Choose half a wholemeal loaf if you want to make regular filled sandwiches for school and won’t use a whole loaf in time. Half a wholemeal toastie loaf is a good fit if you’re making toasties or the stated shelf life matters to you; crisp Melba toast isn’t the same as half a sliced loaf. Check the latest allergen information for each product, and ask about the school’s rules if necessary.
If just one schoolchild takes bread with them, a half loaf may fit your plans better than a whole loaf. You can freeze portions you’ll need later as soon as you get home from shopping, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
For regular sandwiches, it’s useful to check whether a loaf is labelled wholemeal and compare the nutritional information per 100 g. This lets you compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, rather than judging by the bread’s colour or name.
The half loaves and toast products discussed here contain cereals containing gluten. Also check the other listed allergens and any warnings on each pack, and ask about the school’s rules if they apply to your child.
First decide whether the lunch will be made up of regular sandwiches, toasties or small, crisp toasts. Then check which pack size, storage options and allergen information suit your choice.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check that the bread is labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g of similar loaves. Jumbo lists 7,6 g per 100 g for Fijn Volkoren Half, Albert Heijn lists 7,4 g for Extra Lang Lekker Waldkorn Volkoren Half, and Jumbo lists 6,4 g for Tostibrood Volkoren Half. | I want to pack regular sandwiches and use the nutritional information to decide which wholemeal bread suits me. For around 36% of consumers, wholemeal and fibre are likely to be their main purchasing concern. |
| Quantity and storage | Check the pack size, shelf-life information and freezing instructions. Jumbo states that Tostibrood Volkoren Half has a shelf life of 9+ days; Albert Heijn says its Extra Lang Lekker Waldkorn Volkoren Half can be frozen at home on the day of purchase. | If there’s only one schoolchild eating bread, I don’t want to open more than we can use. Around 36% of consumers are likely to prioritise a suitable quantity and planning their supplies. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, even for a product you’ve bought before. Ask the school about its own rules if they’re relevant to the child. | If allergens or school rules affect what can be packed, I want to know before preparing the lunch. For around 28% of consumers, this is likely to be their main purchasing concern. |
Melba toast consists of small, thin pieces of toast. The portions and toppings are different from those for sliced bread, so a pack won’t automatically replace sandwiches in a school lunch.
Choose a half loaf if you want to make sandwiches. Only choose crisp toast if these smaller, dry pieces suit the lunch.
The half wholemeal loaves and wholemeal toast discussed here contain cereals containing gluten. Other allergens and warnings vary by product.
Check the latest packaging and any school rules before packing the lunch.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So you can’t tell which salt has been used just from the fact that it’s bread.
If this matters to you, check whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed on the label.
Even a smaller pack can be left sitting for too long if you only need bread for lunch now and then.
Divide the loaf into portions for different occasions and freeze the portions you’ll need later as soon as you buy it, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Jumbo stocks both a regular half wholemeal loaf and a half wholemeal toastie loaf.
Extra Lang Lekker Waldkorn Volkoren Half is a half loaf for making regular sandwiches.
Lidl lists a 400 g Halfje extra volkorenbrood.
ALDI lists half and whole loaves in its range, including Extra Vezelrijk Volkorenbrood Half.
Wholemeal Melba Toast is a thin, crisp toast for smaller portions with toppings, not a half sliced loaf.
Bolletje lists products including crackers and rusks; these are different from a half sliced loaf.
This rye bread, in a pack of 9 pieces, is one possible bread option for a school lunch. If you’re specifically looking for a half loaf to limit the quantity, compare the pack weight too.
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An option if you’d like to use rye bread as the basis for a school lunch.
The product name states that the pack contains 9 pieces. Check the pack weight if the quantity of a half loaf is particularly important. Also check the wholemeal information and allergens on the latest packaging before packing it for lunch.
Choose half a wholemeal loaf if you want to make regular filled sandwiches. Melba toast consists of smaller, dry and crisp pieces of toast; choose it only if these portions suit the lunch.
Choose a pack size that suits how much you use, and freeze the portions you’ll need later as soon as you buy them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre generally recommends keeping opened bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months; follow any different instructions on the packaging.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Check the label if you want to know whether iodised salt or baker’s salt has been used in a particular loaf.
Keep fillings that spoil quickly chilled, and choose a cool bag or ice pack to suit the fillings, not the bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises not leaving highly perishable food out of the fridge for more than 2 hours.
