For those who actively choose wholemeal
You want to pick bread for your picnic that is actually labelled wholemeal, rather than relying on a dark colour or seeds on the crust.
Who is this choice for?
For those catering for fussy eaters
You also want to bring bread for anyone who prefers a lighter slice, without presenting a white and wholemeal blend as fully wholemeal.
For those bringing sandwiches with chilled fillings
You choose your bread and fillings together, and want to transport ingredients that need to stay chilled safely to the park. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using a cool bag.
What should you look for?
First decide whether the wholemeal label is essential, or whether you’d also like to bring another type of bread for fussy eaters. Then plan how to prepare it based on the fillings.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Confidence that it’s wholemeal | Check for the wholemeal label and, where different flours are blended, read the ingredients list. | If I want to serve wholemeal bread, I don’t want to have to rely on its colour. For around 42% of consumers, this certainty is a priority. |
| Choice for fussy eaters | Compare the types of bread and, if needed, bring a separate white or brown loaf. | If not everyone wants to eat wholemeal, I want to be able to offer a clear alternative. Around 33% of consumers prioritise having a choice for diners. |
| Transporting filled sandwiches | Check which fillings need to stay chilled and use a cool bag for the journey. | If I’m bringing chilled fillings, I want to avoid leaving the sandwiches unrefrigerated on the way. Safe transport is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark or multigrain bread is wholemeal
A dark colour, seeds or the word ‘multigrain’ don’t prove that all the grain ingredients are wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be called wholemeal if all its grain ingredients are wholemeal flour.
Look for the wholemeal label and, if the bread is made with a blend of flours, check the ingredients list.
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Assuming bakers’ salt contains iodine as standard
You can’t tell which salt has been used in a particular product just from the type of bread.
If iodised bakers’ salt matters to your choice, check the bread’s ingredients list.
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Choosing the bread but forgetting about chilled fillings
Choosing between wholemeal, brown and white bread doesn’t remove the need to transport fillings that must stay chilled in a cool bag.
Use a cool bag for chilled products and take them out of the fridge shortly before you leave, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s bread range includes products such as Bakkersbrood wholemeal and Waldkorn wholemeal.
- The product names give you a starting point for exploring different types of bread for your picnic.
- The name Waldkorn on its own doesn’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal; check the label on the specific product.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s bread information includes products such as Rond Fijn Volkoren.
- If you’re looking for fine wholemeal bread, this is a product type you can explore.
- Don’t assume that another loaf is fully wholemeal based on terms such as ‘dark’ or ‘multigrain’; check the product information.
Picnic bread options at Joybuy
For your picnic, you could consider a flatbread with Whole Wheat in the product name alongside separate multigrain rolls. Check the ingredients when choosing, and if you’re looking for fully wholemeal bread, check the label on the packaging.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
A flatbread option for sharing with dips at your picnic. Check the packaging to make sure the wholemeal label and ingredients match what you’re looking for.
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g'woon multigrain rolls, 4 pieces
An option of individual rolls if you’d like to offer multigrain bread as well as bread labelled wholemeal. Multigrain doesn’t automatically mean fully wholemeal, so check the ingredients if that distinction matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can bread made with both white and wholemeal flour be called wholemeal bread?
Not if that means the grain ingredients aren’t entirely wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be labelled wholemeal if all its grain ingredients are wholemeal flour. If different flours are blended, check the ingredients list rather than judging by the colour.
How should I store wholemeal bread that I’m not taking with me?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide, opened wholemeal bread keeps for 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer. If you’re only using some of the loaf for your picnic, you can freeze the rest in portions.
How should I take sandwiches with chilled fillings to the park?
Pack fillings that need to stay chilled in a cool bag. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking chilled products out of the fridge shortly before you leave. Prepare and pack the sandwiches with clean hands and utensils, too.