Fibre-conscious lunch shoppers
If you choose wholemeal bread for its fibre, the product label and nutritional information are more useful than the colour of the bread.
Who should consider this choice?
Busy sandwich-makers
If you prepare lunches for home, school or work, sliced bread makes it easy to get straight to filling your sandwiches.
Households that check labels carefully
If you pay attention to salt, baker’s salt, ingredients or allergens, check the information for the bread variety you choose. It can vary from one product to another.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check that the bread is wholemeal. Then choose a format that suits your lunch, and only after that compare the nutritional information for the products you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g, or per portion if the portion size is clear. | If fibre is my priority at lunch, I want to know whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal rather than judging it by its colour. For around 42% of consumers, this is their main concern when buying. |
| Lunch format and convenience | Check whether you’re buying sliced bread, an individual roll or bread that still needs to be baked. | If I want to fill sandwiches quickly, or would rather take a roll with me, the bread’s format determines my choice. This is the biggest factor for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and compare salt levels on the same basis. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients or allergens, I want to know the composition of this exact loaf. Around 25% of consumers make this their priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark bread, multigrain bread or bread with seeds is automatically wholemeal
According to Brood.net Professionals, the colour doesn’t tell you whether the bread is made with white flour, wholemeal flour or wholegrain flour. Seeds on the crust don’t tell you that either.
Look for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients of the bread you want to buy.
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Applying a claim about one loaf to all wholemeal bread
ALDI compares its specific extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread with standard wholemeal bread. This product comparison says nothing about other breads from ALDI or other brands.
Always check the claims and nutritional values for the exact variety you choose.
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Checking allergens only on the front of the pack
For example, PLUS lists wheat, barley and soya in its Boeren volkoren bread, and says it may contain nuts, sesame and lupin. Other bread varieties may have different ingredients.
Check the current allergen information on the packaging every time you buy.
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Buying more bread than you’ll use for lunches
A whole loaf needs a storage plan if you only need a few portions. Freezing instructions for one loaf won’t necessarily apply to another.
Choose a suitable size and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Brands to consider
These shops offer different wholemeal breads. The specific variety and its current label matter more when comparing products than the shop name alone.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers, among other options, round wholemeal loaves and a longer-lasting wholemeal variety.
- There are different bread formats to consider for lunch.
- Albert Heijn notes that ingredients and nutritional and allergen information may change, so check the packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers fine wholemeal bread, including an own-brand variety and a product from Eurobakker.
- Fine wholemeal bread is an option if you’re looking for sliced bread for sandwiches.
- Compare the fibre, salt and allergens on the current packaging of the variety you choose.
Lidl
Lidl offers freshly baked bread, including fine wholemeal loaves and wholemeal rolls.
- Both loaves and rolls are handy formats for lunch.
- Lidl says its freshly baked range may vary by store.
Aldi
ALDI offers sliced fine wholemeal bread and a separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf.
- ALDI describes its fine wholemeal bread as sliced.
- ALDI’s comparison for its extra-high-fibre bread applies only to that product. Check the information for the variety you’re buying.
Plus
PLUS offers, among other options, a Boeren volkoren wholemeal loaf and a wholemeal baguette.
- The product information for these examples lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
- Check the label of the variety you choose, as product ingredients may change.
Dirk
Dirk offers, among other options, wholemeal floor bread and Boeren volkoren wholemeal bread for breakfast or lunch.
- If you’re looking for a whole loaf, you can compare these two bread formats.
- Read the nutritional values and allergen information on the current packaging before choosing a variety.
Wholemeal bread for different lunches
For a simple lunch, there’s Lebanese wholemeal bread; if you’re considering rye bread, take a look at the Bolletje variety. Lekhaven Bakkerij’s round wholemeal bread, on the other hand, needs time to defrost and bake at home. For each product, check the packaging for the bread format, ingredients and nutritional information that matter to you.
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Souq Lebanese wholemeal bread, 6 pieces
This flatbread is a good fit for a simple lunch. The pack contains 6 pieces; check the current ingredients and allergen information before choosing.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun, 500 g
A rye bread option for lunch. Check whether the pack contains a roll or sliced rye bread: the product title and description suggest different formats.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round, 550 g
This round wholemeal loaf is ideal for a lunch you can plan ahead. It needs to be defrosted and baked before eating; allow time for it to cool before slicing, too.
Frequently asked questions
How can I recognise wholemeal bread for lunch?
Look for the wholemeal label on the packaging and check the ingredients of the bread you choose. Don’t judge it by its dark colour alone: according to Brood.net Professionals, colour doesn’t tell you whether white flour, wholemeal flour or wholegrain flour has been used.
How can I compare the fibre in two wholemeal breads?
Compare the nutritional values on the same basis, for example per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 3.4 g of fibre for a 50 g portion of wholemeal bread; check the packaging for the value of a specific product.
What does the ingredients list tell me about iodine in bread?
Iodine can be added to bread via baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list of the bread you choose to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed; don’t assume that all wholemeal breads have the same ingredients.
Which allergens should I check in wholemeal bread?
Check the allergen information for the exact product. For example, PLUS lists wheat, barley and soya in its Boeren volkoren bread, which may also contain nuts, sesame and lupin; another loaf may differ.
Can I keep a whole loaf for lunches later in the week?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of your bread. PLUS recommends freezing its Boeren volkoren wholemeal loaf on the day of purchase and using it within one month; don’t automatically apply this timescale to other breads.