If you’re looking for a wholemeal roll for lunch, choose one labelled ‘wholemeal’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this label means bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. Then compare the fibre and salt per 100 g, allergens and the weight of each roll. Fresh rolls are ready to eat, while bake-at-home versions need to be prepared and stored appropriately.
If you want to swap a white roll for a wholemeal one, look for an explicit wholemeal label and compare the fibre per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines wholemeal bread as being made from 100% wholemeal flour.
As well as the type of bread, you may want to check the salt, ingredients, allergens and portion size. Always read the current packaging of the roll you’re buying.
Fresh rolls don’t need baking. For bake-at-home or frozen versions, consider the storage instructions, whether you have an oven available and how long they take to prepare.
If wholemeal is your main priority, start by checking the label. Then use the nutrition information and preparation instructions to decide which roll suits your lunch plans.
| What to look for | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely wholemeal | Look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging, then compare the fibre per 100 g. | If I want to replace white bread, I don’t want to rely on the brown colour or the seeds. For around 37% of consumers, being sure a product is wholemeal comes first. |
| Label and portion | Read the ingredients, allergens and salt per 100 g, and check the weight of each roll. | If ingredients or salt matter to me, the label needs to match what I want to eat. For around 27% of consumers, checking this comes first. |
| Preparation and storage | Check whether the roll is fresh, a bake-at-home product or frozen, and follow the storage and baking instructions. | For a no-prep lunch, I want a fresh roll; for stocking up, I can plan ahead for the preparation time and oven space. Around 18% of consumers put this practical consideration first. |
| Shop’s range | Check the current product name and packaging of the roll available to buy. | I want to find a roll in my shop that actually meets my wholemeal requirements. For around 18% of consumers, finding that option is the first thing to consider. |
A brown colour or several types of grain doesn’t prove that a roll is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging, then read the nutrition information.
The amount of fibre won’t tell you which allergens the roll contains or how much salt there is per portion.
Check the allergen information, ingredients, nutrition information per 100 g and the weight of one roll.
A range can change, and a product page doesn’t necessarily tell you which rolls will be available when you shop.
Check what’s currently available before buying, and read the label on the product in stock.
The nutritional value of your lunch also depends on the portion size and what you put in your roll.
Consider the roll, filling and any extras together when putting your lunch together.
The rolls mentioned vary in type and preparation. A multigrain roll or wholemeal bun isn’t the same product as a wholemeal roll.
Albert Heijn lists both an AH Wholemeal Roll and a Liefde & Passie wholemeal sourdough roll.
Jumbo lists several types of rolls. The wholemeal version described was a frozen product to bake at home.
PLUS lists bake-at-home products including multigrain rolls and sourdough spelt rolls.
Dirk lists, among other products, 1 de Beste multigrain rolls.
ALDI lists a white roll as well as a wholemeal bun.
Lidl offers freshly baked rolls and provides an ingredients and allergens guide for its range.
Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging or in the product name. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this label means bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; ‘brown’ or ‘multigrain’ doesn’t offer the same guarantee.
Read the allergen information and compare the salt per 100 g, as well as the weight of each roll. According to their product information, the Albert Heijn and Jumbo wholemeal rolls described contain gluten-containing cereals. Don’t use their labels as general information about other rolls.
Don’t assume they do. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo wholemeal rolls described list iodised salt in their ingredients, but check the ingredients list of the roll you’re buying if this matters to you.
Follow the instructions for the specific product. For its frozen wholemeal rolls, Jumbo stated that they should be baked from frozen for around 6 minutes in a preheated oven at 200 °C and stored at −18 °C. Other products may have different instructions.
