Who is this choice relevant to?

Holidaymakers keeping an eye on fibre

You want to replace some of the white bread, so you check the wholemeal label and nutritional information rather than relying on the colour or seeds on the loaf.

Small or changing groups

Not everyone has breakfast or lunch at the holiday home every day. You’re looking for a size that suits how much you expect to eat, or bread that you can freeze in portions.

Households looking for a finer texture

You want to try wholemeal bread, but some people don’t enjoy coarser loaves. Fine wholemeal offers a different texture, without having to judge by the brown colour alone.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check that the bread is actually wholemeal. Then choose a size and texture to suit mealtimes at the holiday home, and check the packaging if particular ingredients or nutritional values matter to you.

What to consider What to check Who is this important for?
Genuinely wholemeal Look for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients list; if you like, compare the fibre per 100 g. I want to replace white bread without assuming that dark bread is wholemeal. For around 33% of consumers, choosing wholemeal is the priority.
Size and storage Compare a half loaf with a whole loaf, and check the freezing advice and how much freezer space you have. If people are only joining us now and then, I don’t want to be left with a large amount of bread. Avoiding waste is the main concern for roughly 27% of consumers.
Texture Check whether the option you’ve chosen is fine or coarse wholemeal, and assess its nutritional information separately. I’m looking for wholemeal bread that people in our group will enjoy for breakfast or lunch. For around 20% of consumers, texture is the deciding factor.
Nutritional information and allergens Check the fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the latest allergen information. When ingredients or nutritional values matter, I want to know exactly what’s in the bread. For around 20% of consumers, checking this is their main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming brown or multigrain bread is wholemeal

    A dark colour, seeds or several types of grain don’t confirm that the bread is made entirely from wholemeal flour.

    Start by checking for the wholemeal label, then read the ingredients list on the bread you’re buying.

  • Taking a whole loaf without a plan for storing it

    If you’re staying for a short time or the number of people eating varies, you could be left with slices to spare.

    Consider a half loaf. If you have freezer space, check the freezing advice and take out only the amount you expect to need each day, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for bread.

  • Assuming a product claim applies to all wholemeal bread

    According to its own product information, ALDI compares one extra-high-fibre option with ordinary wholemeal bread. That comparison doesn’t describe the composition of other loaves.

    Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g on the packs of the options you’re considering.

  • Relying on online product information alone

    Albert Heijn and PLUS point out that product information can change. So, if allergens or specific ingredients matter, it’s important to check the latest packaging.

    Read the packaging on the bread you’ve received or bought before serving it.

Brands and shops to consider

These shops list a range of wholemeal breads. Always compare the exact option and packaging; a loaf in a shop’s range doesn’t automatically tell you anything about the composition of its other breads.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s wholemeal range includes fine and coarse loaves, as well as hearth-baked bread.

  • Albert Heijn’s guide to bread explains the difference between wholemeal bread and bread that simply looks brown.
  • Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change, so check the packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists wholemeal bread in a variety of shapes and sizes.

  • This gives you options when looking for a half or whole loaf to suit your group.
  • Check the exact option and what’s available at the shop where you’re doing your food shopping.

Lidl

Lidl lists, among other options, a half loaf of extra wholemeal bread and bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.

  • A half loaf or a finer texture may suit a small group or a range of preferences.
  • Lidl says the half loaf mentioned is only available in store; check the latest packaging for the option you choose.

ALDI

ALDI lists a range of freshly baked wholemeal breads, including fine and extra-high-fibre options.

  • According to ALDI, its wholemeal breads mentioned are made with 100% wholemeal flour.
  • A nutritional claim for one option doesn’t automatically apply to the others; compare their individual labels.

PLUS

PLUS lists, among other options, a whole 800 g farmhouse wholemeal loaf.

  • For this option, PLUS advises freezing it on the day of purchase. That’s useful if you’re spreading a whole loaf across several mealtimes.
  • Check that the storage advice and ingredients match the latest packaging for the bread you buy.

Dirk

Dirk lists, among other options, a wholemeal batard from Bakker van der Akker.

  • The product name gives you a specific wholemeal option to consider when choosing bread.
  • Check the ingredients of the option you choose and whether it’s available at the shop you visit.

Bread options at Joybuy

This flatbread is an option if you want to buy bread for individual meals. It’s not a direct substitute for a sliced whole or half wholemeal loaf: check whether it’s made entirely with wholemeal flour and whether the storage instructions suit your stay.

Souq Lebanese flatbread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces

Souq Lebanese flatbread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces

The pack of six flatbreads may suit individual mealtimes at the holiday home. Check the packaging to see whether they’re made entirely with wholemeal flour; the words Whole Wheat alone don’t make this completely clear.

Also check the latest allergen information. Once opened, follow the product instructions to store the bread in an airtight container and use it within two days.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is brown or multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. According to Albert Heijn’s guide to bread, brown and multigrain bread can also contain white flour. Look for the wholemeal label and check the ingredients list for the exact option you’re buying.

How can I avoid having bread left over at the holiday home?

Choose an amount to suit the number of bread-based meals you expect to have; a half loaf may be enough for a small group. If you have freezer space, follow the freezing advice for the bread you choose and only take out the slices you expect to eat.

Do all wholemeal breads contain the same amount of fibre and salt?

No, these values can vary from one recipe to another. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g on the packs of the breads you’re considering, rather than applying a claim about one option to other loaves.

What should I check if allergens are important for my group?

Read the allergen information on the latest packaging for the bread you’re going to serve. The ingredients in one wholemeal loaf don’t apply to every option, and online product information can change.