Lunch shoppers who keep an eye on fibre
You’re looking for bread that is genuinely labelled as wholemeal, and want to be able to compare its fibre content. A dark colour or a seeded appearance alone is no indication of this.
Who should consider this choice?
Shoppers short on time at lunchtime
You want bread you can eat straight away. The difference between sliced bread, individual rolls and part-baked products determines how much preparation is needed.
Shoppers who read labels carefully
You check the ingredients, allergens or salt content before choosing. If you need to avoid gluten, current allergen information is important for bread containing wheat, rye or barley.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether your lunch needs to be ready to eat straight away. Then compare the wholemeal label, nutritional information and quantity of the type of bread that suits you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g; don’t rely on colour or words such as ‘rustic’ alone. | If I’m keeping an eye on fibre, I want to know what sort of bread I’m buying. Around 36% of consumers would choose this as their main consideration. |
| Ready to eat and portion size | Check whether the product needs baking and how many rolls or slices are in the pack. | I don’t have time to prepare bread just before lunch, and want to take a suitable portion with me. For around 29% of consumers, practicality would come first. |
| Ingredients and salt | Read the current ingredient and allergen information; compare salt per 100 g if it matters to your choice. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need the label to give me the information before I take anything with me. Around 21% of consumers are expected to make this check their main priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose a size you can use in time, or check whether you can freeze the bread in portions. | If I only have bread for lunch now and then, I don’t want to have a whole loaf left over. For around 14% of consumers, choosing a suitable quantity would be the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark or rustic-looking bread is wholemeal
Appearance doesn’t tell you whether the grain ingredient is wholemeal. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of accurate wholemeal labelling.
Look specifically for the wholemeal label, and check the ingredients and nutritional information for rolls and other grain products too.
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Relying on a high-fibre claim as a complete comparison
A claim on one loaf doesn’t tell you how it compares with another loaf for salt, ingredients or portion size.
Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, preferably per 100 g, and read the current allergen information.
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Buying more bread than you’ll use for lunch
You could have a whole loaf left over if you only need a few slices. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping wholemeal bread in a bread bin for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months.
Choose a smaller size or freeze slices in lunch-sized portions.
Bread that dries out or goes mouldy before you use it contributes to food waste.
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Confusing wholemeal with gluten-free
Wholemeal bread can contain wheat, rye or barley, and may list other allergens too.
If you have a food allergy or need to avoid gluten, always check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens; don’t assume a product is suitable just because it says wholemeal.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The own-brand range includes AH Rond volkoren heel, a wholemeal loaf for lunchtime sandwiches.
- For this specific loaf, Albert Heijn lists 6,9 g of fibre and 0,9 g of salt per 100 g, iodised salt and advice to freeze it.
- Check the packaging when you buy it: ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
Jumbo
Jumbo Fijn Volkoren is a sliced loaf for lunchtime sandwiches.
- For this variety, Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre and 1,00 g of salt per 100 g, as well as allergen information.
- These values don’t automatically apply to other Jumbo wholemeal loaves.
Lidl
Lidl’s range includes a rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf.
- The product description makes clear what type of bread it is.
- Before comparing this loaf with other varieties, read the nutritional and allergen information on the current label.
ALDI
Alongside its regular fine wholemeal bread, ALDI has a variety called Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood.
- For this specific variety, ALDI compares fibre and salt with regular wholemeal bread.
- Don’t use that brand comparison to compare with other shops or ALDI varieties; check the values on the packaging.
PLUS
PLUS sells both wholemeal bread and wholemeal rolls to bake at home.
- For Rond fijn volkoren heel, PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g.
- One wholemeal schnitt roll variety reviewed needs to be baked for 6–8 minutes, so it isn’t a roll you can eat straight away.
Dirk
Dirk’s range includes a wholemeal hearth loaf.
- This type of loaf is an alternative if you’re looking for slices cut from a hearth-baked loaf.
- Use the nutritional information on the current packaging to compare fibre and salt.
Bread products on Joybuy
These products offer different options for lunch: flatbread in a pack of six, a round loaf that needs preparing, and a rye bread product. Check the wholemeal label on each pack and make sure it’s the type of bread you’re actually looking for.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
An option if you want to have flatbread for lunch without using an oven. Check the current ingredients and allergens on the packaging; the product information lists wheat and gluten.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g
This 550 g round loaf is only suitable for a lunch when you have time to prepare it: the product information says to defrost, bake and cool it before slicing. If using a fully wholemeal grain ingredient matters to you, check the current ingredients; the list includes both wholemeal wheat and wheat flour. Only compare fibre and salt once it’s clear what quantity the nutritional values refer to.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun 500 g
A 500 g rye bread product to consider if you can check the type of bread in advance: the title says ‘bun’, while the description refers to sliced rye bread. Check the wholemeal label and ingredients on the packaging too. The product information lists rye, wheat and gluten.
Frequently asked questions
How can I recognise wholemeal bread for lunch?
Look for an explicit wholemeal label and check the current ingredients and nutritional information. A dark colour or rustic name alone doesn’t tell you for sure.
Does all wholemeal bread contain iodised salt?
No, don’t assume it does. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for AH Rond volkoren heel, but check the current ingredients list on the loaf you’re buying for iodised salt or baker’s salt.
Is wholemeal bread gluten-free too?
Not necessarily: wholemeal bread can contain grains with gluten, including wheat, rye and barley. If you need to avoid gluten, check the current ingredients and allergen information, and don’t rely on the wholemeal label alone.
What should I do with a whole loaf if I only have bread for lunch now and then?
Freeze slices in lunch-sized portions if you won’t use the loaf in time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a bread bin for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months.