If wholemeal is your main priority, choose a product that is explicitly labelled wholemeal: seeds don’t automatically make a croissant wholemeal. A wholemeal bread roll is a clearer alternative if you’re happy to forgo the croissant shape. If you choose a bake-at-home product, make sure the holiday cottage has a suitable oven and storage space.
You want a breakfast product that is clearly wholemeal. The label and ingredients tell you more than a dark colour or visible seeds. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain cereal products are made from the entire grain.
You want to shop ahead and are considering bake-at-home rolls or frozen products. The most practical option depends on the oven, storage space and the instructions on the packaging.
You want to know before buying which allergens are listed for your chosen product and whether it contains iodised salt. Check each product’s packaging, especially if you’re catering for several guests.
First decide whether wholemeal is a must-have or whether you mainly want a croissant. Then consider which preparation method and ingredients will suit breakfast at your holiday cottage.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal or multiseed | Look for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients. Only compare fibre content if the nutritional values are given on the same basis. | If wholemeal is my priority, I don’t want to judge by visible seeds and would be happy to choose a roll instead of a croissant. An estimated 42% of consumers give this wholemeal choice top priority. |
| Preparation and storage | Check whether the product is fresh, frozen or designed for baking at home, what storage it requires and whether there’s a suitable oven. | If you’re planning several breakfasts without a daily trip to the shops, you’ll need to be able to store and prepare your supplies at the holiday cottage. Convenience comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest allergen information and, if you’re checking for iodine, look at the type of salt in the ingredients list. | If several guests are eating together, I want to know whether the chosen product suits their dietary requirements. For around 25% of consumers, checking the product is their main concern. |
According to Albert Heijn, the AH Meerzaden croissant contains seeds and 3.6 g of fibre per 100 g. However, wheat flour is first on the ingredients list, and the product isn’t labelled wholemeal. So it won’t necessarily meet your need for a wholemeal product.
If wholemeal is your main requirement, let the label and ingredients guide your choice.
You’ll need a suitable oven for products that have to be baked at home. Storage requirements can also vary from one product to another.
Check the kitchen facilities before you leave, and read the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging.
The fact that one product contains iodised salt tells you nothing about the ingredients of another croissant. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the AH Meerzaden croissant.
If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list of the product you’re actually buying.
A multiseed croissant and a wholemeal bread roll may have different ingredients and allergen warnings. The product name alone doesn’t give you the full picture.
Check the latest packaging every time you buy, even if you’ve bought the product before.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a croissant with seeds and want to check whether it’s wholemeal too.
A useful option if you want to compare croissants with individual wholemeal rolls for baking at home.
An example of a clearly labelled wholemeal bread alternative.
Offers examples of croissants and separate wholemeal rolls in its bread range.
Worth considering when choosing between a croissant and a wholemeal bread product while shopping.
A shop to consider if you want to check the ingredients of your chosen croissant in store.
These bread products are alternatives for anyone who would prioritise a wholemeal option over the croissant shape at breakfast in a holiday cottage. Check each product’s wholemeal labelling, type of bread and any preparation instructions.
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A rye bread alternative if you don’t need to serve croissants. The product title lists 500 g. Check the packaging for the wholemeal label and type of bread before buying supplies for several breakfasts.
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A wholemeal wheat bread alternative for several breakfasts; this isn’t a croissant. The product title lists two 550 g loaves. The bake-at-home instructions require an oven and suitable storage space. Follow the baking time on the packaging.
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A wholemeal wheat bread alternative if you’d rather bake bread at your holiday cottage than serve croissants. The product title lists 550 g. Check the storage instructions and follow the baking time on the packaging.
No. Seeds or bran don’t automatically make a croissant wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes wholegrain cereal products as being made from the entire grain. Wheat flour is first on the ingredients list for the AH Meerzaden croissant, and it isn’t labelled wholemeal.
Fresh croissants are a good choice if you want to eat them straight away. Bake-at-home rolls or frozen products work only if you can store and prepare them according to the packaging. Jumbo lists different storage options for bake-at-home rolls, depending on the product, and says they should be prepared in the oven. So check the instructions and the kitchen facilities before buying.
Read the ingredients list for the croissant you’ve chosen and check which type of salt is listed. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the AH Meerzaden croissant; don’t assume this applies to other products.
Check the latest allergen information for each individual product. Albert Heijn lists milk and cereals containing gluten for the AH Meerzaden croissant; PLUS lists ingredients including wheat, barley, soya and milk for its Volkoren bolletjes. Also read any warnings on the packaging.
