Families who need lots of sandwiches
If you’re making several lunches at home every day during the school holidays, it helps to work out how much you’ll need per loaf before stocking up.
Who is this relevant to?
Parents of fussy lunch eaters
If the texture of the bread determines whether your family will eat it, a finer wholemeal option may be worth comparing. Try one loaf before buying several.
Planners who want to freeze bread
If you plan lunches for several days, check the quantity in each pack and the freezing instructions for the bread you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
Work out how much bread your household eats and what texture everyone will accept. Then consider whether storing or freezing it fits your lunch plans, and check the packaging for ingredients and nutritional information.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Check the net weight and choose an amount your household can finish. | If I need lots of sandwiches every day, I want to have enough bread at home without any going uneaten; around 25% of consumers put the quantity they need first. |
| Texture | Compare a fine-textured wholemeal option with a coarser one, and try one loaf first. | If my child leaves coarser bread uneaten, I look for a wholemeal loaf they’ll enjoy. For around 25% of consumers, how easy it is to eat matters most. |
| Storage | Check whether the specific bread is suitable for freezing and follow the instructions on the packaging. | If lunches are spread over several days, I want to be able to store bread until it’s needed; an estimated 25% of consumers prioritise this kind of planning. |
| Nutritional information | Check the ingredients, allergens, fibre and salt per 100 g, and whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. | If the ingredients are a deciding factor for my household, I want to read the label for the specific product; roughly 25% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming every loaf is made with baker’s salt
According to the Voedingscentrum, bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. So the word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you which salt has been used.
For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt. If you’re choosing unpackaged bread and this matters to you, ask about the ingredients.
-
Buying a whole loaf without a plan for using it
A loaf that goes uneaten won’t help you plan lunches for several days. The Voedingscentrum also lists bread as one of the foods that is often wasted.
Choose an amount that suits your planned lunches. If you want to freeze bread, follow the instructions for the product you’ve chosen.
-
Taking ‘wholemeal’ as complete allergen information
The word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t replace the allergen information for the specific loaf. Ingredients and the risk of cross-contact can vary from product to product.
If you have a relevant allergy, always read the current packaging before using the bread.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn provides detailed product information for AH Volkoren heel, which can help you plan sandwiches and manage your supplies.
- The product page lists 22 servings of 35 g and 6.9 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The freezing instructions apply to this loaf; check the packaging if you choose a different variety.
Jumbo
Jumbo Fijn Volkoren is worth considering if you’re looking for a finer bread texture.
- Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g for this loaf.
- The product information lists wheat, barley and gluten as allergens; check the current packaging.
Lidl
Lidl sells wholemeal bread in various shapes and also describes a variety made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.
- A finely milled variety may be worth considering if bread texture matters at lunchtime.
- Lidl says its range of fresh bread may vary by store.
ALDI
ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen heel, among other wholemeal varieties.
- The different varieties give you a chance to compare the shape of the bread and the ingredients of the specific product.
- Don’t assume that one ALDI loaf has the same features as another just because their names are similar.
PLUS
PLUS Grof volkoren heel is an 800 g loaf with nutritional and storage information available online.
- PLUS lists 6.8 g of fibre and 1.01 g of salt per 100 g, as well as freezing instructions.
- Check the current product information when you buy it; PLUS notes that products may change.
Dirk
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker wholemeal loaves, including Boeren volkoren heel and Batard volkoren.
- The different shapes are worth considering when deciding what will suit your planned lunches.
- Check the net weight and ingredients of the variety you choose; the loaf name alone won’t tell you this.
Wholemeal bread and lunch alternatives
These Joybuy products offer two quantities of wholemeal bread for anyone who wants to bake a loaf when needed, plus Lebanese wholemeal flatbreads as an alternative shape for lunch. See which pack and preparation method suit your lunch plans.
Image unavailable
Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 2 × 550 g
The pack of two whole loaves may suit lunches spread over several days. Allow time to defrost, bake and cool the bread before slicing it. If you have allergies, check the current packaging.
Image unavailable
Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 550 g
One whole loaf may suit you if you’re planning a smaller quantity for lunch. This variety also needs to be defrosted and baked before use, then cooled before slicing.
Image unavailable
Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbreads, 6 pieces
These six flatbreads are an alternative to a whole loaf that you slice yourself. See if this shape suits your planned lunches and, if you have allergies, check the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Does wholemeal bread have to be made with iodised baker’s salt?
No. The Voedingscentrum says that bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. If you want to know which salt is used in a specific loaf, read the ingredients list or ask about unpackaged bread.
How can I plan bread for several days of lunches without wasting much?
Choose an amount you expect to use and only freeze bread according to the instructions for that product. For AH Volkoren heel, Albert Heijn says to freeze it on the day of purchase and use it within one month. PLUS likewise says that PLUS Grof volkoren heel can be frozen on the day of purchase.
What should I check on the label of wholemeal bread for lunch?
Read the ingredients and allergen information, and compare the fibre and salt content per 100 g for the specific products. If you have a relevant allergy, always check the current packaging; the word ‘wholemeal’ on its own does not provide allergen information.