For a school lunch prepared in advance, soft wholemeal toastie bread is a different choice from crisp wholemeal toast. The latter is better suited to a dry snack or a lunch with the topping packed separately. Wholemeal crackers and rusks can also make a crisp base, but they are not toast. Whichever you choose, check that the product is labelled wholemeal, read the pack and check the school or after-school club’s rules before packing it.
If you want to pack a wholemeal option, you also need to decide how it will be eaten: prepared in advance, plain or with the topping packed separately. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends wholemeal or brown bread as part of its advice for primary school lunches.
The words on the front of a pack are not interchangeable. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), a product can only be labelled wholemeal if all its grain content comes from wholemeal flour. To compare nutritional value, use the same measure, such as fibre per 100 g.
The specific product matters, including the topping. Check the latest allergen information and ask the school or after-school club about the rules for the group. Don’t rely on the brand name alone or assume a previous purchase is still suitable.
First decide whether the lunch will be prepared in advance or needs to stay crisp. Then compare the wholemeal label and nutritional information on packs suited to that use.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal content and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g on the pack. | If I’m switching mainly for wholegrain and fibre, I want to know what’s in the product I choose. For around 36% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
| How easy it is to eat at lunchtime | Choose between a soft base to prepare in advance and a crisp product with the topping packed separately if needed. | If lunch won’t be eaten until after the journey to school, I want the food to be enjoyable to eat when lunchtime comes. Around 29% of consumers give this lunchtime convenience top priority. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the latest allergen information for both the product and the topping, and check the school or after-school club’s rules. | If there are allergy rules at home or in the group, I need to know the combination is suitable before packing it. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Storage and planning | Check the best-before date and storage instructions. Only follow freezing advice if it applies to the product you’ve chosen. | If you plan lunches in advance, you’ll want the pack size and storage advice to suit how quickly you’ll use the product. For around 14% of consumers, keeping a useful stock is the top priority. |
On their own, these features don’t mean that all the grain content comes from wholemeal flour. The NVWA bases the wholemeal label on the composition of the grain content.
Use the wholemeal label as your first check, then read the ingredients list and nutritional information on the pack you’re buying.
The topping can also add allergens to a packed lunch. So choosing a suitable toast product doesn’t automatically make the whole combination suitable.
Check the ingredients and allergens in both parts. If the topping is perishable, consider how it will be stored until lunchtime.
Toast, toastie bread, crackers and rusks all have different shapes and textures. Moist toppings can make a crisp base less crunchy before break time.
For a sandwich prepared in advance, choose a soft bread base. Alternatively, pack the topping separately with a crisp option if that’s practical.
A product’s ingredients and nutritional information can change. This is particularly important if your choice depends on a specific allergen or ingredient.
Check the pack of the product you’ve chosen again when you buy it, even if you already know the brand.
For anyone specifically looking for crisp wholemeal Melba toast.
AH Extra Lang Lekker Wholemeal Toastie Bread is a soft bread base for anyone wanting to prepare lunch in advance.
A supermarket own-brand option for comparing toast with other crisp bread products.
A brand to consider if wholemeal crackers, crispbread or rusks are also options.
These products are crisp wholemeal crackers or crispbreads for a school lunch or snack. They’re used differently from soft toastie bread prepared in advance, and they aren’t Melba toast. Check each pack to make sure the ingredients and allergens are suitable for your lunch.
Image unavailable
A crisp alternative if you don’t want to pack a soft bread base. Crispbread isn’t toast; check the ingredients and allergens on the latest pack before taking it to school.
Image unavailable
Wholemeal crackers for anyone looking for a crisp addition to lunch. Choose a topping that suits their shape and pack it separately if needed. Check the latest pack for allergen information.
Image unavailable
A crisp base for lunch or a snack, but not a soft sandwich or Melba toast. Check that it suits your chosen topping, and read the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
Check whether the specific product is labelled wholemeal and read the ingredients list. According to the NVWA, a product can only be called wholemeal if all its grain content comes from wholemeal flour. Multigrain or a dark colour doesn’t guarantee this.
Toast can be part of lunch, but consider the topping and what else you’re packing too. For primary school lunches, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends options including wholemeal or brown bread, vegetables and fruit. Choose a combination that’s practical to pack and eat during break time.
Read the latest allergen information for both the bread product you’ve chosen and the topping. Compare the specific variants rather than relying on the brand name, and make sure the lunch follows the individual arrangements in place for your child.
Yes. Ask about the local rules if allergies in the group or food policies could affect what you pack. Check before sending in a new product or topping.
