely wholemeal. | If I eat bread almost every morning, I want the type of bread to fit with my aim of keeping an eye on fibre. For around 42% of consumers, fibre is the top priority. |
| Soft bite and taste | Try a finely milled wholemeal or brown loaf and judge the crumb for yourself. A product description can’t predict personal preference. | My fussy eater needs to enjoy their sandwich, so a sudden switch to a coarse texture won’t always work. Softness and taste are the deciding factors for around 33% of consumers. |
| Stock for the working week | Choose a suitable loaf size or, following the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice, freeze portions as soon as you get home. | If I only have breakfast at home on a few days, I don’t want the rest of the loaf to go to waste. That’s why around 25% of consumers prioritise a manageable amount of bread. |
A dark colour or several types of grain doesn’t tell you how much of the bread is wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes multigrain bread as bread made with at least three different types of grain.
Look for the wholemeal description on the packaging or shelf information, then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the loaves you’re considering.
The word “bread” on its own doesn’t tell you which salt was used in that particular product.
If iodised baker’s salt is important to your choice, check the product information or ask about it when buying unwrapped bread.
If you only eat bread on a few mornings, a large loaf may be left uneaten and lose its quality.
See whether a half loaf would suit your household, or freeze portions as soon as you get home, following the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice.
Bread from the fresh bakery section doesn’t always come in individual packaging with ingredients you can check.
Ask for allergen information before buying, or check what information the shop provides with the bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between prepacked and unpackaged products.
Albert Heijn has both a general bread category and a separate wholemeal bread category online.
As well as white and brown bread, Jumbo lists finely milled wholemeal bread, which could be a good step if you’re looking for a less coarse crumb.
Lidl describes a kids’ wholemeal bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.
ALDI’s bread range includes white, brown and finely milled wholemeal bread.
PLUS has separate categories for white and wholemeal bread online.
Dirk lists several types of bread, including white, wholemeal and multigrain.
These products suit shoppers looking for bread described as whole wheat or rye. If you’re mainly after the soft bite of white bread, assess the texture of your chosen product separately.
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An option to consider if you’re looking for bread with “Whole Wheat” in the product name for weekday breakfasts. The listed pack size is 550 g × 2. If fibre is your main priority, compare the nutritional information on the packaging. Check the crumb separately if a soft slice matters to you.
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A rye bread option to consider if you’d like to try a different type of bread for breakfast. The product name lists a weight of 500 g. Before buying, check whether you’ll receive a bread roll or sliced bread, so it suits your breakfast. Don’t assume it will have the soft texture of white bread based on the name alone.
Yes, both are worth trying if you still value the taste or crumb of white bread, but they aren’t the same. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholemeal bread as higher in fibre than white bread. If fibre is your priority, look specifically for the wholemeal description, and let the final choice come down to the bread people at home will actually eat.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that bread is made with at least three types of grain. It doesn’t mean that all the grain used is wholemeal. Check the product description and ingredients if you’re looking for wholemeal bread.
No, don’t make that assumption about an individual loaf. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the packaging or ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.
Before buying, ask for allergen information about the specific bread or check what information is displayed in the fresh bakery section. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must also be provided to consumers for unpackaged products. Don’t assume what’s in the bread based on the type alone.
Following the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice, freeze bread in portions as soon as you get home, then take out what you need for each breakfast. A half loaf may also suit you if you only eat bread at home on a few days. Check which sizes are available for the product you choose.
