For sandwiches and canapés, start by choosing bread labelled as wholemeal, then check whether the slices themselves suit your toppings and portion sizes. Pre-sliced bread saves you preparation time; with a whole loaf, you can choose the thickness yourself, but it takes longer. Before buying, also compare the loaf size, ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging.
If you’re preparing sandwiches or canapés for several guests, evenly sized, pre-sliced bread is a practical choice. Jumbo and ALDI list fine-textured wholemeal bread in their ranges; check separately that the slice thickness suits your toppings.
Half a loaf may be a better fit for a smaller group than a whole loaf. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list half-size wholemeal options; check which versions are actually available to buy.
As well as how the bread is sliced, ingredients, allergens, fibre and salt can all influence your choice. Check the packaging of the bread you plan to serve: general nutritional information doesn’t describe every individual variety.
First decide how you want to top and serve the bread. Then choose a suitable whole or half loaf and compare the labels of the remaining options.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slices and serving | Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and whether the slices themselves suit the toppings you plan to use. | If I’m making lots of topped slices, I want to serve them without any extra slicing. This is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Label and nutritional information | Check that it is labelled wholemeal, along with the ingredients and allergens; compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | I want to know what’s in the bread beforehand, so I can choose a variety that suits what I’m planning to serve. This is the first priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Size and availability | Compare whole and half loaves, and check current availability and storage instructions. | For a small brunch, I want enough slices without a large amount left over; the bread also needs to be available in time. This matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
These words tell you different things about a loaf. A fine texture or the word ‘sliced’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the slices are the right thickness for the brunch bites you want to make.
Check that the bread is labelled wholemeal, then look separately at how it is sliced and the actual slices themselves. If you’re buying a whole loaf, ask whether it can be sliced for you.
The nutritional information for one type of wholemeal bread may not match that of another variety. A loaf with extra ingredients may also contain different allergens.
Compare the nutrition table and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the bread you choose.
The range of fresh bread can vary from one store to another, as Lidl notes for its fresh bread range. This matters especially if you need a particular loaf shape or style of slicing for your brunch.
Check what’s available at the store where you plan to shop, and have a suitable alternative in mind.
Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its wholemeal muesli and nut bread. That ingredients list doesn’t tell you what’s in every other wholemeal loaf.
If the type of salt matters to your choice, read the ingredients list for the specific loaf.
These ranges give you a starting point for comparing types of bread; check the version and current availability at your chosen store.
The online wholemeal range includes both whole and half loaves.
The online range includes fine- and coarse-textured wholemeal bread, in both whole and half sizes.
Lidl sells bread that is baked off in store.
ALDI lists a whole, fine-textured wholemeal loaf that is described as pre-sliced on the product page.
The online wholemeal range includes round, fine-textured loaves in whole and half sizes.
If you’d also like to serve rye bread, check whether its shape and portions suit your toppings. The product name alone won’t tell you whether the slices are the thickness you want.
Image unavailable
If you’d like to serve rye bread at your Easter brunch, check whether the pieces are suitable for the toppings and portions you have in mind.
The product name states that the pack contains 9 pieces. Check the packaging for the style of slicing, ingredients and allergens.
The wording alone doesn’t give you a precise slice thickness to rely on. Look at the slices of the specific loaf or ask the baker what thickness is available for the toppings you plan to use.
No. Compare the nutritional information for the loaves you’re considering. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 3,4 g of fibre and 0,48 g of salt for one 50 g slice of wholemeal bread cut at home; these figures aren’t a product label for every variety.
Read the ingredients list for the specific loaf. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its wholemeal muesli and nut bread, but you can’t infer anything about another loaf’s ingredients from that one label.
A half-size wholemeal loaf is worth considering if you need fewer slices than a whole loaf provides. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list half-size options; check how many slices are in your chosen pack and follow the storage instructions for any leftovers.
