When choosing bread for your Easter brunch, start by thinking about how you’ll serve it. A round hearth or sourdough loaf suits a rustic spread, while fine-textured or pre-sliced wholemeal bread may be more convenient if you want to serve plenty of topped slices. Then choose a size that suits your group and check the product name, ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for each loaf. A dark colour or the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t prove that a bread is wholemeal.
If the bread will be served sliced or in a basket on the table, its shape and crust may be important. If you’re choosing bread with seeds or other additions, check the ingredients and allergen information too.
If you’re looking specifically for wholemeal bread, check the product name and ingredients, then compare fibre and salt per 100 g. The Voedingscentrum describes wholemeal bread as a type of bread that is high in fibre; nutritional values vary from product to product.
If you’re serving several types of bread, a half loaf may be a better fit for the amount you need. You can freeze bread in portions to eat later; follow the instructions on the packaging.
First decide whether wholemeal ingredients, presentation or quantity matters most for your Easter brunch. Then compare specific loaves on the points that matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal ingredients and nutritional values | Read the product name and ingredients list. Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, such as per 100 g. | If I specifically want to serve wholemeal bread, I don’t want to rely on its colour or crust alone. For around 42% of consumers, wholemeal ingredients and nutritional values are the top priority. |
| Presentation and texture | Check the shape, crust and how easy it is to slice; if you’re buying bread to bake at home, check the preparation instructions too. | If the bread will be on show on the brunch table, I care about how it looks and how easy it is to top. Around 33% of consumers put presentation first. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare the weight of a half or whole loaf and read the storage instructions. | When I’m hosting a small group, I want to serve a variety without having lots left over. For around 25% of consumers, choosing the right quantity comes first. |
A dark colour, seeds or the name ‘multigrain’ don’t confirm that a bread is wholemeal.
If wholemeal ingredients matter to you, check the product name and ingredients list. Then choose the crust and shape to suit your taste and presentation.
Even bread that suits your presentation can contain ingredients that matter to your guests. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be available before you buy unwrapped bread.
For packaged bread, read the current label. For unwrapped bread, ask about the ingredients and allergens before buying.
If you’re serving several types, you may have more bread left after brunch than you can use in time.
Consider buying a half loaf or freezing portions for later, following the storage instructions.
Bread left for too long can dry out or go stale.
Availability can vary by shop or at different times. For example, Lidl lists its fine wholemeal bread as an in-store-only product.
Check shortly before you shop where you can buy your chosen bread, and have an alternative in mind.
Albert Heijn lists a 400 g half wholemeal hearth loaf, a size worth considering for a smaller brunch.
Jumbo is worth considering if you’re looking for a hearth or sourdough loaf with a rustic look.
Lidl lists fine wholemeal bread weighing 800 g for in-store purchase.
ALDI lists fine wholemeal bread as well as an extra-high-fibre wholemeal option.
PLUS lists fibre and salt per 100 g for its whole Boeren wholemeal bread.
Dirk’s bread range includes Bakker van der Akker Boeren wholemeal bread, whole loaf.
These products offer two ways to serve bread at Easter brunch: flatbreads to share and round loaves for a rustic presentation. For each product, check whether the current ingredients and nutritional information match what you’re looking for in wholemeal bread.
Image unavailable
This flatbread is a good fit for a brunch where you want to share the bread. The pack contains six pieces. Check the current ingredients and allergen information, particularly if wheat or other allergens matter to your guests.
Image unavailable
This 550 g round loaf makes a rustic centrepiece for your table. Allow time to defrost and bake, and check the baking time on the packaging. Compare fibre and salt values only after checking what quantity they’re based on.
Image unavailable
The pack contains two round loaves, each weighing 550 g, so it’s better suited to several occasions than one small brunch. Allow time to defrost and bake, and check the baking time on the packaging. Before comparing fibre and salt, check the measurement basis shown.
No. The colour and the name ‘multigrain’ don’t confirm that a bread is wholemeal. If you specifically want to buy wholemeal bread, check the product name and ingredients list.
Ask for the allergen information for the specific bread before you buy it. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about 14 allergens must be available for unwrapped food.
Choose an amount that suits what you’ll be serving, and freeze portions for later. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months; follow the packaging instructions too.
If ‘iodised salt’ or ‘bakers’ salt’ appears in the ingredients list, it tells you what type of salt was used in that bread. The Voedingscentrum describes bread as a source of iodine, but that doesn’t mean every loaf contains the same amount of iodine.
