Fibre-conscious home workers
You want to replace your usual white bread with a loaf that is clearly wholemeal. Colour alone isn’t enough to go on; the product description and fibre per 100 g will help you compare.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Small households that don’t eat much bread
You only have lunch at home a few days a week, or you don’t eat much bread. In that case, a half loaf, pack size and storage advice may matter more than choosing between two large loaves.
Lunch shoppers who check the label
You want to check the ingredients, allergens, salt or baker’s salt as well as the fibre. If a variety makes a specific carbohydrate claim, the product name alone won’t tell you everything you need to know.
What should you look for?
Start by asking whether you want a standard wholemeal loaf. Then choose a texture and quantity to suit your lunch routine, and finally read the label on the specific loaf.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and compare fibre per 100 g. | If I’m replacing white bread, I want to know that my lunch bread is genuinely wholemeal, not just dark in colour. Around 50% of consumers say wholemeal claims and fibre are their top priorities. |
| Texture and quantity | Consider whether fine wholemeal appeals to you, and whether the pack size and storage advice suit how much you use. | I don’t have lunch at home every day and don’t want to buy a whole loaf that I can’t finish, or I’d prefer a less coarse slice. For around 30% of consumers, this practical lunch routine is the main consideration. |
| Label requirements | Read the ingredients and allergen information; check any carbohydrate comparison and, if relevant, see whether baker’s salt is listed. | An allergen or the ingredients may determine which bread I choose, so I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. For around 20% of consumers, label requirements like these come first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a dark loaf is wholemeal
When replacing white bread, the colour tells you less than the product description. ‘Multigrain’ on its own doesn’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal either.
Check the product description and compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g.
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Choosing a reduced-carbohydrate variety without checking anything else
A carbohydrate comparison applies to the specific product and the reference bread named alongside it. Its ingredients and allergens may differ from those of a standard wholemeal loaf.
Read the comparison and the full ingredients and allergen information before choosing this kind of variety.
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Assuming every loaf is made with baker’s salt
The Dutch Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory. You can’t assume it has been used just from the type of bread.
Check the ingredients list, or ask the baker which salt they use if the bread is sold unpackaged.
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Buying a whole loaf for just a few lunches
The quantity may not suit a short week working from home, even if the bread otherwise meets your preferences.
Compare the pack size with how much you expect to use, and follow the product’s storage or freezing advice.
Supermarket brands to consider
Albert Heijn
An example for anyone looking for a smaller wholemeal loaf for work-from-home lunches.
- Albert Heijn lists its Onze Trots Vloerbrood volkoren half as a 400 g loaf with more than 6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check the packaging for up-to-date ingredients and allergen information before choosing the product.
Jumbo
Offers a fine wholemeal loaf for anyone looking for a less coarse texture, as well as a separate reduced-carbohydrate variety.
- Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g for its Fijn Volkorenbrood.
- The features of its reduced-carbohydrate variety don’t automatically apply to the fine wholemeal loaf; check the label of each one.
Lidl
Lists wholemeal loaves in its range, including a tiger-style wholemeal hearth loaf.
- Lidl also describes an extra-finely milled wholemeal loaf as an example of a different texture.
- Compare the nutritional information and allergens for the loaf you’re actually buying; the type of bread alone won’t tell you these values.
PLUS
Offers both a standard wholemeal loaf and a separate variety with a carbohydrate comparison.
- PLUS lists 6.7 g of fibre per 100 g for its Boeren volkoren heel and says you can freeze the loaf at home on the day you buy it.
- Korenlanders’ carbohydrate comparison applies only in relation to the stated reference product; check the allergens for this variety too.
Bread options on Joybuy
For a work-from-home lunch as an alternative to white bread, these options include different types of bread: flatbread, a rye product and loaves to bake at home. If you’re specifically looking for a standard sliced wholemeal wheat loaf, check the product type and description before choosing.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
This wheat flatbread is a good fit for a lunch where you’d rather have flatbread than standard sliced bread.
The product name lists six pieces. Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging, and see whether baker’s salt is listed if that matters to your choice.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun, 500 g
This rye product is a different bread option from the wholemeal wheat loaf you may be looking for.
The product name states 500 g. Before buying, check the type of bread on the packaging: the product name says buns, while the description refers to sliced rye bread. Check the allergen information too.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
This loaf suits a lunch you can plan ahead, as you’ll need to allow time for defrosting and baking.
The product name states 550 g. Follow the preparation instructions, and check the unit on the nutrition table before comparing fibre.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
The pack of two loaves may suit you if you’re planning several lunches and have space to store the bread.
The product name lists two loaves of 550 g each. Both need to be defrosted and baked; check the storage advice and the unit used for the fibre value.
Frequently asked questions
Is wholemeal bread a better choice than white bread for fibre?
If you want to replace white bread to get more fibre, wholemeal bread is a sensible choice. The Dutch Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible. Before you buy, compare the nutritional information for the specific products per 100 g.
How can I tell if a loaf is genuinely wholemeal?
Check that ‘wholemeal’ appears in the product description, then read the ingredients and nutritional information. Don’t rely solely on a brown colour or the term ‘multigrain’.
Is bread in the Netherlands always made with baker’s salt?
No. The Dutch Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt is not compulsory when baking bread. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list. If the type of salt used matters to you, ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.
How should I store wholemeal bread for a short week working from home?
Follow the storage advice for the loaf you buy and choose a quantity that suits your lunch plans. PLUS says you can freeze its Boeren volkoren heel at home on the day you buy it; for other loaves, check the storage advice on the packaging.