Who is a half loaf of wholemeal bread right for?

People working from home who don’t always finish a loaf

Do you usually have lunch at home on your own or with someone else? A half loaf could better suit how much you eat if you use the portions within a few days or freeze some of them.

Lunch shoppers with a specific label priority

As well as the size, you may want to compare how much fibre, salt or carbohydrate the bread contains, or check which ingredients and allergens are listed.

Shoppers with a regular shopping routine

You want to pick up a suitable half loaf as part of your usual shop. It also matters whether the variety you want is available in your shop or through your preferred way of ordering.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out how much bread you use for lunch while working from home. Then compare the features that matter to you on the label of the variety you’re actually buying.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important to?
Quantity and storage Check the weight or number of portions, then work out what you’ll eat in time or freeze. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. If I don’t eat bread every day, I want to avoid leaving it in the packaging for too long. For around 36% of consumers, buying an amount that suits their needs is the top priority.
Wholemeal bread and fibre Read the legal product description and compare the fibre per 100 g. Don’t judge by a dark colour or a mention of grains alone. For my lunch, I want to be able to tell whether I’m choosing wholemeal bread and how much fibre the variety contains. Around 29% of consumers put this check first.
Ingredients and nutritional information Compare the relevant values per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information. Check the label to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. If salt, carbohydrates or particular ingredients determine my choice, I want to check the specific packaging. For around 21% of consumers, this label check comes first.
Where you shop Check whether the variety you want is available in your shop and whether you can take it home or order it in the way that suits you. I want to be able to buy the bread as part of my usual shop, without relying on another way of buying it. Around 14% of consumers prioritise availability.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a half loaf will automatically prevent waste

    A half loaf can still go uneaten if you only occasionally have bread for lunch at home. The size only helps if the amount suits how much you eat.

    Check the number of portions and freeze individual lunch portions if you don’t expect to finish the bread within a few days.

  • Assuming iodised baker’s salt is a standard ingredient

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread does not have to be made with baker’s salt. So you can’t assume it’s listed in the ingredients of every loaf.

    Look for baker’s salt or iodised salt on the label of the variety you choose.

  • Relying on a claim on the front of the pack to assess the whole product

    A claim about fibre, salt or carbohydrates doesn’t tell you which other ingredients and allergens the bread contains.

    Read the nutritional information per 100 g alongside the ingredients list and allergen information, even if one feature immediately catches your eye.

  • Assuming the range or recipe hasn’t changed

    The variety you’re looking for may differ between shops and ways of ordering, and information on the packaging can change too.

    Check availability before you shop and read the current label when you buy the bread.

Brands to compare for half loaves of wholemeal bread

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn sells several half loaves of wholemeal bread, including AH Rond volkoren half.

  • For AH Rond volkoren half, Albert Heijn lists 11 portions of 35 g and 6,9 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Check the current packaging if ingredients or nutritional values are important to your choice.

Jumbo

As well as standard half loaves of wholemeal bread, Jumbo offers a half-loaf variety positioned as lower in carbohydrates.

  • You can compare a standard variety with the specifically positioned one by checking their nutritional information per 100 g.
  • For the lower-carbohydrate variety reviewed, Jumbo lists wheat, barley, soya and egg among its ingredients. Check the allergen information on the packaging.

Lidl

Lidl lists a 400 g Halfje extra volkorenbrood in its range.

  • The stated weight helps you compare the pack with how much bread you use for lunch.
  • Check the fibre, salt and allergens on the current label of the bread you buy.

ALDI

ALDI sells a product called Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half, described as bread with seeds and grains.

  • The ingredients list and nutritional information give you a basis for comparing this variety with a standard half loaf of wholemeal bread.
  • Check the fibre per 100 g and the allergens on the packaging; don’t infer them from the product name.

PLUS

PLUS stocks Boeren volkoren half, among other standard half-loaf varieties.

  • For Boeren volkoren half, PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g, allowing you to compare both values on the same basis.
  • Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the pack you choose.

Dirk

Dirk lists half loaves of wholemeal bread from Bakker van der Akker, including a standard variety.

  • A half loaf could suit a shop for one or two people having lunch at home.
  • Dirk doesn’t list a delivery service, so bear this in mind if you can’t collect the bread from a shop yourself.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does a half loaf of wholemeal bread always prevent bread waste?

No, it depends on how much bread you eat and what you freeze. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days. A whole loaf can still work for you if you freeze portions and use them later.

Is bread in the Netherlands required to contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread does not have to be made with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the specific bread to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.

How do I compare fibre and salt in different half loaves?

Compare the values per 100 g on the current packaging. Also read the legal product description and ingredients so you know which varieties you’re comparing.

Should I check for other ingredients in a lower-carbohydrate variety?

Yes, check the ingredients and allergen information for this variety too. For the half-loaf variety it reviewed, Jumbo lists wheat, barley, soya and egg among the ingredients. Check the packaging of the bread you buy.