If a fussy eater struggles with coarse grains or a firm bite, start with fine or soft wholemeal bread for a sweet breakfast. If texture isn’t an issue and fibre is a priority, compare standard and extra high-fibre wholemeal bread too. Check the product description, ingredients and nutritional information for every loaf: a dark colour or a multigrain name doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal.
If grains, seeds or a firm bite make the switch difficult, fine or soft wholemeal bread could be a more suitable first choice. For each loaf, check that the product description and ingredients confirm it is wholemeal.
If you mainly want to compare fibre content, you can check the nutritional information per 100 g for standard and extra high-fibre wholemeal bread side by side. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is high in fibre; the amount varies by product.
A familiar supermarket and a suitable loaf size make it easier to stick with the same breakfast choice. Check what your local shop stocks and choose a size you’ll get through at home.
First, choose a texture that people at home will eat. Then compare the wholemeal information and nutritional details of the breads you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and taste | Look for fine wholemeal bread or bread explicitly described as soft; check the product description too. | If coarse grains put people off at home, I want a slice they’ll eat with sweet toppings. Around 31% of consumers prioritise texture. |
| Fibre | Check that it is wholemeal and compare the fibre content per 100 g on the packaging. | If the texture of the bread isn’t an issue, I mainly want to know how much fibre my choice contains. This is the main consideration for around 31% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Read the ingredients, allergens and salt content; look for baker’s salt or iodised salt if that matters to your choice. | When choosing for my household, I want to be able to check exactly what’s in the bread. This is the most important factor for around 23% of consumers. |
| Size and availability | Check whether a whole or half loaf suits how much bread you get through at home, and whether the variety is available in your shop. | If we don’t get through a loaf in time, I’d rather find a suitable size I can pick up with my usual groceries. Around 15% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
Colour, seeds and the number of different grains don’t tell you on their own whether a loaf is wholemeal.
Read the product description and ingredients list, and look for wholemeal flour or wholemeal wheat flour.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking bread is not compulsory in the Netherlands.
Check the label for baker’s salt or iodised salt, or ask the baker.
A claim such as ‘more fibre’ refers to a particular point of comparison and doesn’t tell you how much fibre another loaf contains.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the breads you’re considering.
You may not enjoy a new texture, leaving you with a whole loaf you can’t get through.
If needed, try a smaller size or follow the freezing instructions on the packaging for any bread you won’t use straight away.
AH Volkoren heel is a standard wholemeal wheat loaf to compare with finer-textured varieties.
Jumbo lists both fine wholemeal bread and tiger wholemeal bread in its range.
Lidl lists fine wholemeal bread and a kids’ wholemeal loaf made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.
ALDI lists fine wholemeal bread and a separate extra high-fibre wholemeal variety.
PLUS Rond fijn volkoren heel is a finer-textured wholemeal option to consider if you want to compare textures.
Dirk lists a wholemeal batard, among other wholemeal varieties available to buy in store.
No. Those words alone don’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. Check the product description and ingredients list for wholemeal flour or wholemeal wheat flour.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory. Check the label to see whether the bread contains baker’s salt; if it’s unwrapped, you can ask the baker.
If needed, start with a smaller loaf and see whether you enjoy the texture at breakfast. If you want to freeze some, follow the storage and freezing instructions on the packaging; Albert Heijn says AH Volkoren heel can be frozen on the day of purchase.
