Hosts catering for fussy eaters
You don’t want to serve everyone the same type of bread if tastes differ. A wholemeal base with a separate white alternative gives guests a choice, without assuming that multigrain bread is wholemeal.
Who is this bread choice for?
People keeping an eye on their fibre intake
You want to serve genuinely wholemeal bread with your snacks. Check the product name, ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g, rather than judging by the colour or visible seeds.
Hosts who need to check allergens
You’re buying bread for several guests and need to know which ingredients and allergens each product contains. Check each pack separately, and ask for allergen information before buying unwrapped bread.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you need a white alternative alongside your wholemeal bread. Then choose a bread style that suits how you’ll serve it, and check the labels on the specific products.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving both white and wholemeal bread | Check that the bread you’ve chosen is specifically labelled as wholemeal; choose white bread separately if you’d like. | If not everyone likes the same taste or texture, I want to cater for both preferences. Around 29% of consumers put this compromise first. |
| Wholemeal bread and fibre | Read the ingredients and compare the fibre content per 100 g on the labels of the breads you’re considering. | I mainly want to be sure that the bread on the table is wholemeal, so I check the nutritional information. This is the priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Shape and preparation | Check how many pieces are included and, for part-baked bread, read the preparation instructions on the pack. | If guests are sharing bread with their snacks, I want to be able to serve portions without underestimating the preparation time. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label, or ask for allergen information before buying unwrapped bread. | When I’m buying for guests with specific dietary requirements, I need to be able to check each type of bread separately. Around 14% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming multigrain means wholemeal
According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means that several types of grain are used; it doesn’t automatically mean the bread is made with wholemeal flour. So bread with visible grains or seeds isn’t necessarily the wholemeal option you’re looking for.
Check the product name and ingredients, and compare the fibre content per 100 g if you wish.
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Judging allergens by appearance
You can’t tell which allergens bread contains just by looking at its seeds or dark crust. Recipes also vary from one product to another.
Read the current label on every packaged loaf. For unwrapped bread, ask for allergen information before you buy.
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Leaving part-baked bread until just before you eat
Part-baked bread needs space in the oven or air fryer, as well as time alongside preparing the snacks.
Check the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. If you don’t want to bake anything, choose bread that’s ready to serve.
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Buying too much of every type of bread
If you’re serving snacks too, you may end up with quite a lot of white, wholemeal and multigrain bread left over.
Adjust the amount to suit your group, and divide any leftover bread into portions to freeze.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
An option if you’re looking for a whole multigrain loaf to share.
- Albert Heijn says its AH Vloerbrood multigrain whole loaf contains 31% wholemeal wheat flour and 30% wheat flour.
- The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t make this bread fully wholemeal, and tells you nothing about the brand’s other breads.
Jumbo
An option if you want sliced, finely milled wholemeal bread as a base for sandwiches.
- Jumbo lists wholemeal wheat flour as the first ingredient in its Fijn Volkorenbrood and states that it contains 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- If you’re catering for guests with dietary requirements, check the allergen information on the bread you choose too.
Lidl
An in-store bakery option if you want to choose your bread style shortly before snack night.
- Lidl’s freshly baked range includes white, wholemeal and multigrain bread.
- Lidl says its fresh range may vary from store to store, so check the specific bread and its allergen information in store.
ALDI
An option if you want to compare different wholemeal breads by checking their individual labels.
- ALDI describes its Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood as 100% wholemeal; this claim applies to that specific product.
- Don’t assume this product description applies to other ALDI breads.
PLUS
An option for individual wholemeal multigrain rolls or part-baked baguettes to share.
- PLUS lists its Korenlanders wholemeal multigrain rolls in packs of four, and gives preparation instructions for its part-baked wholemeal multigrain baguettes.
- Check the product-specific allergen information for the rolls, and allow time to bake the baguettes.
Dirk
An option if a half loaf of multigrain wholemeal sandwich bread or a whole multigrain artisan loaf would suit your table.
- Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Casino multigrain wholemeal bread as a half loaf.
- Check the multigrain artisan loaf separately: the same grain description doesn’t mean two breads have the same ingredients or nutritional value.
Bread options at Joybuy
These breads offer different options for choosing wholemeal bread, serving white bread alongside it, or sharing portion-sized multigrain rolls. Check the current ingredients, allergens and any preparation instructions for each product.
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Souq Lebanese wholemeal bread, 6 pieces
Wholemeal flatbread to share with your snacks. The product name states that it contains six pieces; check the current label for allergen information.
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g'woon white baguettes, 2 pieces, 300 g
A separate white alternative for guests who prefer it, served alongside wholemeal bread. The pack contains two baguettes weighing 300 g in total; check the preparation instructions before serving.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 550 g
A wholemeal loaf for your snack table if you have time to prepare and slice it. Check the pack for the correct defrosting and baking instructions, as well as allergen information.
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g'woon multigrain rolls, 4 pieces
Four individual rolls to serve with your snacks. Don’t assume that ‘multigrain’ means they’re wholemeal; check the product name and ingredients to find out.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ means that several types of grain have been used, not that the bread is wholemeal. If you’re looking for a wholemeal option, check the description and ingredients of the specific bread.
Can I ask about allergens in unwrapped bread?
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for unpackaged food must be available before purchase. Ask the retailer if you can’t see the information straight away.
Does all bread contain iodised salt?
Don’t assume it does. Check the ingredients list on the bread you choose for iodised salt or iodised baker’s salt; a mention on another bread tells you nothing about this product.
How should I store leftover wholemeal bread?
Divide the bread into portions if you want to freeze it. The Voedingscentrum gives storage times of 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer for wholemeal bread; also check the bread for signs of spoilage.
Can wholemeal multigrain part-baked bread go in the air fryer?
Some products can: PLUS gives air fryer instructions for its part-baked wholemeal multigrain baguettes. For any other bread, follow the instructions on its own packaging rather than using the time and temperature for PLUS baguettes.