Who is this choice relevant to?

Travellers taking plenty of sandwiches

If several people will be eating bread on the way, comparing the weight of whole loaves can help. Also check how many slices you actually expect to use.

Small travel groups looking to cut down on waste

Half a loaf may be enough for a few meals. If you have a freezer at home, you can freeze a whole loaf in portions after buying it and take only what you need.

Travellers who read labels carefully

If you want to check the ingredients, fibre per 100 g, allergens or whether baker’s salt is used, you’ll need the packaging for the exact loaf. Don’t rely on the shelf name or appearance alone.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing wholemeal bread for your journey, decide what matters most to you: a comparable quantity, the right amount for your needs, checking the wholemeal label or specific ingredients.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Comparable quantity Check the loaf’s weight and whether it’s a whole or half loaf. If several of us will be eating sandwiches, I want to know how much bread I’m taking before comparing packs. For around 33% of consumers, getting a comparable quantity is the priority.
Portions and waste Choose a whole or half loaf to suit your planned use; check whether you can freeze the rest straight away. On a short journey, I don’t want to be left with a large amount of bread. For around 25% of consumers, choosing an amount that suits their needs matters most.
Wholemeal and fibre Read the product name and ingredients; compare fibre only on the same basis, such as per 100 g. I’m specifically looking for wholemeal bread and want to be able to identify the right product on the label. For around 25% of consumers, checking the product is their main concern.
Allergens and baker’s salt Check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact loaf; if necessary, see whether baker’s salt is listed. If certain ingredients are a deciding factor for me, I want to check them before setting off. For around 17% of consumers, checking the label takes priority.

Common mistakes

  • Comparing different-sized loaves directly

    A whole loaf, half a loaf and a pack of flatbreads can contain very different amounts. Without checking the weight, you won’t know whether you’re comparing like with like.

    Check the weight on the packaging and work out how much bread your group expects to eat.

  • Taking a whole loaf on a short journey

    If you only need a few slices, you may have bread left over before you get round to using it. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread usually keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer.

    Choose half a loaf, or freeze the portions you’re not taking as soon as you’ve bought it.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    Baker’s salt contains added iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Its presence therefore varies from loaf to loaf.

    Read the ingredients list, or ask the baker which salt they’ve used if the bread isn’t packaged.

  • Treating perishable fillings like plain bread

    Fillings that need to be kept chilled require different handling on a car journey from bread without fillings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises not leaving highly perishable food out of the fridge for more than two hours.

    Pack the bread separately and keep perishable fillings chilled, for example in a cool bag with ice packs.

Supermarkets to help you compare

These supermarket examples can help you decide what product information to check before your journey or on the packaging; they say nothing about the range at Joybuy.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists products including AH Tijger volkoren heel in its online bread range.

  • A specific whole loaf gives you a starting point for checking pack size.
  • Always check the information for the exact loaf before choosing; the name alone won’t tell you which portion is right for your journey.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists several wholemeal loaves, including Fijn Volkorenbrood, in its online range.

  • You can compare different shapes and pack sizes.
  • Compare the weight and shape before treating two loaves as equivalent quantities.

Lidl

Lidl has a fresh-from-the-oven bread range that includes Tijgervolkoren heel vloerbrood.

  • A whole artisan-style loaf may suit a group planning several bread-based meals on the way.
  • Lidl says its fresh range may vary by store, so check with your local branch before relying on it.

ALDI

ALDI lists Fijn volkoren in both whole and half loaves in its daily-fresh bread range.

  • Choosing between a whole and half loaf makes it easier to match the quantity to your journey.
  • Treat other ALDI varieties, such as extra high-fibre bread, as separate products and check their own labels.

PLUS

The product page for PLUS Boeren volkoren heel lists the weight, ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and storage instructions.

  • The stated weight is 800 g; the nutritional information for this specific loaf lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g.
  • Check the packaging you buy too, as product information can change.

Dirk

Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Rond volkoren heel as a separate bread product.

  • The product name makes clear that this is a whole, round wholemeal loaf.
  • Check the loaf’s weight if the quantity matters for your journey.

A bread option for the journey at Joybuy

This option is a pack of wholemeal flatbreads for anyone who wants to take individual pieces of bread. Compare the shape and quantity with the whole or half loaf you might otherwise choose for the journey.

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P, pack of flatbreads

Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat 6 P

The pack of six may suit you if you want to take individual portions of bread on your journey.

This is flatbread, not a whole sliced loaf. Check the weight, ingredients, allergens and storage instructions on the packaging to see whether this option is right for your journey.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether a loaf is wholemeal?

Check the wholemeal label and ingredients on the packaging for the exact loaf. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the grain ingredient in a product described as wholemeal must consist entirely of wholemeal flour. So use the product name alongside the label, not instead of it.

How can I take wholemeal bread with me without creating unnecessary waste?

Take only what you expect to eat during the journey, and freeze any leftover portions after buying them if you want to use them later. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says wholemeal bread usually keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer; follow the product’s storage instructions too.

Can I choose ordinary wholemeal bread if I need to avoid gluten?

Don’t assume ordinary wholemeal bread is gluten-free: wheat, rye and barley are gluten-containing grains. Check the ingredients and allergen information for every loaf, and if you need to avoid gluten, choose only a product explicitly labelled gluten-free.

Does every Dutch wholemeal loaf contain baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt contains added iodine, but bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the loaf’s ingredients list or ask which salt has been used if the bread isn’t packaged.