Families who pack bread for school regularly
If bread goes into the lunchbox several times a week, pack size and your child’s preferences both matter. Don’t compare whole and half loaves as though they were the same size.
Who is this relevant to?
Shoppers looking for a different texture
If you find soft, fine-textured bread less suitable for lunch, you could also try coarse bread, tiger bread or a seeded variety. Check the fibre information per 100 g if fibre content is important to you.
Families with allergen requirements or school rules
Before packing the bread, check the label on your chosen loaf and the school’s rules. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, prepacked products must show allergen information on the label; for unpackaged bread, this information must be available before you buy it.
What should you look for?
First, choose a type of bread your child will eat. Then compare how much you need and read the label before putting it in the lunchbox.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount for everyday use | Compare the pack weight and check whether you’re buying a whole or half loaf. | If I make school lunches regularly, I want to know how much bread I’ll get with each shop. Around 42% of consumers put this everyday amount first. |
| Bread that gets eaten | Choose fine, coarse or another crust based on what your child enjoys; also consider how well the bread holds up with fillings in the lunchbox. | Bread that gets left at home doesn’t help me plan lunches, even if it’s easy to find. That’s why around 25% of consumers put their child’s preference ahead of other bread characteristics. |
| Type of bread and fibre | Read the description of the bread type and compare fibre on the same basis: per 100 g. | I’m specifically looking for a coarser or different wholemeal variety and want to know what I’m choosing. For around 25% of consumers, this type of bread is the main priority. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the current label; for unpackaged bread, ask about allergen information before you buy it. | If my child needs to avoid certain ingredients or the school has rules about food brought in from home, I check before packing. For around 8% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Treating a whole and a half loaf as the same amount
Loaves vary in weight and shape, so the number of packs alone doesn’t tell you how many school lunches you can make.
Check the weight on the pack and choose an amount that suits what your household eats.
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Skipping the allergen label
Wholemeal bread may contain wheat or other relevant allergens. Ingredients and warnings can vary from product to product.
Read the current packaging and bear the school’s rules in mind. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergen information before you buy it.
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Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it contains it just from the type of bread.
If you want to know whether your chosen bread contains baker’s salt, read the ingredients or ask the baker.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists several own-brand wholemeal varieties, including round and coarse loaves.
- You can compare different loaf shapes across the range.
- Check whether a specific loaf is still available; the previously listed AH Allinson wholemeal whole loaf was no longer in the range.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists own-brand wholemeal bread in fine, coarse, tiger and half-loaf varieties, among others.
- You can compare the different varieties when choosing bread for a school lunch.
- Check the weight: a half loaf and a whole loaf don’t give you the same amount.
Lidl
Lidl offers fresh and prepacked bread in store.
- A visit to the shop lets you see which types of bread are available.
- Lidl says its fresh bread range may vary from store to store.
ALDI
ALDI lists fine wholemeal bread and a variety called Extra High-Fibre Wholemeal Bread, among others.
- The varieties give you a choice between fine bread and a loaf with a different fibre claim.
- Check the nutritional information for the exact loaf; a claim for one variety doesn’t apply to all wholemeal breads.
PLUS
PLUS lists round, coarse and tiger wholemeal bread, among other varieties.
- The product information for PLUS Wholemeal Tiger Whole Loaf lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
- Check the current packaging for your chosen variety, especially if allergens are a concern.
Dirk
Dirk lists wholemeal loaves from Bakker van der Akker, including a farmhouse wholemeal loaf.
- If you’re looking for farmhouse wholemeal bread, you can consider this variety.
- Check which variety is stocked at your local branch and read the packaging before using it for school.
Bread options on Joybuy
These products show a range of options for school lunches: flatbread, rye bread and round wheat bread. Check the current packaging of each product for a wholemeal label. The round loaves also need time to prepare.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
A flatbread option for a child who enjoys taking this type of bread for lunch. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens before packing it.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun, 500 g
A rye bread option if your child enjoys this type of bread. The product name alone doesn’t confirm that it’s labelled wholemeal, so check the current packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
This pack of two round loaves suits a household that wants to prepare bread for several lunches. Allow time for thawing, baking and cooling before slicing the bread. Check the packaging for allergens too.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
The single-loaf variety is an option if you have time to prepare school lunches at home. Thaw, bake and leave the bread to cool according to the product instructions before slicing it. Check the current allergen label too.
Frequently asked questions
Is ordinary wholemeal bread suitable if a child needs to avoid gluten?
Don’t assume that ordinary wholemeal bread is suitable. For example, PLUS Wholemeal Tiger Whole Loaf lists wheat and barley. Check the current allergen information for your chosen product and follow the school’s rules.
Does all bread in the Netherlands contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. Read the ingredients of your chosen loaf or ask the baker which salt was used.
How should I store a whole loaf for several school lunches?
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you buy. PLUS recommends keeping its Wholemeal Tiger Whole Loaf in a cool, dry, dark place and also provides instructions for freezing that specific product on the day of purchase. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to other bread.