A half wholemeal loaf is a good fit for a small household that expects to eat few sandwiches over Christmas. If you expect to use more bread, a whole loaf may be more practical if the packaging says it can be frozen and you have room to store it in portions. In either case, check that it is labelled wholemeal, along with its weight and the latest ingredients and storage information.
You’re looking for an amount that matches how much you expect to eat over the festive period. It’s also worth checking the storage advice: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread is among the foods wasted most often.
You want to add bread to your Christmas shop that really is wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that a dark colour or the term ‘multigrain’ alone does not mean that bread is wholemeal.
Before buying, you check which grains and other allergens the bread contains, and whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used. Labelling varies by product; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory.
When: you’re in a small household and don’t expect to eat much bread, for example alongside a more substantial Christmas breakfast.
Consider: a half loaf only helps prevent waste if the amount and shelf life suit how you’ll use it.
When: you expect to use more bread and have space to store it in portions.
Consider: check the freezing instructions for the loaf you choose; storage advice for a half loaf does not automatically apply to a whole loaf.
If you’re choosing between these quantities around Christmas, the checks to prioritise will depend mainly on how much bread you expect to use, whether it is labelled wholemeal and its ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Check the actual weight and the storage or freezing advice. Lidl lists its Halfje extra volkorenbrood at 400 g; for PLUS Boeren volkoren half, PLUS recommends freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month. | As someone in a small household, I don’t want to buy more bread than we’ll eat over Christmas, but I also want to know what I can store. Around 42% of consumers prioritise buying a suitable quantity and reducing waste. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional value | Look for the term ‘wholemeal’ and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g for Jumbo Fijn Volkoren Half, while PLUS lists 6.7 g per 100 g for PLUS Boeren volkoren half. | For my Christmas breakfast, I want bread that really is wholemeal, not just dark in colour, and I want to be able to compare its nutritional value. For around 33% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, and check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says baker’s salt is not compulsory in bread. | When ingredients matter to me, I want to see which grains and other allergens are listed, and what type of salt has been used, before I buy. For around 25% of consumers, checking ingredients comes first. |
A dark colour, seeds or extra grains do not prove that bread is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check the product name and ingredients list.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says using baker’s salt is not compulsory. So, what’s listed for one loaf does not tell you anything about another.
Check the label for baker’s salt or iodised salt, and ask about the ingredients if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
Half loaves can vary in weight and storage advice. A smaller pack will only suit your Christmas shop if you expect to use what’s inside.
Check the weight and follow the freezing instructions for the loaf you buy.
The grains and other ingredients used vary from recipe to recipe. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on the label.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information every time you buy, even if you’ve bought the bread before.
Albert Heijn offers several half wholemeal loaves in its bread range, including AH Boeren grof volkorenbrood half.
Jumbo lists Jumbo Fijn Volkoren Half as a half loaf of wholemeal wheat bread.
PLUS offers products including PLUS Boeren volkoren half and a half loaf of Korenlanders wholemeal stone-baked bread.
ALDI lists Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood half as an in-store product.
Lidl lists Halfje extra volkorenbrood as a 400 g in-store product.
Dirk offers Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half in its bread range.
Check that ‘wholemeal’ appears in the product name. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; a dark colour, seeds or the term ‘multigrain’ are not enough on their own to confirm this.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says baker’s salt is not compulsory when baking bread. Check the ingredients on the label or ask which salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
Check the allergen information for the specific loaf, starting with the grains used. Recipes may also list other allergens, so read the latest ingredients list and any may-contain information before buying.
You can, if the storage instructions for the loaf allow it to be frozen. For PLUS Boeren volkoren half, PLUS says you can freeze it at home on the day you buy it and should use it within one month. For any other loaf, follow the storage advice on its packaging.
