A half loaf of wholemeal bread can be a good choice for after-school snacks if a whole loaf often goes uneaten at home. Work out how many slices you’ll use and, if needed, freeze the rest in portions as soon as you get home; even half a loaf can go to waste. Check that the bread is labelled wholemeal, and read the ingredients and allergen information. If you’re taking it to school, ask about the school’s food policy.
If you only need a few sandwiches after school, half a loaf may better match what your household will eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it if you plan to eat it later.
If you want to buy wholemeal bread, check the product description rather than judging by its dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the bread you’ve chosen.
When choosing bread for a child, check the allergen information on the current packaging. Also check whether the school or childcare setting has a policy on food brought from home.
Start with how much bread you’ll actually use. Then compare the product description and texture, and, if you’re packing bread for school, check the allergens and the school’s policy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Compare the weight or number of slices with your planned snack times, and check how you can store or freeze the bread. | If we only need a few slices at a time at home, I don’t want the rest to go stale. Around 36% of consumers would put reducing waste first. |
| Wholemeal labelling | Check that the bread is labelled wholemeal, and read the ingredients and nutritional information for that product. | A dark colour doesn’t tell me for sure that I’m buying wholemeal bread. Around 29% of consumers would make checking the wholemeal label their priority. |
| Texture and portions | Check whether the bread is fine or coarse, which grains or seeds it contains, and how large the portions are. | For an after-school snack, I look for slices with a texture my child enjoys. Around 21% of consumers would say this is the most important thing to consider. |
| Allergens and school | Read the current allergen information, including ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, and ask the school about its policy. | If I’m packing bread for my child, it needs to suit their relevant allergies and meet the school’s requirements. Around 14% of consumers would put this check first. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. Colour and a grain-related name are no substitute for checking.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging of the bread you’re buying.
You can still have slices left over from half a loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says wholemeal bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer.
Freeze any bread you won’t use soon in portions as soon as you get home.
Allergens vary from one loaf to another. Jumbo lists sesame and soya, as well as cereals containing gluten, in its Waldkorn Volkoren Brood Half.
Check the current information for each bread you choose to see what it contains or may contain, and ask about any school policies before packing it.
Albert Heijn offers several half loaves, including AH Boeren grof volkorenbrood half.
Jumbo offers products including Fijn Volkoren Half and Waldkorn Volkoren Brood Half.
Lidl offers a Halfje extra volkorenbrood loaf weighing 400 g.
Aldi offers a Boeren volkoren meergranen-half for in-store purchase.
Plus offers products including PLUS Boeren volkoren half and Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer half.
Dirk offers Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; brown bread can also contain white flour. So check the product description on the packaging.
It’s best to freeze the slices you’ll use later in portions as soon as you buy the bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says wholemeal bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer. Take out only what you need each time.
A half loaf made with wheat contains cereals with gluten. Read the allergen information for the specific product, as other grains or allergens may vary from one recipe to another.
First check that the bread is suitable for your child’s relevant allergies and complies with the school’s policy. Read the current packaging and ask the school directly about its rules for food brought from home.
Don’t assume so just because it’s labelled wholemeal. Check the ingredients list for the bread you’ve chosen to see whether it contains iodised salt or baker’s salt.
