If you want to swap white bread for wholemeal bread, first check that the bread is actually labelled ‘wholemeal’; a brown colour or a multigrain name isn’t enough. If you live alone and freeze bread in portions, a whole sliced loaf could work for you. If you’d rather keep less bread in stock, look for half a loaf or an individual wholemeal roll, and compare the nutritional information and ingredients for each product.
You’re looking for bread that is genuinely wholemeal, rather than relying on its colour, visible grains or a multigrain name. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
You use bread for the occasional breakfast or lunch. In that case, it makes a difference whether you can freeze a whole loaf in portions, would rather buy half a loaf or only need a single roll.
As well as checking that the bread is labelled ‘wholemeal’, you want to compare the fibre, salt, ingredients and allergen information for the specific products. Compare nutritional values on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g.
When choosing bread for meals for one, first check that it’s labelled ‘wholemeal’. Then choose an amount that suits how often you eat bread and how much you want to store.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely wholemeal | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the product. Then compare the fibre content on a like-for-like basis. | If I’m replacing white bread, I don’t want to accidentally choose a different type of bread based on its colour. For around 46% of consumers, genuinely wholemeal bread is their top priority when shopping. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose a whole or half loaf based on how often you eat bread; if needed, freeze a whole loaf in portions as soon as you buy it. | If I only eat bread occasionally, I don’t want to store more slices than I can use. For around 36% of consumers, avoiding leftover bread is the top priority. |
| Single portion | Even with an individual roll, check that it’s labelled ‘wholemeal’ and read the ingredients and allergen information. | For a single lunch, I want to be able to buy something without having to manage a stock of bread afterwards. A ready-to-eat portion is the main need for around 18% of consumers. |
A dark colour or visible grains won’t tell you whether the bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes wholemeal bread from brown bread, which contains a mixture of wholemeal flour and refined flour.
Use the ‘wholemeal’ product label as your first check. Then consider any other features that matter for your meal.
If you only eat a few slices a week, you could have a lot of a whole loaf left before you finish it.
Choose a smaller amount or freeze a whole sliced loaf in portions as soon as you buy it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking only what you need from the freezer each time.
The fibre information doesn’t tell you how two loaves compare on every other point on the label. Salt, ingredients, allergens and portion size may also matter when making your choice.
Compare the nutritional values of the specific products on a like-for-like basis, and read the ingredients list if you want to avoid particular ingredients.
The bread category alone won’t tell you which ingredients are used in a particular product.
If information about baker’s salt or iodine matters to your choice, check the details for the specific product or ask the baker or shop.
These shops offer different types of wholemeal bread. The options available may vary by shop and at different times.
Albert Heijn offers wholemeal bread in different formats, including half loaves.
Jumbo offers its own-brand wholemeal bread, including a fine wholemeal option in a half-loaf format.
Lidl offers options including individual wholemeal rolls and wholemeal bread.
ALDI offers wholemeal bread in both whole and half-loaf formats.
PLUS offers a range of wholemeal breads, including round, fine wholemeal bread in a half-loaf format.
Dirk offers wholemeal bread, including a wholemeal artisan loaf.
Check that the bread is actually labelled ‘wholemeal’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread contains a mixture of wholemeal flour and refined flour. So colour and a multigrain name aren’t a substitute for the ‘wholemeal’ label.
Freeze the bread in portions as soon as you buy it, and take out what you need for each meal, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. If you’d rather not freeze a supply of bread, a half loaf or an individual wholemeal roll could better suit the amount you use.
Yes. If salt is something you need to consider when choosing a product, compare the nutritional information for the breads you’re considering on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g. The ‘wholemeal’ label doesn’t tell you how much salt a particular loaf contains.
Don’t assume that this is the case for a particular loaf. If you need this ingredient information to make your choice, check the details for the specific product or ask the baker or shop.
Check the ingredients list on the specific packaged loaf. Under European labelling rules, any allergens present must be highlighted in the list, so you can compare products on this basis.
