If you want a thick slice of wholemeal bread that’s sturdy enough to hold a generous topping with your afternoon coffee, a whole loaf that you slice yourself or have sliced for you gives you more control over the thickness. Pre-sliced bread is more convenient, but check the slice before assuming it’s thick enough. A thicker slice isn’t automatically suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties; Thuisarts advises contacting your GP.
With your afternoon coffee, you may want a slice you can top as you like. With a whole loaf, you can choose the thickness yourself, provided you can slice it yourself or have it sliced to your liking.
If wholemeal bread is part of your usual afternoon snack, you can compare the nutritional information of different loaves per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis when comparing products.
A thicker or coarser slice isn’t automatically suitable for someone who has difficulty swallowing. Thuisarts advises contacting your GP if you have swallowing difficulties.
Choose this if: you mainly want to decide how thick your slice of bread with coffee should be.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to slice the loaf yourself or ask in advance whether someone can do it for you.
Choose this if: being able to add toppings straight away matters more than choosing the thickness yourself.
Bear in mind: ‘sliced’ doesn’t confirm that the slices are thick.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | With a whole loaf, check whether you can slice it yourself or have it cut more thickly. With pre-sliced bread, look at the actual slice. | I want a slice that can hold a generous topping, and I’d rather choose the thickness myself. Around 31% of consumers prioritise having that control. |
| Chewing and swallowing | Consider whether the slice, crust and crumb are comfortable for the person eating it; if they have swallowing difficulties, ask their GP for advice. | If chewing or swallowing is difficult, ease of eating matters more to me than having a thick slice. This is the first consideration for around 31% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check the product type and compare the stated fibre content per 100 g. | I choose my bread mainly based on whether it’s labelled wholemeal and on its nutritional information. Around 25% of consumers give this priority. |
| Salt and ingredients | Compare the salt content per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information for the bread you choose. | If I need to consider ingredients or allergens, I want to be able to check the specific label. This is the priority for around 13% of consumers. |
‘Coarse’ and ‘sliced’ don’t describe the same thing as the thickness of an individual slice. So a loaf with one of these descriptions may not give you the sturdy slice you’re looking for.
Look at the slice in the shop, or choose a whole loaf if you want to decide the thickness yourself.
The name or appearance of a loaf says nothing about whether it’s suitable for someone who has difficulty swallowing.
Don’t use a thicker slice as a solution to swallowing difficulties. Thuisarts advises contacting your GP if you have swallowing difficulties.
A thick slice and a thin slice can weigh different amounts. So comparing values per slice doesn’t tell you the same thing as comparing the loaves themselves.
Compare fibre and salt per 100 g on the current packaging, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises when comparing labels.
The fact that iodine can be added to bread through bakers’ salt doesn’t mean that every individual loaf contains it.
If this matters to your choice, check the information for the specific loaf or ask the baker.
Albert Heijn offers products including AH OerDesem wholemeal Allinson, sold as a whole sliced loaf.
Jumbo has an online wholemeal bread category with a range of product names.
Lidl lists products including Fijn volkoren, weighing 800 g.
ALDI lists products including sliced wholemeal multigrain bread and a whole loaf called Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood.
PLUS lists Grof volkoren heel, a whole loaf for anyone who wants to slice it themselves.
Dirk’s search results include whole and half wholemeal loaves.
These round loaves suit anyone who wants to slice the bread themselves after preparing it. Remember to allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling before you can cut a slice to have with your afternoon coffee.
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For anyone who wants to choose the slice thickness themselves once the bread is ready to have with their afternoon coffee.
Pack containing two 550 g loaves. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling before slicing.
Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g on the packaging, and consider whether the slice will be comfortable for the person you’re buying for to eat.
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For anyone who wants to prepare one round loaf and then slice it themselves to have with their afternoon coffee.
550 g loaf. Defrosting, baking and cooling all come before slicing.
Check the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging; the product name doesn’t tell you how thick or easy to eat a slice you cut yourself will be.
Choose a whole loaf you can slice yourself, or ask at the bakery counter whether it can be cut more thickly. A description such as ‘whole’ or ‘coarse’ doesn’t specify a set slice thickness, so look at the slice itself if thickness is essential.
You can’t tell from the name of the bread. If someone has difficulty swallowing or chokes while eating, Thuisarts advises contacting their GP rather than experimenting with thicker slices yourself.
Compare the values per 100 g on the nutritional information for both products. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis to compare products; values per slice can give a different impression if the slices weigh different amounts.
You can’t assume that every loaf does. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bread through bakers’ salt; this permission doesn’t confirm that they’re used in every product. If this matters to your choice, check the specific loaf or ask the baker.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the bread you actually choose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on labels; don’t rely solely on a general bread name or image.
