For your working-from-home lunch, first choose bread that is explicitly labelled wholemeal. Then let the way you use it guide you to the most practical format: pre-sliced bread for a quick break, or a whole loaf that you freeze in portions if you won’t use it up quickly. Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g on the labels of the breads you’re considering; a fine texture or a claim on the front of the pack won’t tell you how those values compare.
You want to make a considered choice and opt for a wholemeal base for lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal bread as a type of bread that is high in fibre; for specific products, compare the fibre per 100 g.
You don’t eat the same amount of bread every day and want to be able to take out a portion easily. Sliced bread with suitable freezing instructions can be a practical choice.
As well as checking that it’s labelled wholemeal, you want to be able to assess the salt, fibre, ingredients and relevant allergens in the specific bread.
Start by checking that it’s labelled wholemeal. Then compare the nutritional information and choose a type of bread that suits the time you have for lunch and how much you’ll use.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g. | If I use bread as a regular lunch staple, I want to know which type of bread and fibre content I’m choosing. For around 40% of consumers, a fibre-conscious choice is the top priority. |
| Texture and convenience | Check whether the bread is fine-textured or pre-sliced, and which format you’re buying. | When I have a short lunch break, I want to be able to make a sandwich quickly without preparing the bread first. Convenience and texture are the deciding factors for around 30% of consumers. |
| Salt and ingredients | Compare salt per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information for the variant you’ve chosen. | If salt or a particular ingredient affects my choice, I want to be able to read the information for that exact bread. For around 20% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
| Storage and portioning | Check the storage and freezing instructions, and choose an amount that suits how much you use. | If I don’t have lunch at home regularly, I don’t want a whole loaf to go unused. For around 10% of consumers, planning how much to buy is the most important consideration. |
Colour and a multigrain name don’t, on their own, mean that bread is wholemeal. You could end up buying a different type of bread from the one you had in mind for lunch.
For packaged bread, look for the wholemeal label, then compare the fibre per 100 g.
A claim about fibre or salt applies to a specific product and comparison. According to ALDI’s own product information, its Extra Fibre-Rich Wholemeal Bread is compared with ordinary wholemeal bread; that claim doesn’t describe other breads.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the products you’re actually considering.
If you only have lunch at home occasionally, a whole loaf may be around for longer than you’d like.
Choose a suitable size, or freeze the bread in portions according to the product instructions. Throw away any mouldy bread.
The name of the bread doesn’t give you a complete list of ingredients and allergens. The recipe may also change.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergens and possible cross-contamination if this is relevant to you.
The examples below show the product information you can compare for each loaf; they don’t represent a brand’s full range.
AH Extra lang lekker Zaans wholemeal, whole loaf, is a sliced bread with product information covering ingredients, nutritional values and freezing at home.
Jumbo Fine Wholemeal is an example of a fine-textured wholemeal bread with a published nutrition table.
ALDI offers products including Extra Fibre-Rich Wholemeal Bread, Whole Loaf, a variant for anyone who wants to check the nutritional information and the comparison used.
Lidl lists Fine Wholemeal, 800 g, as a bread option for anyone looking for a fine texture.
PLUS Farmer’s Wholemeal Bread, Whole Loaf, 800 g, is worth considering if you want to buy a whole loaf and freeze some of it at home.
Dirk lists Wholemeal Hearth Bread, Whole Loaf, for anyone specifically looking for a wholemeal loaf baked on the hearth.
These Joybuy products offer different wholemeal options for lunch: flatbread, crispbread, a rye product and a round loaf to bake at home. Choose according to the format and preparation time; not every product is a pre-sliced wholemeal sandwich loaf.
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Flatbread for a lunch you can top or serve with a dip; it isn’t a sliced wholemeal loaf.
Check the packaging for current ingredients, allergens and storage instructions, especially for after opening.
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A crisp base for toppings if you’re not looking for soft bread. This is crispbread, not fresh wholemeal bread.
Compare nutritional values on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g, and check the current packaging if you have allergies.
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A rye product to consider if you’re looking for something different from an ordinary wholemeal sandwich for lunch. Before buying, check whether the pack contains rolls or sliced rye bread.
Read the nutritional values per 100 g and the allergen information on the packaging if they’re relevant to your choice.
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A round wholemeal loaf for anyone with time to defrost and bake bread before lunch; it’s less ready to use than pre-sliced bread.
Follow the packaging instructions for preparation and allergen information. Compare fibre and salt only when the nutritional values are shown on the same basis.
Look for the wholemeal label on the packaging; a brown colour or a multigrain name isn’t enough. Then compare the nutritional information for the breads you’re choosing between.
No, wholemeal bread is your choice of bread, not your entire lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests a variety of toppings, as well as vegetables or fruit, as options for putting your lunch together.
Follow the storage instructions for the specific bread. If you won’t use it up quickly, freeze suitable portions according to those instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. For a sealed pack, also check the date shown.
No, check the ingredients list for the specific bread. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for AH Extra lang lekker Zaans wholemeal, whole loaf; this information doesn’t apply to other products.
For packaged bread, read the current ingredients and allergen information; the wholemeal label doesn’t give you a complete list of allergens. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergens and possible cross-contamination if this is relevant to you.
