Which bread choice is right for you?

The right stepping stone depends on what matters most in your lunchbox: a wholemeal recipe, a less coarse texture or bread that will keep well over several working days.

If wholemeal comes first

You want to be sure the bread is 100% wholemeal, so you compare its product name, ingredients and fibre content, rather than relying on its colour or seeds alone.

If you’re looking for a finer-textured slice

You want to move from a familiar, soft slice to wholemeal bread. Finely milled wholemeal is a good option if it’s mainly the coarse texture putting you off; the packaging will confirm the ingredients.

If you’re planning lunches for the working week

You’re buying for several days, so you’ll want to check the loaf size, how many portions you need and the storage or freezing instructions for your chosen bread.

What should you look for in bread for lunch at work?

First decide whether 100% wholemeal is essential. Then choose a texture and pack size that suit the people eating it and the lunches you have planned.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal and fibre Check the product name and ingredients; compare the fibre per 100 g across different breads. I want to know whether my lunch bread is genuinely wholemeal, even if it has a different texture from white bread. For around 40% of consumers, wholemeal ingredients come first.
Whether the texture goes down well If needed, look for finely milled wholemeal, then check the bread’s product name and ingredients. If a coarse slice gets left uneaten, I want a finer crumb without giving up on wholemeal. For around 30% of consumers, getting the texture right is the top priority.
Portions for the working week Choose a whole or half loaf to suit your planned lunches, and follow the storage and freezing instructions on the packaging. When I’m planning lunches for several working days, I don’t want to buy more bread than we can use. Around 20% of consumers prioritise planning lunch portions.
Ingredients and labelling Check the allergens, salt and whether baker’s salt is listed on the current packaging. If different people are taking the same bread with them, I want to be able to check its ingredients and allergens. For around 10% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority.

Common mistakes when choosing bread

  • Assuming a dark colour means it’s wholemeal

    Brown and multigrain bread can contain white flour as well as wholemeal flour. So the colour and seeds won’t tell you whether your lunch bread is 100% wholemeal.

    Albert Heijn explains that bread can only be labelled wholemeal if it’s made with 100% wholemeal flour. If in doubt, check the ingredients too.

  • Thinking “fine” tells you about all its nutritional values

    A finer texture can make the change more appealing to a fussy eater, but on its own it tells you nothing about the fibre or salt in a particular loaf.

    Use finely milled wholemeal as a guide to the texture you’re looking for, then compare the product name, ingredients and nutritional information.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. So don’t assume every loaf provides the same amount of iodine.

    Check the ingredients list on the packaging of your chosen bread to see whether it contains baker’s salt.

  • Buying a whole loaf without planning portions

    If you’re only preparing a few lunches, you could be left with a whole loaf before you’ve had a chance to use it.

    Choose a suitable size or divide the loaf into portions in good time. Follow the instructions for storing and freezing that particular product.

Supermarket ranges to consider

These shops offer a starting point for comparing types of bread and product information. Make your final choice based on the specific loaf and its current packaging.

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if you want to compare different wholemeal options and sizes.

  • Its product range includes several wholemeal breads, in different shapes and product lines.
  • Albert Heijn points out that brown and multigrain bread can also contain white flour, so check the ingredients of the loaf you choose.

Lidl

Worth considering if a finer wholemeal texture is important when making the switch.

  • Lidl describes its kids’ wholemeal bread as made with extra finely milled wholemeal flour, and includes a fibre meter on packaged loaves.
  • Check the label on the specific loaf you’re buying; the fresh range can vary from store to store.

ALDI

Worth considering if you want to distinguish between finely milled wholemeal, standard wholemeal and a higher-fibre option.

  • ALDI features these different wholemeal options in its fresh daily bread range.
  • A feature ALDI highlights for one specific option won’t necessarily apply to its other breads, so compare the individual packs.

PLUS

Worth considering if you want to compare the ingredients, nutritional information and storage instructions for finely milled and standard wholemeal bread.

  • PLUS provides these product details for Rond fijn volkoren and Boeren volkoren.
  • PLUS notes that product information can change; use the current packaging to make your final choice.

Dirk

Worth considering if you want to compare different types of wholemeal bread in one range.

  • Dirk features Boeren volkoren, Extra vezels volkoren and Casino volkoren from Bakker van der Akker, among other options.
  • The names distinguish between the options, but you’ll still need to check the details for each individual loaf to compare ingredients and nutritional values.

Joybuy products for lunch

This product is an option for a flatbread lunch rather than sliced sandwiches. Consider it separately from finely milled wholemeal bread: the product name “Whole Wheat” alone doesn’t tell you everything about its ingredients.

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, pack of six flatbreads

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces

Worth considering if you’re looking for flatbread for several lunch portions, rather than as a replacement for the finely milled wholemeal slice in your transition plan.

Check the full ingredients list on the packaging and whether the bread is 100% wholemeal. If you have allergies, check the current allergen information too, and look for baker’s salt if that matters to your choice.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is finely milled wholemeal a good stepping stone for a fussy eater?

Finely milled wholemeal can be a good stepping stone if it’s mainly the coarse texture that’s putting them off. For example, Lidl describes a bread made with extra finely milled wholemeal flour. Check the product name and ingredients of the bread you buy, as “fine” alone doesn’t confirm what it’s made from.

How do I compare the fibre in two loaves?

Compare the fibre per 100 g, or work out the values for the same portion size. A value per slice isn’t directly comparable with one per roll, so use the nutritional information for the breads you’re actually considering.

What should I look for in a lunchbox when it comes to allergens?

Check the allergen information for every bread you buy for other people, even if you’ve bought the same product line before. Read the current label on packaged bread, and ask for allergen information before choosing unpackaged bread.

Does every loaf contain iodine from baker’s salt?

No, you can’t assume that every loaf is made with baker’s salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using it isn’t compulsory, so check the ingredients list if this distinction matters when choosing your bread.

Can I freeze bread for several working days?

Follow the freezing instructions for the bread you choose. PLUS says its whole Boeren volkoren loaf can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within one month. Don’t automatically apply that timeframe to other breads.