For Christmas dinner, first decide how much bread you need and how you want to serve it. Sliced wholemeal bread for sandwiches calls for a different choice from bread to share at the table. Then check the pack weight, storage instructions and label. A whole loaf may suit a larger gathering, but it’s less practical if you only need a small amount and can’t store any leftovers.
You want enough bread for all your guests without buying more than you can use. The weight, the choice between a whole and a half loaf, and whether you can freeze leftovers can all help you decide how much to buy.
You’re looking for wholemeal bread to serve with an informal Christmas meal, soup or a sharing platter. In that case, its shape, texture and how you serve it matter just as much as the quantity.
You want to check the bread’s ingredients, nutritional information or allergens. Compare specific products using their current packaging; the name or colour alone won’t tell you everything about what’s in them.
First decide how much you need and how you’ll serve it. Then check whether you can store the bread in advance and whether the label gives you the information you need for your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Compare the pack weights and choose a whole or half loaf based on the number of people you’re feeding. | When I’m shopping for a large group, I want enough bread without ending up with too much left over. This is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Shape and texture | Decide whether you want to serve sliced bread, a loaf to slice yourself or bread to share. | For an informal meal, I want to put bread on the table that suits the way we eat. Around 30% of consumers give serving style top priority. |
| Label | Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare fibre and salt on the same basis, such as per 100 g. | When I’m buying for someone with a specific dietary requirement, I want to know exactly what’s in this particular loaf. Checking the label is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Storing in advance | Check the storage instructions and whether the packaging says you can freeze the bread you’ve chosen. | I prefer to do my Christmas shopping in advance, but I want to be able to use the bread at the right time. Storage is the main concern for around 10% of consumers. |
The colour and a multigrain name don’t, on their own, tell you whether a loaf is wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread contains a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.
If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check the product name and ingredients on packaged bread.
A whole loaf can be useful when you have guests, but it may leave you with leftovers if you’re also serving other dishes or types of bread.
Choose an amount that suits your guests and follow the storage instructions for the bread you’ve chosen. For example, PLUS says its Boeren wholemeal loaf can be frozen on the day of purchase.
Ingredients, allergens and nutritional values vary from one product to another. The term ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t give you a complete picture of what else is in the bread.
Check the current packaging before choosing bread for guests who need to consider particular ingredients or nutritional values.
These shops offer different types of wholemeal bread. Compare individual loaves by size, ingredients and storage instructions rather than assuming that every loaf from a particular shop has the same features.
Alongside everyday wholemeal bread, its range includes loaves in different shapes and sourdough bread.
Offers fine, coarse, half and whole wholemeal loaves.
Offers everyday wholemeal bread as well as a separate variety with a fibre and salt claim.
For individual wholemeal loaves, it lists ingredients, nutritional values, allergens and storage instructions.
Offers everyday wholemeal bread and wholemeal hearth-baked bread as options for the table.
These breads suit two ways of serving an informal Christmas meal: round loaves to slice yourself and flatbreads to share. The two round loaves differ in pack size and, according to their product information, need to be thawed and baked before serving.
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For anyone who wants to slice a round loaf at the table and has space to store frozen bread in advance.
The pack contains two 550 g loaves made with wholemeal flour and wholemeal sourdough. According to the product description, they can be kept frozen and unbaked for up to four months. Before serving, thaw the bread for four hours, bake it for 11–13 minutes at 220 °C in a fan oven, then leave it to cool for 30 minutes before slicing.
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For anyone looking for a single round loaf to serve at the table and able to plan the baking time into the meal.
According to the product description, this 550 g loaf contains wholemeal flour and wholemeal sourdough, and can be kept frozen and unbaked for up to four months. Before serving, allow four hours for thawing, bake it for 11–13 minutes at 220 °C in a fan oven, then leave it to cool for 30 minutes before slicing.
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For an informal meal where you want to tear the flatbread and serve it with dips, rather than serve sliced bread.
The pack contains six flatbreads with a total weight of 330 g. The product information lists 6 g of fibre and 0.48 g of salt per 100 g, and names wheat and gluten, with possible traces of soya and milk. If any guests have a relevant dietary restriction, check the current packaging.
You can if the storage instructions for the bread you’ve chosen allow it. PLUS says its Boeren wholemeal loaf should be frozen on the day of purchase and used within one month. For other loaves, follow the instructions on the packaging.
No, don’t assume it is. PLUS lists wholemeal wheat flour, wheat gluten and barley-containing malt flour among the ingredients of one of its wholemeal loaves. Check the ingredients and allergen information for each specific product every time you buy it.
No, those names don’t mean the same thing. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread contains a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. Check the product name and ingredients if you specifically want wholemeal bread.
No, you can’t assume that for every individual loaf. If the type of salt used matters to you, check the packaging or ask the baker.
