Choose half a wholemeal loaf if you’re buying for a few snack occasions and won’t finish a whole loaf in time. A whole loaf could also work if you freeze it in portions straight away and have enough freezer space. Whichever size you choose, compare the ingredients, fibre per 100 g, salt and allergens for the specific loaf.
If you’re planning just a few breakfasts, lunches or snacks, half a loaf may be a better fit for what you’ll use. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, opened wholemeal bread usually keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard.
If you’re looking specifically for wholemeal bread, look beyond its colour or name. Product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS shows that ingredients, fibre and salt levels vary between products.
If certain ingredients are important to your choice, check the allergen information for the loaf you’re considering. The ingredients list can also help you find out whether iodised salt has been used.
Best for: a few snack occasions when you don’t expect to finish a whole loaf.
Consider: you open less bread at once, but still need to use or freeze the half loaf in time.
Best for: snacks spread throughout the holiday, if you have freezer space and can divide the loaf into portions straight away.
Consider: this approach takes some preparation and freezer space.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and storage | Check the weight or number of slices, then work out how much you’ll use within its storage life or can freeze. | I don’t want to open more bread than I can eat for just a few snack occasions. For around 36% of consumers, getting the right quantity may be the main priority. |
| Wholemeal ingredients and fibre | Read the product description and ingredients, and compare the stated fibre per 100 g. | A dark colour doesn’t tell me enough about the bread I’m choosing. For around 29% of consumers, the wholemeal content may come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current allergen information, salt per 100 g and, if relevant, whether iodised salt is mentioned. | If ingredients matter to me, I don’t want to rely on the bread’s name alone. Around 21% of consumers may see ingredients and allergens as their first consideration. |
| Availability | Check whether the variety is in store or can be delivered; seeing it online doesn’t necessarily mean it’s available. | I want to be able to pick up the bread at the shop I visit and use it for the snacks I’ve planned. For around 14% of consumers, availability may be the deciding factor. |
According to the Dutch baking industry, iodised baker’s salt isn’t used in every loaf. The bread’s name won’t tell you whether it is.
If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for the specific loaf.
You can still have some bread left over, even with a half loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says opened wholemeal bread usually keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard.
Choose a quantity you expect to finish, or divide the loaf into portions to freeze as soon as you get home.
Product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS shows that ingredients and fibre levels vary between recipes for half loaves.
Compare the product description, ingredients and fibre per 100 g for the specific varieties.
Lidl says that one half loaf it lists is only available in store, while Jumbo also shows a half loaf that is no longer available online.
Before you shop, check whether the variety you want is available at your local store or can be delivered.
A good option if you want to compare the ingredients and nutritional information for a specific half wholemeal loaf.
A good option if you want to compare different half wholemeal varieties.
A good option if you want to pick up a half wholemeal loaf when you visit a shop.
A good option if you want to look at a half wholemeal loaf with seeds and grains.
A good option if you want to compare the quantity and nutritional values of a specific half loaf.
A good option if you want to include Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half in your comparison of half loaves.
No, don’t assume that every loaf does. According to the Dutch baking industry, the use of iodised baker’s salt varies, so check the ingredients list for the bread you choose.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says opened wholemeal bread usually keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer. If you won’t use it all soon, divide the loaf into portions to freeze as soon as you get home.
Check the allergen information on the packaging for the specific variety. Ingredients can vary between loaves, so don’t rely on the product name or a variety you looked at previously.
No, the colour or name alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a specific loaf contains. Read the product description and ingredients, and compare the values per 100 g if fibre matters to your choice.
