For an older household, start by choosing bread labelled wholemeal, then compare the fibre, salt, ingredients and quantity eaten at home for each pack. A fine or soft variety may suit someone who prefers a different texture, but it is not a solution for swallowing difficulties; speak to your GP about any such problems.
If you want to make a considered choice when buying wholemeal bread, the product label and fibre per 100 g are more useful than the bread’s colour. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fibre, vitamins and minerals as characteristics of wholemeal bread.
A fine, soft or sliced loaf may be more enjoyable at breakfast or lunch. That preference is separate from swallowing difficulties: according to Thuisarts, difficulty swallowing is a reason to contact your GP.
If you’re buying bread for someone else, check the salt, ingredients, allergens, portion size and storage instructions, as well as the type of bread. Albert Heijn and PLUS point out that product information can change, so it’s important to check the current packaging.
First, check that the bread is genuinely wholemeal. Then choose the texture, ingredients and pack size that suit your household.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g. For a serving, consider how much you actually eat. | I want to know that my bread is genuinely wholemeal and how much fibre the pack I choose contains. Wholemeal status and fibre information are top priorities for around 40% of consumers. |
| Texture and how it’s cut | Check whether the bread is fine, soft or sliced, and whether its crust or seeds suit your household’s preferences. Don’t assess swallowing difficulties based on a product description. | A dense slice isn’t enjoyable for everyone, so I look for a texture I like eating. For around 30% of consumers, eating comfort comes first. |
| Salt and ingredients | Compare salt per 100 g and read the ingredients list, including information about the type of salt used and allergens. | When I’m checking what’s in the bread for my household, I don’t want to assume that every wholemeal loaf has the same recipe. Salt and ingredients are the top priorities for around 20% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare a whole loaf with a half loaf, and read the storage and freezing instructions on the packaging. | In a small household, I don’t want to buy a larger loaf than we can use in time. For around 10% of consumers, choosing the right quantity is the main consideration. |
The colour of bread and the presence of different grains don’t, on their own, tell you whether it’s wholemeal.
For packaged bread, check the wholemeal label and use the nutritional information per 100 g to compare products.
A description such as ‘soft’ doesn’t tell you whether the bread is suitable for someone who chokes, coughs while eating or feels that food is getting stuck.
Contact your GP if you have difficulty swallowing. Thuisarts says a dietitian can help you choose suitable food.
A claim about extra fibre or less salt applies to a specific product and a specific comparison. Recipes and nutritional values can vary.
Read the nutrition table and ingredients list on the pack you choose, and compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
If your household doesn’t eat much bread, some of it may go stale before you finish it.
Consider buying a half loaf, or follow the pack’s freezing instructions for portions you won’t use straight away.
Compare specific loaves within a range: a brand name alone won’t tell you the texture, ingredients or nutritional values of the variety you choose.
The range includes several wholemeal options to compare, including round loaves and farmhouse loaves.
The range offers options for comparing fine wholemeal bread, tiger wholemeal bread and seeded bread by texture.
Worth exploring if you’re looking for a finer wholemeal loaf to compare with other types of bread.
A range where you can compare a regular wholemeal loaf with a specific wholemeal variety made with a different recipe.
Worth considering if you want to compare the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of whole loaves.
A half wholemeal loaf may be a suitable pack size for a household that gets through less bread.
These products offer a choice between Lebanese wholemeal bread and round wholemeal loaves that need to be baked before serving. Focus on the shape of bread you want, the preparation required and the quantity in each pack.
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This Lebanese wholemeal bread may suit you if you’re looking for a different shape of bread from a regular whole loaf.
The pack contains 6 pieces. Check the current ingredients and nutritional information if allergens or the type of salt used are important to your choice. A soft texture doesn’t indicate whether a product is suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties.
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This round wholemeal loaf may suit a household that can defrost and bake bread when needed.
This variety weighs 550 g. Check the baking instructions on the packaging, and only compare fibre and salt once you’ve confirmed the units used for the nutritional values.
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This pack may suit a household that can use two round wholemeal loaves and has space to store them.
The pack contains 2 loaves of 550 g each. The loaves need to be defrosted and baked, so consider whether the total quantity and baking instructions suit your household. Check the units for fibre and salt before comparing their values.
For packaged bread, look for the wholemeal label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says brown bread isn’t automatically the same as wholemeal bread; if the bread isn’t packaged, ask the baker about its ingredients.
Not without an individual assessment. A soft texture may be a matter of preference, but Thuisarts advises contacting your GP if you have difficulty swallowing. Any adapted diet should be based on individual advice.
Check the salt content and ingredients of the bread you choose, and follow any personal dietary advice. The wholemeal label doesn’t tell you what type of salt has been used in a particular loaf.
Choose a pack size that suits how much bread you eat: a half loaf may be a better option if you won’t finish a whole loaf in time. If you want to store portions, follow the freezing and storage instructions on the packaging.
