Choose a rustic wholemeal loaf if you want to put a whole loaf on the table, a smaller loaf for a small gathering, or sliced bread if you’re serving plenty of filled sandwiches. Then check the wholemeal label, compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the allergen information for your guests: a dark crust or the word sourdough doesn’t tell you what’s inside.
If you’re serving bread alongside soup, nibbles or generous toppings, a rustic sourdough or hearth-baked loaf could work well. Just check that the loaf you’ve chosen is available and find out which allergens it contains.
Looks aren’t your only consideration: you’ll want to know whether the bread is sold as wholemeal and how its nutritional information compares with similar loaves. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises comparing nutritional values per 100 g; check the ingredients list too.
If you’re serving several dishes or types of bread, a smaller loaf may be enough. If you’re buying bread in advance, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing it in portions as soon as you get home.
First, decide how you want to serve the bread and how much you’ll need. Then compare the wholemeal label, nutritional information and allergens of the loaves you’re considering for your table.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation and preparation | Check whether the loaf is whole or sliced and whether you need to bake it before serving. | If you want to put a whole loaf on the table alongside nibbles, how you’ll serve it matters. Around 36% of consumers would put presentation first when choosing. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional value | Check the product description and compare fibre and salt in similar loaves per 100 g, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises. | If the name and appearance don’t tell you much about what’s inside, you’ll want to compare the labels first. For around 29% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current information about grains and allergens on the packaging, or ask for it if you’re buying loose bread. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, your choice should be based on the information for that specific loaf. Around 21% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Size and leftovers | Choose a loaf size that suits your group and the rest of the food. If you’re buying in advance, consider freezing it in portions straight away. | If you’re serving lots of other dishes, you won’t want to buy a bigger loaf than you need. For around 14% of consumers, choosing the right size comes first. |
These words don’t tell you about the nutritional value or ingredients on their own. A rustic appearance isn’t a substitute for checking the product description.
Check whether the bread is sold as wholemeal and compare the nutritional information per 100 g for similar products.
Sourdough doesn’t mean gluten-free. For example, the wholemeal sourdough loaves described by Jumbo and PLUS contain different gluten-containing grains and may contain other allergens.
Before buying, check the latest allergen information on the packaging, or ask for it if you’re buying loose bread.
A large loaf may be more than you need for the evening if you’re hosting a small group and serving lots of nibbles.
Choose a size that suits the number of people eating, and if you buy bread in advance, freeze it in portions straight away, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises.
Lidl describes its rustic wholemeal sourdough as an in-store product, while ALDI links Bakkersgoud Rustiek extra volkoren to stores with a bakery section. So a product listing doesn’t tell you where you’ll be able to buy the bread on the day you shop.
Check availability at your chosen store and check the ingredients and allergen information again there.
These examples show the types of products you can compare. The details apply to the loaves mentioned, not to a brand’s entire range.
AH Liefde & Passie Volkoren is an example of a rustic wholemeal sourdough loaf.
Jumbo Dubbel Donker Desem Volkorenbrood is an example of a part-baked hearth loaf.
Lidl lists a rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf for anyone looking for a whole loaf in store.
At ALDI, Bakkersgoud Rustiek extra volkoren and Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood are two different products to assess on their own merits.
PLUS Korenlanders Kleintje is a smaller option for a table with several dishes.
Dirk Batard volkoren is an example of a whole wholemeal loaf to serve at the table.
These round wholemeal loaves from Lekhaven Bakkerij are a good fit if you’re planning to put a whole loaf on the table. Choose one loaf or a pack of two to suit your group and the rest of the food, and allow time to defrost and bake them.
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A single round loaf to share with a group.
Weight: 550 g. Allow time to defrost and bake the loaf; follow the cooking instructions on the packaging.
Compare fibre and salt using the latest nutritional information per 100 g, and check the allergen information for your guests.
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Two round loaves for when one might not be enough for the table.
Contents: two 550 g loaves, 1,100 g in total. If you’re hosting a small group and serving plenty of other food, you may have some left over.
The loaves need to be defrosted and baked; follow the cooking instructions on the packaging. Check the latest nutritional and allergen information too.
Compare similar loaves per 100 g so that different portion sizes don’t affect the comparison. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking the nutritional information table; read the ingredients list as well. For this choice, fibre and salt are useful values to compare.
No. Sourdough doesn’t mean gluten-free. The wholemeal sourdough loaves described by Jumbo and PLUS contain gluten-containing grains, so always check the latest allergen information for the loaf you’re buying.
No, the word wholemeal doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used. Check the ingredients for that specific product, or ask for product information if you’re buying loose bread. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Liefde & Passie Volkoren, but that doesn’t tell you anything about other loaves.
Yes, as long as you plan how you’ll store it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you get home; it may become drier if it’s kept frozen for a long time.
No, check whether the specific loaf is available before you count on it. Albert Heijn said Liefde & Passie Volkoren had been discontinued, Jumbo reported that its Dubbel Donker Desem Volkorenbrood was no longer available online, and Lidl describes its rustic wholemeal sourdough as an in-store product.
