Look for bread labelled ‘wholemeal’ if you want bread made from 100% wholemeal flour for your child’s nursery lunch; this is how the Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines wholemeal bread. If your child finds a coarse texture difficult, compare finer options. Before packing the bread, check the current label and the nursery’s rules on ingredients and allergens.
If you want to check that your bread really is wholemeal and compare its fibre content per 100 g, this is for you. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
If a coarse crust or visible seeds make lunch difficult, you may want to try a finer texture. Lidl describes one of its kids’ breads as being made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.
If you need to check which ingredients and allergens are relevant to your child or their group, and what bread is allowed at nursery, this is for you.
Start by checking for the ‘wholemeal’ label, then compare the texture and the information on the label with what your child will eat and what the nursery allows.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label. When comparing individual loaves, check the fibre per 100 g on the current label. | I want bread for nursery lunches that really is wholemeal, and I want to be able to compare the fibre content. This is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Texture and ease of eating | Check whether the bread is fine or coarse, and whether it has a firm crust or visible seeds. Try a new option at home first. | My child sometimes leaves a coarse crust or visible seeds, so texture matters a lot. Ease of eating is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and nursery rules | Read the current label, including any relevant ‘may contain’ statements, and check what the nursery allows. | When I pack bread, it needs to meet the rules on allergens for my child or their group. This is a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that brown bread contains both wholemeal flour and white flour. So its brown colour doesn’t tell you whether it’s made entirely from wholemeal flour.
Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label rather than relying on the colour, seeds or the name ‘multigrain’.
Albert Heijn and PLUS say that the ingredients and allergen information for their products can change. A page you looked at earlier may therefore not match the bread you pack.
Check the packaging when you buy the bread, and follow the nursery’s rules on allergens and lunches.
Wheat contains gluten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that even small amounts of gluten or cross-contact can be relevant for people with coeliac disease.
If a gluten-free lunch has been agreed, check with the nursery which bread to use and how to pack it. Don’t use ordinary wholemeal wheat bread as a gluten-free alternative.
Bread with seeds or a coarse texture won’t necessarily suit what an individual child will eat at nursery. What’s more, claims about extra fibre apply to the specific product mentioned, not every similar loaf.
Try the texture at home, then compare the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging.
The product information for AH Rond volkoren heel is useful for checking the ingredients and nutritional information for this bread.
Fijn Volkorenbrood is a specific product to consider if a finer bread texture is important.
Lidl describes a particular wholemeal kids’ bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.
ALDI describes an Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood as a separate option for anyone comparing nutritional information.
Product information on ingredients, allergens and storage is available for PLUS Boeren volkoren heel.
Dirk describes Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren heel as a bread suitable for occasions including lunch.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, while brown bread combines wholemeal flour and white flour. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check for the ‘wholemeal’ label.
Check for gluten if your child needs a gluten-free lunch or the nursery’s allergy policy requires it. Ordinary wholemeal wheat bread contains gluten. For a gluten-free lunch, also check with the nursery how to avoid possible cross-contact.
Before you buy, ask the seller for the allergen information for that specific bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must also be available for unpackaged foods. Then check the nursery’s rules to find out what you can pack.
Check the ingredients for the specific bread for a statement such as ‘iodised salt’. Albert Heijn lists this ingredient for AH Rond volkoren heel; don’t assume other breads contain it too.
Follow the storage advice for the bread you buy. PLUS says its Boeren volkoren heel can be frozen at home on the day you buy it and should be used within one month. This advice doesn’t automatically apply to other breads.
