Parents looking for an everyday wholemeal option
You want bread that your toddler can easily eat as part of a regular breakfast. A clear wholemeal choice, suitable texture and easy serving matter more to you than a special appearance.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents planning a special toddler breakfast
You’re considering sourdough or speciality bread for a change from the usual breakfast. You’ll want to know whether it’s wholemeal, whether it needs baking, and which seeds or allergens it contains.
Parents thinking about allergens or childcare
You pack bread for your child or share it away from home. The latest allergen information and the rules at school, nursery or your childminder’s will help determine what you can choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the wholemeal basics. Then consider whether the texture and preparation suit your morning, and check any ingredients that matter for your child or their childcare setting.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal ingredients | Check the bread’s name and ingredients list; don’t judge by its dark colour alone. Compare fibre per equal quantity, for example per 100 g. | I want to know the bread is genuinely wholemeal before choosing a speciality variety. For around 46% of consumers, wholemeal ingredients come first. |
| Texture and morning convenience | Check whether the bread is fine or coarse, what portion you can offer, and whether there are any instructions for defrosting or baking. | If my toddler is still getting used to different bread textures, I want to be able to offer a suitable portion without a lot of preparation. Around 36% of consumers give texture and morning convenience top priority. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Check the latest information on cereals containing gluten, seeds, other relevant allergens and any warnings about traces. | When packing bread for my child, I need to know whether the ingredients are suitable for them and comply with the childcare setting’s rules. For around 18% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark, premium or sourdough means wholemeal
A special appearance or baking method doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether bread is wholemeal. Sourdough describes how the dough rises, according to the Voedingscentrum.
Check the bread’s name and ingredients list first. Then compare the texture and nutritional information of breads that fit your needs.
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Leaving seeds and allergens until after you’ve bought it
As well as cereals containing gluten, speciality bread may contain seeds or other allergens. For example, PLUS states that its Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood volkoren maanzaad may also contain oats, soya, sesame and lupin.
Read the latest packaging before buying, and ask for allergen information if the bread is sold loose. If you’re packing bread for school or childcare, also check the rules in place there.
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Choosing bake-at-home bread without planning your morning
Bread that still needs to be prepared is less convenient when you have little time before your toddler’s breakfast.
Check the preparation instructions and choose a portion your child can eat. If necessary, prepare the bread at another time.
Defrosting, baking and cooling all take extra time before you can serve the bread.
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Treating a product page as the definitive label
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn makes this clear in its bread information.
Use a product page to help you compare options, but base your final choice on the latest packaging or the information provided for loose bread.
Brands and product ranges to consider
These examples show the types of wholemeal bread you can compare. A product range name doesn’t replace checking the individual loaf.
Albert Heijn
AH OerDesem and AH Liefde & Passie are examples to consider if you’re looking for a special wholemeal bread.
- Albert Heijn lists options including AH OerDesem Allinson volkoren and AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren.
- Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. Check the packaging of the bread you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo is a useful point of comparison if you’d like to look at a simpler, fine-textured wholemeal bread as well as speciality bread.
- Jumbo lists Fijn Volkoren in its bread range.
- Jumbo says that a previously listed Dubbel Donker Desem Volkoren variety is no longer part of its online range. Base your choice on the bread and label you actually find.
Lidl
A finer-textured wholemeal bread may be a good option if coarse bread isn’t quite right for your toddler yet.
- Lidl describes a kids’ bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour.
- According to Lidl, this particular bread tastes like brown bread and contains as much fibre as wholemeal bread. Check the latest packaging and the texture of the bread itself.
ALDI
ALDI offers examples to compare if you’re choosing between finely sliced wholemeal bread and a range with a fibre claim.
- ALDI lists Fijn Volkoren as sliced bread and also sells a bread called Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood.
- A fibre claim doesn’t tell you whether the individual bread’s taste, texture and allergens are right for your child; check the packaging for that information.
PLUS
PLUS Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood volkoren maanzaad is an example of a small speciality loaf for a planned breakfast.
- PLUS states that this bread contains 51% wholemeal wheat flour and 8% sourdough.
- The bread contains several cereals with gluten, and PLUS says it may also contain oats, soya, sesame and lupin. Check the latest allergen information if any of these ingredients affect your choice.
Dirk
At Dirk, Bakker van der Akker Batard volkoren is an example for anyone looking for fresh wholemeal bread without specifically choosing sourdough.
- Dirk describes the Batard as wholemeal bread.
- Check the texture and latest label before deciding whether this bread is right for your toddler’s breakfast.
Wholemeal breads at Joybuy
Here you’ll find two round wholemeal loaves for a breakfast you can prepare in advance, and a Lebanese wholemeal flatbread for serving without oven preparation. For all three, choose a texture and portion that suit your toddler, and check the latest packaging for allergens.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread 550 g × 2
For a special breakfast that you can plan ahead.
The bread needs to be defrosted, baked and cooled before serving. Check the baking time on the latest packaging, and make sure the texture and allergens are suitable for your child.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread 550 g
For a planned toddler breakfast if you’d like to bake a round loaf and then serve a suitable portion.
Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling. Check the latest packaging for baking times and allergen information.
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Souq Lebanese wholemeal bread, 6 pieces
A flatbread for a breakfast when you want to serve bread without baking it in the oven.
This isn’t a round or sliced sourdough loaf. Check the latest packaging for allergens, and make sure the texture and portion are right for your toddler.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough automatically a better choice for my toddler?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, sourdough describes how bread is made using a sourdough starter; it doesn’t, on its own, tell you whether the bread is wholemeal. Also check the texture, ingredients and allergens in the bread you plan to serve.
About how much bread does a child aged 1 to 3 need?
The Voedingscentrum recommends around 2 to 3 slices of bread a day, usually split between breakfast and lunch. When serving it, take your child’s appetite into account. If breakfast is a struggle, don’t offer too much at once.
What should I check if my child takes bread to childcare?
Check the latest allergen information and the childcare setting’s rules, especially if your child needs to avoid certain ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on the label; you can ask for this information when buying loose bread.
Can I choose bake-at-home wholemeal bread for a toddler’s breakfast?
Yes, if the preparation fits into your morning and you can offer a suitable portion once it’s baked. Check the instructions, wholemeal description and allergens on the packaging of the bread you choose.
Does all wholemeal bread contain iodised baker’s salt?
You can’t assume this is the case for every loaf. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients of the specific bread.