Who is this choice relevant to?

Lunch planners keeping an eye on fibre

You want to choose wholemeal bread and compare the fibre per 100 g, without basing your decision on colour alone or the word multigrain.

Hosts who need to check allergens

You’re buying bread for several people and want to check which grains and other relevant allergens each product contains or may contain.

Planners matching the bread to the lunch

You’re choosing between bread that’s ready to top and portions that need baking, and want to buy the right amount for your group so there’s not too much left over.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether wholemeal flour and fibre content are your top priorities. Then consider which type of bread, allergen information and pack size will suit your guests and serving plans.

What to consider What to check when buying Most relevant to
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information for each loaf. I want to serve wholemeal bread, but don’t want to judge by colour or mistake a multigrain name for a wholemeal option. Around 36% of consumers would make this their first consideration.
Ingredients and allergens For packaged bread, read the ingredients and allergen information; for unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information. If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check whether the bread is suitable before buying it. Around 29% of consumers would make this their top priority.
Type of bread and preparation Check whether the bread is ready to serve or needs baking, and what time and equipment are required. I want to serve the bread at the right time without losing track of the rest of the lunch. For around 21% of consumers, how the bread is served would be the deciding factor.
Quantity and storage Compare the number of items or loaf size with the number of guests, and check the storage advice for leftovers. For a smaller group, I don’t want to open more bread than we’ll use, unless I can freeze the rest. Around 14% of consumers would focus mainly on quantity.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking brown or multigrain bread for wholemeal

    The colour, seeds or variety of grains don’t, on their own, tell you whether a loaf is wholemeal. Albert Heijn explains that brown and multigrain bread can also contain white flour.

    Look for the wholemeal label, then read the ingredients and nutritional information for the bread you want to buy.

  • Choosing bread for guests without checking allergens

    A bread’s name doesn’t give you the full picture of its ingredients. The allergens it contains or may contain vary from product to product.

    Check the packaging of each loaf individually. If the bread is unpackaged, ask for the available allergen information before buying it.

  • Buying part-baked bread without planning how to prepare it

    Part-baked bread isn’t ready to serve straight away. For example, PLUS recommends baking its wholemeal multigrain baguettes for 8–10 minutes in an oven at 220 °C.

    Read the preparation instructions before you buy, and choose bread that’s ready to serve if baking doesn’t fit into your lunch plans.

  • Buying more bread than your group needs

    A whole loaf or large pack can leave you with leftovers if you’re only having a few guests.

    Choose an amount that suits the number of people eating. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing wholemeal bread in portions if you won’t use it soon.

Brands with relevant wholemeal options

These supermarket examples show different types of bread and product information. Always check the label of the specific loaf before making your final choice.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers several types of wholemeal bread, including round loaves and traditional hearth-baked loaves.

  • Albert Heijn explains why brown bread isn’t automatically wholemeal.
  • Albert Heijn says ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the current label.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers Fijn Volkoren, among other products, with information about ingredients, allergens and nutritional value.

  • Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre and 1,00 g of salt per 100 g for its Fijn Volkoren bread.
  • These values apply to this specific loaf, not all wholemeal bread from Jumbo.

Lidl

Lidl lists an 800 g fine wholemeal loaf as an in-store product.

  • Fine wholemeal bread offers a different texture to consider when choosing bread for your guests.
  • A fine grind doesn’t, on its own, tell you the bread’s fibre content or allergens; check the label for those details.

ALDI

ALDI offers Extra Fibre Wholemeal Bread, among other products.

  • ALDI compares this loaf with standard wholemeal bread; check the packaging to see what the comparison refers to.
  • The product claim doesn’t tell you which bread will suit your guests in terms of taste, ingredients or allergens.

PLUS

PLUS offers wholemeal multigrain baguettes, among other products, which you can bake just before lunch.

  • The product information for these baguettes includes preparation instructions, ingredients and allergen information.
  • Baking takes time and requires equipment. Check the allergen information too before choosing them for your guests.

Dirk

Dirk offers Bakker van der Akker’s wholemeal batard, among other products.

  • A batard gives you a different shape of bread from sliced tin bread or individual part-baked rolls.
  • Check the information for the loaf you buy to find its fibre content, ingredients and allergens.

Wholemeal bread at Joybuy

If you’re looking for bread that’s ready to serve at Easter lunch, this wholemeal flatbread is an alternative to sliced bread. Choose the right number of pieces for your group, and check the packaging if ingredients or allergens are important for your guests.

Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, 6 pieces

Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, 6 pieces

A good choice if you’d like to serve flatbread instead of sliced bread at Easter lunch. The pack contains 6 pieces; check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before choosing it for your guests.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is brown or multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. Albert Heijn explains that brown and multigrain bread can also contain white flour. If you want wholemeal bread, look for the explicit wholemeal label and check the loaf’s packaging.

How do I compare the fibre content of wholemeal breads?

Compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information for each product, so you’re using the same unit. Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre per 100 g for its Fijn Volkoren bread; that value applies only to this loaf.

Do I need to check for allergens in wholemeal bread?

Yes. If allergens are a concern for one of your guests, check the specific loaf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens are listed in the ingredients; if the bread is unpackaged, ask for allergen information before buying it.

How can I avoid leftovers after a small Easter lunch?

Choose an amount that suits the number of people eating, and freeze any leftover bread in portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says wholemeal bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer; also follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging.