Office lunchers mindful of fibre
You’re looking for bread for your working day that’s clearly wholemeal. The Voedingscentrum describes wholegrain products as higher in fibre than white-grain products.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Planners stocking up on bread
You prepare lunches for several working days and want to freeze any leftover bread in individual portions. The Voedingscentrum provides separate storage times for a kitchen cupboard and a freezer.
Label checkers
You want to check the ingredients, allergens or nutritional values of the specific bread before buying it. If iodine matters to you, check the information for that product rather than making assumptions based on the type of bread.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to take soft slices of bread with you, and how much bread you’ll use during the working week. Then compare the nutritional information for the options that suit your routine.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check that the bread is explicitly labelled wholemeal. If needed, compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutrition table. | If fibre is your priority, you’ll want to be able to identify which bread is wholemeal and how the options you’re considering compare on the same basis. Around 42% of consumers give this need top priority. |
| Convenience and storage | Check whether the bread is sliced and choose a size that suits how much you use; make sure you have room to freeze portions. | If lunch needs to be quick to prepare on a working day, easy slicing and using up leftover bread are important. Around 33% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Label and dietary requirements | Read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the current pack; for unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information. | If you have an allergy or specific dietary requirements, you need to know what’s in the bread. Around 25% of consumers put checking the product ahead of the other considerations. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a dark colour or rustic name means it’s wholemeal
A name such as multigrain or farmhouse loaf doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether you’re choosing the wholemeal option. This distinction matters if fibre is your main reason for buying it.
Choose a product explicitly labelled wholemeal and, if in doubt, compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the specific loaves.
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Buying a whole loaf without a plan for the rest
A large loaf may not suit your lunch routine if you only use a few slices each working day. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread generally keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer.
Choose a size that matches how much you use and, if needed, freeze leftover slices in lunch-sized portions. It’s best not to store bread in the fridge: according to the Voedingscentrum, it dries out there.
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Relying only on an old online product page
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn warns about this on its product pages; information about the product on offer is important for unpackaged bread, too.
Read the packaging of the bread you buy. If it matters to your choice, ask the bakery counter for the latest allergen information.
Brands to compare
These brands offer different wholemeal breads and ways to shop. Always compare the specific option you’re considering: a mention on a brand or category page doesn’t automatically apply to every loaf from that brand.
Albert Heijn
An option if you want to browse wholemeal breads online before choosing one.
- Albert Heijn has an online wholemeal bread category.
- Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change; check the packaging.
Jumbo
An option if you want to choose between different wholemeal varieties online.
- Jumbo includes, among other options, a coarse wholemeal loaf in its range.
- A fibre claim for one variety doesn’t automatically apply to other Jumbo breads; compare the nutritional information for each product.
Lidl
A shopping option if you’re looking for, among other things, a half-loaf of wholemeal bread.
- Lidl lists a half-loaf of extra-wholemeal bread as an in-store product.
- Check the information for the specific loaf when you buy it; a general description of the range is no substitute for the label.
ALDI
A shopping option if you want to browse finely sliced or extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread.
- ALDI lists separate products for finely sliced wholemeal bread and extra-high-fibre wholemeal bread.
- Compare an extra-high-fibre option with the regular bread you’d otherwise choose; a product-specific claim doesn’t apply to the whole range.
PLUS
An option if you want to choose a wholemeal loaf online for delivery or collection.
- PLUS has an online wholemeal bread category.
- Storage instructions may vary by variety; follow the guidance on the packaging of the bread you buy.
Dirk
A shopping option if you’re looking for a wholemeal farmhouse loaf or a higher-fibre variety.
- Dirk lists both types on its product pages.
- Choose based on the name and nutritional information of the specific variety, not just the shape of the loaf.
Bread and lunch alternatives at Joybuy
These products offer different ways to enjoy a lunch with a wholemeal bread product: crispbread, flatbread and round loaves that you bake at home. If you’re looking for soft, pre-sliced bread, pay particular attention to the differences in texture and preparation.
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g'woon Wholemeal Crispbread 375 g
For lunches where crunchy crispbread works better than soft slices of bread.
375 g pack. If you have allergies, check the current label and store the product according to the instructions on the packaging.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P
For anyone who wants to take flatbread with them and doesn’t need sliced bread.
The product name states that the pack contains 6 P. Check the current allergen information on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g × 2
For anyone who wants to use two round loaves for several lunches and has time to bake them at home.
Two 550 g loaves. Allow time to defrost, bake, cool and slice them before lunch. Only compare fibre values once you’ve checked on the current packaging what they refer to.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g
For anyone who wants to bake one round loaf and slice it themselves for lunch.
550 g loaf. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling. Check the current packaging for allergen information and to see what the stated nutritional values are based on.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose wholemeal bread for my office lunch?
Start with bread explicitly labelled wholemeal, then choose a type that suits your lunch routine. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholegrain products contain more fibre than white-grain products. For individual loaves, compare the fibre per 100 g and check the current ingredients and allergen information.
Can I buy a whole loaf of wholemeal bread for several working days?
Yes, if you use the slices in good time or freeze them in portions. The Voedingscentrum gives storage times of 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer for wholemeal bread; choose a size that matches how much you actually eat.
Is it better to keep bread for my lunch in the fridge?
No, the Voedingscentrum advises against storing bread in the fridge because it dries out there. Keep bread you’ll eat soon in a kitchen cupboard and freeze portions if you’ll need them later.
Where can I find allergen information for wholemeal bread?
For packaged bread, read the current label; for unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says customers must be informed about allergens present in food. If you have a specific allergy, don’t rely on the name of the bread alone.
Does the wholemeal bread I buy contain iodine?
Check the packaging for the specific loaf or ask the manufacturer. The Dutch government lists bread with added iodine as a possible source of iodine, but this doesn’t tell you what’s in every individual loaf.