If your child already enjoys wholemeal bread, clearly labelled wholemeal toast is the obvious choice for filled holiday snacks. If a milder flavour is the priority, soft multigrain or mixed-grain bread can make a good stepping stone. However, its colour and the term ‘multigrain’ don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains.
For filled holiday snacks, they’re looking for sliced bread with a clear wholemeal content rather than plain white toast. The German Nutrition Society recommends checking for the term ‘wholemeal’ when choosing bread.
If a strong flavour or visible grains are off-putting, mild slices may be a better fit. The ingredients list and stated wholemeal content show what’s behind the term ‘multigrain’.
As well as the type of bread, they need to consider allergen information, the best-before date and storage instructions. Check the bread’s condition after opening, too.
When buying sliced bread for holiday snacks, first decide whether a high wholemeal content or a mild flavour matters more. Then check the information on the specific pack.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’, check the stated wholemeal content and compare the fibre per 100 g. | I want to make wholemeal bread a priority for our filled snacks and compare the information on different packs. For around 50% of consumers, this focus on wholemeal comes first. |
| Mild flavour and texture | Check the ingredients and wholemeal content. If the bread contains seeds, consider whether your child will like the texture. | My child likes soft, mild slices but is less keen on noticeable grains. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this when buying. |
| Pack information and storage | Check the allergens, may-contain statements, best-before date and storage instructions on the pack you buy. | If the bread needs to last for several days of the holidays, I want to plan ahead for ingredients and storage. For around 17% of consumers, this peace of mind is the most important reason to buy. |
The German consumer advice centre points out that ‘multigrain’ usually doesn’t mean ‘wholemeal’. Colour alone doesn’t prove that bread contains wholemeal flour, either.
If wholemeal content matters, look for the term ‘wholemeal’, then compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
Multigrain bread can contain fibre without having a similarly high wholemeal content. For example, REWE describes Harry Körner Balance as mild multigrain bread with 8% wholemeal content.
Choose a mild alternative to suit your taste and texture preferences, but check the pack separately to assess its wholemeal content.
Ingredients and possible traces can vary between products. A similar name isn’t a reason to assume that the allergen information is the same.
Every time you buy, check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and may-contain statements on the specific pack.
The best-before date applies to an unopened pack stored correctly. The German consumer advice centre says that if you see mould, you should throw away the whole loaf, not just the affected slice.
Follow the storage instructions, and check opened bread for visible changes and unusual smells before eating it.
The brand offers sliced wholemeal toast for families specifically looking for wholemeal bread.
Körner Balance is a mild multigrain option when taste and texture need to come first for filled snacks.
The ja! Wholemeal Toast Bread listed by REWE is a specific example of sliced wholemeal wheat toast.
EDEKA24 stocks a 400-g pack of Mestemacher Organic Wholemeal Wheat Toast Bread.
Grafschafter Wholemeal Toast is a wholemeal option listed by Lidl.
No. The German consumer advice centre points out that ‘multigrain’ usually doesn’t confirm a wholemeal content. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check for the term ‘wholemeal’ and read the ingredients.
Mild multigrain or mixed-grain bread could be a more appealing option in between. Check the actual wholemeal content separately from the flavour: soft multigrain bread isn’t automatically wholemeal.
Check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any may-contain statements on the specific pack. Information can vary between toast and multigrain bread products.
The German consumer advice centre recommends storing bread in a dry, dark place, usually at room temperature. Also follow the instructions on the pack, and throw away the whole loaf if you see mould.
A best-before date isn’t a use-by date: according to the German consumer advice centre, an unopened product that has been stored correctly may still be safe to eat after this date. Check its appearance and smell. If you see mould, throw away the whole loaf.