Which size is right for you?

Regular bread eaters

If you eat bread on several evenings, a whole wholemeal loaf could be a good fit. Check the weight and consider whether you’ll use the whole loaf.

Smaller households

If you only eat bread late at night occasionally, a smaller quantity may be worth considering. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread among the ten foods most often wasted.

Label readers

If you’re looking for a specific recipe, compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact product. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with baker’s salt.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out how much bread you’ll actually eat. Then compare like for like, and read the label if the ingredients are a deciding factor for you.

What to consider What to check Who it’s for
Like-for-like comparison Check the type of bread and its weight. Don’t automatically compare a standard whole loaf with flatbread or a smaller option. If I regularly eat bread late at night, I want to know whether a whole loaf will suit several eating occasions. Around 50% of consumers prioritise comparing like-for-like breads.
Quantity and waste Check whether a smaller size is available and follow the storage instructions for the bread you choose. If I only have a late-night slice now and then, I don’t want to be left with a mostly unused loaf. Around 30% of consumers prioritise reducing waste above all else.
Ingredients Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare the nutritional values per 100 g for the exact products. When I’m looking for a particular type of bread, I want to be able to see for myself what’s in it. The label is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming every whole loaf is the same size

    Whole, half and speciality loaves can vary in weight and shape. So the name alone won’t tell you how much bread you’re taking home.

    Check the weight and compare similar wholemeal loaves before choosing a size.

  • Choosing a large loaf you won’t finish

    Unused bread can cancel out the benefits of choosing a suitable size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread among the ten foods most often wasted.

    Choose an amount you’ll use, or follow the product’s freezing instructions if you want to keep some portions for later.

    A larger loaf also takes up space and needs planning if you want to store unused portions.

  • Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking bread is not compulsory. So you can’t tell whether it’s included from the name of the bread alone.

    Check the ingredients list or ask the baker if you want to know whether baker’s salt was used in that loaf.

  • Assuming one product’s features apply to all wholemeal bread

    A label on a specific type of bread tells you nothing about the ingredients of other loaves from the same brand.

    Check the nutritional information and any conditions attached to the label for the exact product you want to buy.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has an online bread range that includes wholemeal and sourdough options.

  • There are several types of bread to compare by size and style.
  • Check whether each product is actually wholemeal; sourdough on its own doesn’t mean it’s wholemeal.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers own-brand wholemeal bread in options including fine, round, tiger and half loaves.

  • The different shapes give you options for a range of occasions.
  • Check the weight of the option you choose; different shapes aren’t necessarily the same size.

Lidl

Lidl lists Fijn volkoren, weighing 800 g, as well as a Halfje extra volkorenbrood.

  • A whole loaf and a half loaf give you different options for choosing the right quantity.
  • Lidl states that Fijn volkoren is only available in store.

ALDI

ALDI offers an option called Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood heel (wholemeal bread, extra high in fibre).

  • The product description makes it clear which specific option you can compare on the label.
  • Don’t assume the same applies to other ALDI loaves; check the nutritional information for the product you choose.

PLUS

PLUS offers Grof volkoren heel (wholemeal, coarse, whole loaf), weighing 800 g, as well as wholemeal sourdough options.

  • The stated weight of Grof volkoren heel helps you choose a suitable size.
  • Compare the ingredients of each option; coarse wholemeal and wholemeal sourdough are different products.

Dirk

Dirk stocks wholemeal bread from Bakker van der Akker, including Boeren volkoren heel (wholemeal farmhouse loaf).

  • Boeren volkoren heel is a recognisable whole-loaf option to compare with similar breads.
  • Dirk doesn’t list a delivery service, so you may need to visit a store.

Wholemeal bread and other bread options on Joybuy

These two products suit different occasions: a pack of flatbreads for a snack with no baking required, and a round loaf that needs baking first. Most importantly, compare which size and preparation method work for your late-night snack.

Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, 6 P

Souq Lebanese wholemeal flatbread, 6 P

An option for a late-night snack if you want flatbread you can eat without baking it first. The pack contains six flatbreads, so it’s a different style of bread from a standard wholemeal loaf. Check the packaging if allergens are a concern for you.

View on Joybuy
Lekhaven Bakery round wholemeal country loaf, 550 g

Lekhaven Bakery round wholemeal country loaf, 550 g

A 550 g round loaf for anyone who wants to enjoy bread over several eating occasions. It’s a frozen product that needs to be thawed and baked first, so allow time to prepare it before enjoying it as a late-night snack. Check the packaging if allergens are a concern for you.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is wholemeal bread suitable for an impromptu late-night snack?

It can be, as long as the option you choose is ready to eat when you want it. Think about how much you’ll use: flatbread that doesn’t need baking suits a different occasion from a loaf that needs to be thawed and baked first.

Is bread in the Netherlands always made with baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking bread is not compulsory. Check the ingredients list or ask the baker if you want to know whether it’s in a particular loaf.

How should I store wholemeal bread if I’m not going to eat it straight away?

Follow the storage instructions for the specific loaf. PLUS recommends keeping Grof volkoren heel in a cool, dry place away from light. If you want to freeze it, PLUS says you can do so on the day you buy it and use it within one month.

What should I check if I have a food allergy?

Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the exact type of bread. Don’t rely on the name alone or on the ingredients of another loaf in the same range.