What is the best bread for kids?
What's the best thing since sliced bread? Well according to the marketing on bread packaging its thicker sliced bread.
I have my doubts that in this instance the marketers have got it right. In fact in my view when it comes to bread thickness, bigger is not necessarily better.
I am not going to promote low carb eating for kids, nor am I going to determine the best bread type or brand. I am just going to suggest we all have a look at bread slice dimensions and make a sensible/common sense choice the next time we are standing in the bread aisle.
Best bread for kids - Some numbers (based on some label reading at my local supermarket)
- Extra thin, 2 slices: 55g
- Sandwich, 2 slices: 61g
- Super Thick, 2 slices: 94g
- Extra thick, 2 slices: 120g
On the day I visited the supermarket there were approximately 120 loaves of bread available, 11 loaves were sandwich sliced or thinner. This was a relatively good day, my visit was early in the morning so the shelves were fully stocked. On a bad day, there can be even fewer sandwich sliced loaves. I find the selection of bread available in the sandwich sliced ranges is usually much fewer than if I was choosing a thicker sliced style. Many of them are white bread, so there is very very little choice when you are looking for a sandwich sliced wholegrain option. This is a huge bugbear of mine. It almost makes me want to throw a mini tantrum in the bread aisle.... but then I remind myself that I am in my 30's and should leave the tantrums to my two-year old. Supermarkets are very slick operations and are pretty good at matching demand, so I suspect most people must be choosing the thicker slices.
Do we need all this extra bread?
I think the common sense answer to this is no. In fact when it comes to kids, especially my kids, I am pretty adamant that they do not need super or extra thick slices. Sandwich will suit them just fine. I would much rather they fueled up on the fillings between the bread rather than just the bread itself. Does this make me a mean mum or a sensible mum? I hope the answer is the latter.
So do me a favour the next time you are standing in the bread aisle, opt for a sandwich sliced option. If one isn't available let the supermarket know (i.e. write a little message on a feedback form). If the demand for sandwich slice bread goes up, maybe we will all get to benefit from the greater variety.
p.s. I do find it somewhat of a juxtaposition that just below the wording "white super thick' is the label "nourish our kids" (first image)
Whats better than sliced bread? The one thing I always check on the label when choosing good bread for my family is that it is sandwich sliced, I think that is a sensible choice for most kids especially pre-schoolers.
Preservatives in bread
Recently there has also been some new research on child behavior and some of the preservatives in bread, it is something I am now also looking at when choosing bread. I will write a bit more when I have actually digested the literature. In the meant time though, I think if a bread has an exceptionally long shelf life, then it's probably worth skipping. Bread should go moldy, it shouldn't stay fresh for weeks!
