If you’d like to serve wholemeal bread at Christmas dinner but have guests who don’t enjoy a coarse texture, look for finely milled bread that is explicitly labelled wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread is a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour, so it is not an equivalent choice if you need bread that is entirely wholemeal. To cater for different preferences, you could serve white and wholemeal rolls side by side. Check the ingredients and allergen information for every product you choose.
If your guests aren’t keen on a coarse bread texture, finely milled wholemeal bread is worth considering. Lidl gives its own bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour as an example. Check that the bread you buy is actually labelled wholemeal.
You want to put a clearly identifiable wholemeal option on the table. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes bread made with 100% wholemeal flour from brown bread, which is a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour. The colour of the bread doesn’t tell you which it is.
If you’re serving several types of bread, check the allergen information for each product. Read the label on packaged bread, and ask about allergens before buying unpackaged bread. Keep the information to hand when serving, too.
First decide whether the bread must be entirely wholemeal. Then consider which texture and serving style will suit your guests, and check the allergens in every loaf you serve.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal or a mix | Look for the wholemeal label if you want bread that is entirely wholemeal. Choose brown bread knowingly if you’re looking for a mix of wholemeal flour and white flour. | I want to be sure there’s an entirely wholemeal option on the table at Christmas dinner, not just a brown loaf. This certainty matters most to around 36% of consumers. |
| Fine texture | Check whether the bread is described as finely milled, and also look for the wholemeal label. | My guests often leave coarse bread, so I’m looking for a finer texture without giving up the wholemeal option. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this texture. |
| Choice at the table | Choose between one type of bread and separate white and wholemeal options. If you want specific oven-fresh rolls, check what your shop stocks. | With soup or a starter, I want guests to be able to choose the type of bread they prefer. This freedom of choice comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the up-to-date allergen information for each product, and ask about it before buying unpackaged bread. | When I buy bread for a guest with an allergy, I need to know which allergens are listed for every option. This is the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread contains both wholemeal flour and white flour. A dark crust or the word ‘multigrain’ in the name doesn’t, by itself, mean that a loaf is entirely wholemeal either.
If you want to serve a wholemeal option, look for an explicit wholemeal label. If you’re looking for a mix, assess brown bread based on its own ingredients.
The fact that a loaf is sold in the Netherlands doesn’t tell you which salt has been used in that particular product. The Dutch baking industry describes the use of iodine-enriched baker’s salt as an agreement, not something you can assume applies to every loaf.
If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list for a mention of baker’s salt or iodised salt.
Breads served side by side may contain different ingredients and have different ‘may contain’ warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that allergen information for packaged foods is shown on the label.
Check each product separately. Keep the packaging or information from the shop so you can check which information applies to each loaf when serving.
Lidl says its fresh bread selection can vary by store. An announcement from Albert Heijn about its Christmas range doesn’t mean a particular wholemeal loaf will be available in every shop either.
Choose a suitable type of bread in advance, then check which options your shop has shortly before buying.
If your chosen option isn’t available, finding an alternative or visiting another shop will take extra time.
These shop ranges offer a starting point for choosing bread for your Christmas table. Always check the ingredients, allergen information and availability of the exact product you plan to buy.
Has an online bread range and has announced a special range for Christmas 2026, available from 28 November.
Lists fine wholemeal bread alongside other types, including white bread.
Lists both wholemeal and white oven-fresh rolls, and describes a kids’ wholemeal bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.
Its bakery range includes sliced white and wholemeal bread, as well as part-baked rolls.
Lists a range of wholemeal breads online, including fine wholemeal and round wholemeal loaves.
Lists bread ranging from white to wholemeal, including a wholemeal batard.
These products offer two different ways to share bread at Christmas dinner: a round loaf to bake at home and individual pieces of Lebanese flatbread. Don’t rely on the English-language product name alone if entirely wholemeal bread, or a particular mix of white and wholemeal flour, is essential for you.
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A round loaf to share with your meal if you have time to defrost and bake it.
The product name gives the loaf’s weight as 550 g. Check the current packaging for the ingredients and the proportions of wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour; don’t assume it is entirely wholemeal without checking. Also check the allergens and type of salt if these matter to your choice.
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Lebanese flatbread in a pack of six, ready to share at the table or serve with dips.
The name says wholemeal, but that alone doesn’t confirm that only wholemeal flour has been used. Check the current ingredients and allergen information if you need an entirely wholemeal option or bread for guests with allergies.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread combines wholemeal flour and white flour. If your bread must be entirely wholemeal, choose a loaf that is explicitly labelled wholemeal.
Yes. If the coarse texture is their main concern, a finely milled option is worth considering. Lidl describes its own kids’ wholemeal bread as being made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour. Don’t assume other breads have the same texture, and check that they are labelled wholemeal.
Don’t assume this is the case for a particular loaf. The Dutch baking industry describes the use of iodine-enriched baker’s salt as an agreement. If the type of salt matters to your choice, check which salt is listed in the ingredients.
Before buying, ask the seller for the allergen information for the exact loaf. For packaged bread, check the label and keep the information for each option you choose to hand when you put the bread basket on the table.
Check with your shop shortly before buying. Lidl says its fresh range varies by store. Albert Heijn has announced that its special range for Christmas 2026 will be available from 28 November, but that doesn’t tell you whether a particular wholemeal loaf will be in your shop.
