For your toddler’s breakfast, choose a half loaf and check the current packaging to confirm that it is wholemeal and see which ingredients and allergens it contains. A half loaf is particularly practical for a small household if you freeze any unused slices in portions straight away. If the bread is going to nursery or school, check their rules too.
You want to be able to check the label to confirm that the bread is wholemeal and see how much fibre it contains per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal and brown bread as options for children aged 1 to 3.
If you have a small household and only use a few slices at a time, a half loaf may better suit your needs. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it.
If you’re packing bread for nursery or school, you’ll want to check the current allergen information for the variant you choose. Also ask what rules the nursery or school has in place.
Start with the product name and the label on the bread you’re actually buying. Then consider whether the quantity and ingredients suit breakfast and, if relevant, taking bread with you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the product name, ingredients and fibre per 100 g. Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g for Fijn Volkoren - Half. | For everyday breakfasts, I want to be able to check that I’m choosing genuinely wholemeal bread and compare nutritional values on the same basis. Around 40% of consumers say wholemeal and fibre are their top priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Check the pack weight and storage advice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it. | In a small household, I don’t want to open more bread than we’ll use. For around 30% of consumers, minimising unused bread is the most important consideration. |
| Allergens and taking bread with you | Read the current allergen information for the variant and ask about the nursery or school’s rules. | If I’m packing bread, I want to know which ingredients and potential allergens it contains, and whether it’s allowed there. This is a top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
The ingredients vary by variant: PLUS lists several gluten-containing grains and sesame among the ingredients in Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer half. Jumbo lists different ingredients and potential allergens for Fijn Volkoren - Half.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose every time you buy bread, even if you’ve bought a similar loaf before.
A smaller pack doesn’t automatically stop you from having unused slices. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it.
Divide the bread into portions straight away and take out what you need for breakfast or lunch.
Lidl describes its Halfje extra volkorenbrood as ‘reduced in salt’. That claim alone doesn’t tell you which allergens are listed on the pack you choose or what type of bread your child will enjoy.
Use the salt claim as one point of comparison, and also check the product name, ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information.
These examples can help you decide which product information to compare. Always check the current packaging for the variant you’re buying before making your choice.
AH Waldkorn volkoren half is an example of a half loaf of wholemeal multigrain bread.
Jumbo Fijn Volkoren - Half is a half loaf of wholemeal wheat bread with nutritional values listed.
Lidl sells a 400 g Halfje extra volkorenbrood and describes it as ‘reduced in salt’.
ALDI describes Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half as a dark bread with seeds and grains.
PLUS Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer half is a 400 g half loaf of dark bread.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half as a half loaf of wholemeal bread.
No, wholemeal bread isn’t automatically gluten-free. Jumbo lists wheat and barley in Fijn Volkoren - Half; the PLUS variant mentioned also contains several gluten-containing grains. Check the current allergen information for each loaf separately.
Freeze the bread in portions straight after buying it and take out only the slices you need. This is the storage method recommended for bread by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre; also follow the instructions on the packaging.
No, don’t assume that every loaf has the same ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread through baker’s salt. Read the ingredients list for the bread you choose.
