For students who often bring lunch
If you make sandwiches several times a week, you can divide a whole loaf into portions. According to the Voedingscentrum, opened wholemeal bread keeps in the freezer for 1 to 3 months.
Which size is right for you?
For students who eat bread occasionally
If you don’t eat bread every day on campus or have limited freezer space, a half loaf may better match how much you’ll actually use.
For students who read the packaging carefully
If you want to compare fibre or salt, check the nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen. If you have any questions about allergens, check the ingredients and allergen information before buying the bread.
What should you look for when choosing?
Check the wholemeal labelling first, then choose a loaf size that suits how often you have lunch and how you can store it.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Practical lunch portions | Compare the weight of similar loaves and think about how many slices you’ll use from the pack. | If I often bring lunch, I want to make sure the bread doesn’t go unused. For around 40% of consumers, making the most of their lunch portions is the biggest consideration. |
| Storing bread | Choose a whole or half loaf to suit how often you have lunch and how much freezer space you have. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. | If I only eat sandwiches occasionally, I want to avoid a whole loaf going stale before I finish it. Avoiding waste comes first for around 30% of consumers. |
| Label and ingredients | For packaged bread, check the wholemeal labelling, fibre and salt per 100 g, and the allergen information. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergens. | I want to be able to assess the nutritional information for the exact bread I’m choosing for lunch, especially if the ingredients matter to me. This is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming you’ll always finish a whole loaf
A larger loaf only gives you useful lunch portions if you eat it in time or store some of it. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days.
Choose a size based on how often you actually have lunch, and freeze portions if you won’t use everything within that time.
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Mistaking dark bread for wholemeal bread
According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread can be a mixture of plain flour and wholemeal flour. So the colour or a multigrain label doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.
For packaged bread, check that the label says wholemeal and read the ingredients for the variety you’ve chosen.
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Checking for allergens only after you’ve bought it
Ingredients and allergens can vary from one loaf to another. For unpackaged bread, the information may not be available on packaging that you can read yourself.
Read the label on packaged bread, or ask the bakery counter or canteen about allergens and possible cross-contamination before buying.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
A retailer where you can browse a range of wholemeal breads online.
- The bread page includes AH Tijger volkoren heel, among other options.
- Check the range and product information again when you shop.
Jumbo
An option for comparing whole and half loaves from the same own-brand range.
- Jumbo lists Fijn Volkoren as both a whole and a half loaf.
- Compare the weight and choose the size you’ll finish.
Lidl
A shopping option if you can view the bread in store.
- Lidl lists Fijn volkoren as an 800 g loaf.
- According to Lidl, this variety is only available in store.
ALDI
A brand to consider when comparing a specific wholemeal variety with other breads.
- ALDI lists Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood heel.
- Assess the nutritional information and ingredients for this variety individually; don’t assume they apply to all ALDI breads.
PLUS
An option if you want to check the nutritional information and ingredients for a specific wholemeal variety.
- For Volkoren tijger heel, PLUS lists 6,4 g of fibre and 0,99 g of salt per 100 g.
- The product information lists wheat and barley, and notes that it may also contain, among other things, nuts, sesame and lupin.
Dirk
A shopping option if you’re looking for a wholemeal loaf and can visit a store.
- Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren heel.
- According to its own information, Dirk doesn’t offer a delivery service, so you’ll need to visit a store.
Bread options on Joybuy
These products offer two sizes of wheat bread for planned lunches, as well as a flatbread for a different kind of lunch. When choosing, check the wholemeal labelling on the packaging; an English product name alone doesn’t confirm that the bread is wholemeal.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round, 2 × 550 g
A pack for anyone planning several lunches and with space to store bread. The product name lists two 550 g loaves. They need to be defrosted, baked in the oven and cooled before slicing.
Check the wholemeal labelling, ingredients and nutritional information on the exact packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round, 550 g
A single loaf for anyone who can make better use of one loaf’s worth. The product name lists 550 g. Bear in mind that the bread needs to be defrosted, baked in the oven and cooled before slicing.
Check the wholemeal labelling, ingredients and nutritional information on the exact packaging.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
A flatbread option if you don’t want to use sliced whole or half loaves for lunch. The product name lists six pieces; don’t compare this pack as though it provides the same number of sandwiches as a loaf.
Check the storage instructions once opened, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if packaged bread is wholemeal?
Check whether the label says wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread can also be a mixture of plain flour and wholemeal flour, so check the labelling and ingredients on the exact pack.
How can I stop bread for my lunch on campus going unused?
Choose a size that suits the number of lunches you make, or freeze a whole loaf in portions. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months.
Where can I find allergen information for bread from the canteen?
Ask for the allergen information for the specific bread before buying it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for unpackaged products must be provided in a way other than on a packaging label. If necessary, also ask about possible cross-contamination.
Does all wholemeal bread contain iodised baker’s salt?
Don’t assume that every loaf does. Check the ingredients on the pack you’ve chosen for baker’s salt, or ask which salt has been used for unpackaged bread.