For school holiday lunches, start by choosing bread that is clearly labelled wholemeal: sourdough on its own does not tell you whether the bread is wholemeal. Then check the ingredients and allergen information. Sliced bread that you can freeze in portions is handy for regular lunches; a smaller loaf or one you slice yourself may be a better fit if portion size and the shape of the loaf are your main priorities.
You’re looking for bread for lunches at home, on the go or in a lunchbox. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is an option for primary-school children’s lunches. Decide how much you need for each lunch rather than relying on the size of the loaf alone.
You’re looking for the flavour or texture of sourdough, but you also want to buy wholemeal bread. Check that the specific variety has both qualities: sourdough and wholemeal do not mean the same thing.
You want to be able to check the ingredients and any warnings about traces of allergens, or store bread for each lunch. Albert Heijn and PLUS product information shows that ingredients and loaf styles vary between products. For storing bread, the Voedingscentrum recommends freezing it in portions.
Start by checking the wholemeal label and the current packaging. Then choose a loaf style and quantity to suit your planned school holiday lunches.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status and nutritional information | Look for the word wholemeal on the packaging. If you wish, compare nutritional information such as fibre and salt on a like-for-like basis: per 100 g. | If I want wholemeal bread as a regular lunch staple, I need to be able to see that this particular sourdough variety is wholemeal. This is the top priority for around 37% of consumers. |
| Flavour and portion size | Check whether the bread is sliced, needs slicing at home or is sold as a smaller loaf. If you’re considering a seeded variety, check the ingredients. | A loaf that suits your preferred flavour and quantity makes it easier to prepare a lunch that’s just right. Flavour and portion size matter most to around 27% of consumers. |
| Convenience and storage | Check the storage instructions and whether the bread is only available in store. Before buying, think about how many portions you want to freeze. | When our lunch plans change during the holidays, I don’t want to have to use a whole loaf every time. Convenience is the main consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list and any statements about what the bread may contain; don’t rely on the name of the bread alone. | If I need to avoid specific allergens, I want to be able to check the ingredients of each variety separately. Checking the label is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
Sourdough describes how the bread is made, not whether it is made with whole grains. You could end up bringing home a different loaf from the one you wanted for lunch.
Check that the specific variety is labelled wholemeal, then read the ingredients list and nutritional information.
Ingredients and any warnings about traces of allergens vary between recipes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be listed on the label.
Check the current packaging when you buy the bread, even if you’ve bought the same one before.
Holiday plans can change, and opened bread won’t keep indefinitely. A whole loaf isn’t always the most practical amount.
Divide the bread into portions and freeze it after buying. Take out what you need for the next lunch. The Voedingscentrum recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
Compare specific loaves, not just brand names: style, ingredients and nutritional information can vary across a range.
Albert Heijn offers both a whole Dutch-style sourdough loaf and sliced OerDesem wholemeal bread.
PLUS Korenlanders offers a 300 g mini wholemeal sourdough loaf with poppy seeds.
Jumbo includes a wholemeal sourdough loaf with pumpkin in its range of rustic sourdough breads.
Dirk lists both wholemeal bread and sourdough in its fresh bread range.
No. Sourdough describes how the bread is made; check separately whether the specific variety is labelled wholemeal. Read the ingredients list too if you’re comparing loaves.
If bread is an important source of iodine in your diet, it’s worth checking whether it’s made with baker’s salt. The Voedingscentrum highlights the importance of bread made with baker’s salt for iodine intake. The ingredients list can help you check this for a specific variety.
No. According to their product information, the breads mentioned from Albert Heijn and PLUS contain wheat or other cereals that contain gluten. If you’re looking for gluten-free bread, check for an explicit gluten-free label and read the current ingredients list for the loaf you want to buy.
Freeze the bread in portions after buying it, and take out only what you need for each lunch. This is also the Voedingscentrum’s storage advice for wholemeal bread; follow the instructions on the packaging of the loaf you choose as well.
