For everyday breakfasts and lunches, a simple loaf clearly labelled ‘wholemeal’ is the obvious choice. For a special meal, choose a different shape, crust or recipe only if it adds something to the way you serve the bread. And even then, check the product name, ingredients and quantity: a rustic-sounding name is no guarantee that the bread is wholemeal.
For breakfast and lunch, look for a whole loaf labelled as wholemeal, in a quantity that suits how much you use. According to their own range information, ALDI and Jumbo offer several wholemeal breads. Compare the actual packs rather than relying on the bread names alone.
For lunch or drinks with friends, the shape and crust may matter, especially if you want to share bread at the table. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that packaged wholemeal bread must have ‘wholemeal’ on the label. A rustic appearance is no substitute for checking.
If fibre, salt or allergens matter to your choice, compare the information for the exact breads you’re considering. PLUS lists 6.4 g of fibre and 0.99 g of salt per 100 g for PLUS Volkoren tijger heel, and identifies wheat and barley as allergens. These figures apply to that product.
Start by deciding whether the bread needs to be wholemeal. Then choose a quantity and serving style that suit the meal. If you have specific dietary requirements, compare the labels on the individual products.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status | For packaged bread, look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name; for unpackaged bread, ask about its ingredients. | If I’m looking for wholemeal bread, I don’t want to have to rely on a dark colour or the name ‘multigrain’. For around 31% of consumers, knowing for sure that bread is wholemeal comes first. |
| Quantity | Compare whole and half loaves, check the weight and consider how you could store any bread left over. | For everyday use, I want to have enough bread at home without leaving some unused. Around 31% of consumers prioritise choosing the right quantity. |
| Serving style | Think about whether you want to slice or share the bread, and whether a round shape or a different crust would suit the meal. | For a special meal, I want to choose bread that suits the way I’m serving it. The way it’s served matters most to around 23% of consumers. |
| Nutrition information and allergens | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen information for each individual loaf. | If I’m watching a particular ingredient or nutrient, I need information about the exact product. For around 15% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
‘Farmhouse’, ‘stone-baked’ and ‘multigrain’ don’t tell you on their own whether bread is wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that brown bread can be made from a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.
For packaged bread, check that it says ‘wholemeal’; for unpackaged bread, ask about its ingredients.
The difference in pack size can matter more than the difference in appearance, especially if you’re buying bread for more than one meal.
Check the weight and choose a quantity you can use or store.
ALDI compares its specific Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood with regular wholemeal bread, claiming 30% less salt and 30% more fibre. That comparison tells you nothing about a different loaf.
Check the nutrition information per 100 g for the products you’re considering, and see which product the claim applies to.
If you’re serving only part of the loaf, how you store it will determine what you can do with the rest. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months.
Divide any bread you won’t use soon into portions and freeze them in good time.
These supermarkets offer different ways to explore wholemeal bread. Their range information doesn’t compare taste or quality.
Albert Heijn has an online wholemeal bread category, including AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren heel.
Jumbo’s online wholemeal range includes fine, coarse, farmhouse tiger and sunflower seed breads.
ALDI offers freshly baked wholemeal breads, including fine wholemeal and farmhouse tiger wholemeal.
PLUS offers products including PLUS Volkoren tijger heel, with information about its ingredients, allergens and nutrition values.
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren heel as an example of a whole wholemeal loaf.
In its information about whole grains, Lidl mentions a kids’ wholemeal bread made with finely milled wholemeal flour.
These products suit meals where the shape of the bread matters: two round loaves to bake at home and a flatbread to share. They aren’t like-for-like alternatives to a whole loaf for everyday use, so check the latest packaging and preparation instructions before choosing.
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A round loaf for a meal where you want to share bread at the table.
According to the product name, the pack contains two 550 g loaves. This is a frozen bake-at-home product, so allow time for defrosting and oven baking, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
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The round shape suits a meal where you want to serve one loaf.
This is the 550 g version. The bread is a frozen bake-at-home product; follow the packaging instructions for defrosting and baking.
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Flatbread is a different way to serve bread from a traditional whole loaf, and can work well with a meal featuring dips.
The pack contains six pieces. If you have an allergy, check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
For packaged bread, check that ‘wholemeal’ appears on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that brown bread can be made from a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. Colour, seeds and names such as ‘farmhouse’ or ‘multigrain’ are therefore no substitute for checking the product name.
Check the ingredients for the bread or, if it’s unpackaged, ask which salt has been used. Don’t assume that every loaf contains the same ingredients just because it’s the same type of bread.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact loaf you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the rules for declaring allergens on labels; the ingredients in one wholemeal bread don’t automatically apply to another.
If you want to freeze the bread, divide it into portions in good time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. For a specific bake-at-home product, also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
