There are many bread choices on the market in a variety of flavors, from breakfast breads and sweetbreads to breads for sandwiches. All breads are not designed the same. Many commercial brands use the same enriched wheat flour formula and preservatives.
There are 6 Sara Lee Bread varieties that are considered vegan. However, some varieties contain monoglycerides and lecithin, which aren’t always vegan. Sara Lee’s website does not state that any of its bread is vegan, so it is best to opt for a vegan-certified bread. The best certified vegan alternatives are Ezekiel 4:9, Dave’s Killer Bread, or Arnold’s Bread.
Sara Lee Breads do not use high fructose corn syrup, nor artificial flavors or colors. They are a good source of calcium, iron, and vitamins A, D, and E. There are no trans fats, but they do contain wheat and wheat gluten for those with sensitivities. In this article, we will cover several varieties of Sara Lee bread products, as well as offer vegan alternatives. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Is Bread Healthy?
Bread is a top food in many people’s diets. Toast for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and rolls on the table for dinner are part of the standard American diet. Bread satisfies cravings and is a comfort food.
Often when people go on a diet, the first thing they think is to give up starches or carbohydrates, such as bread. Additionally, some breads contain wheat and gluten, which many have a sensitivity to. If you are a vegan, you need to look at the ingredients carefully and determine which ones fit your diet.
Servings of whole grains are an important part of any diet. Bread can satisfy this requirement. The best compromise is to study the ingredients of the bread and choose which one works with your particular dietary needs.
Sara Lee Bread Nutrition Facts
Sara Lee is a well-known brand of bread. They manufacture bread under the names Sara Lee, Artesano, and Delightfully Healthy.
Sara Lee makes several varieties of bread that are vegan including:
- Classic White Bread
- 100% Whole Wheat Bread
- Artesano Bakery Bread
- Potato Bread
Sara Lee makes all sorts of other breads that contain honey, d3 from sheep’s wool, or butter/dairy.
- Artesano Golden Wheat Bakery Bread
- Artesano Potato Bakery Bread
- Honey Wheat Bread
- Butter Bread
- Delightful Healthy Multi-Grain Bread
- Delightful Honey Whole Wheat Bread
Sara Lee Classic White Bread
Sara Lee Classic White Bread has no artificial colors or flavors, is a good source of several vitamins and minerals, and has no trans fats. It does contain wheat and wheat gluten, and it is low in calories. Many feel that Sara Lee Classic White Bread is vegan, while and others question the monoglyceride ingredient. Lecithins are sometimes questionable as well. However, this is soy lecithin, so it is probably plant-based.
Ingredients:
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Flour
- Malted Barley Flour
- Reduced Iron
- Niacin
- Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Folic Acid
- Water
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Calcium Sulfate
- Soybean Oil
- Salt
- Wheat Gluten
- Preservatives
- Calcium Propionate
- Sorbic Acid
- Enrichment
- Calcium Sulfate
- Vitamin E Acetate
- Vitamin A Palmitate
- Vitamin D3
- Monoglycerides
- Datem
- Soy Lecithin
- Ferrous Sulfate
- Citric Acid
- Grain Vinegar
- Potassium Iodate
- Monocalcium Phosphate
Nutrition Facts:
- 70 calories per 1 slice of bread
- 1g total fat
- 130mg sodium
- 14g total carbohydrates (1g sugar)
- 2g protein
- Vitamin A – 6% percentage daily allowance
- Calcium – 10% percentage daily allowance
- Iron – 8% percentage daily allowance
- Vitamin D – 6% percentage daily allowance
- Vitamin E – 8%
- Thiamin – 10%
- Riboflavin – 6%
- Niacin – 8%
- 25mcg Folic Acid
Sara Lee 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Whole Wheat Bread is generally considered healthier than white bread. The main ingredient is whole wheat flour instead of enriched flour, which results in 13g whole grains per serving. The same questions occur with the ingredients give this an open issue on the vegan question.
Ingredients:
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Water
- Wheat Gluten
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Soybean Oil
- Salt
- Preservatives
- Calcium Propionate
- Sorbic Acid
- Datem
- Natural Flavors
- Monoglycerides
- Monocalcium Phosphate
- Soy Lecithin
- Citric Acid
- Grain Vinegar
Nutrition Facts
- 80 calories per 1 slice of bread
- 1g total fat
- 115mg sodium
- 10g total carbohydrates (2g dietary fiber, 1g sugar)
- 3g protein
- Calcium – 2% percentage daily allowance
- Iron – 4% percentage daily allowance
Artesano Bakery Bread
Artesano Bakery Bread is also generally considered vegan. The same questions as above are applicable here as well as the ingredient of Natural Flavors. The company makes no claims of this being vegan.
Ingredients:
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Flour
- Malted Barley Flour
- Reduced Iron
- Niacin
- Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Folic Acid
- Water
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Soybean Oil
- Salt
- Wheat Gluten
- Calcium Propionate
- Monoglycerides
- Datem
- Calcium Sulfate
- Soy Lecithin
- Citric Acid
- Potassium Iodate
Nutrition Facts:
- 110 calories per 1 slice of bread
- 15g total fat (0.5g polyunsaturated)
- 180mg sodium
- 20g total carbohydrates (less than 1g dietary fiber and 2g sugar)
- 3g protein
- Calcium – 4% percentage daily allowance
- Iron – 6% percentage daily allowance
- Thiamin – 15% percentage daily allowance
- Riboflavin – 10% percentage daily allowance
- Niacin – 10% percentage daily allowance
- Folic Acid – 15% percentage daily allowance
Delightful Healthy Multi-Grain Bread
This bread is definitely not vegan due to the ingredient of honey solids. It is also made in a bakery that uses milk and tree nuts. Delightfully Healthy is low fat with more whole grains per serving than most breads so it appears to be healthier than other Sara Lee bread choices. This just goes to show that you need to be careful about reading ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Water
- Wheat Gluten
- Whole Grain Mix
- Bulgur Wheat
- Wheat
- Rye
- Oats
- Barley
- Triticale
- Corn
- Millet
- Modified Wheat Starch
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Cellulose Fiber
- Salt
- Preservatives
- Calcium Propionate
- Sorbic Acid
- Vegetable Oil (Soybean)
- Monoglycerides
- Datem
- Natural Flavor
- Wheat Bran
- Cellulose Gum
- Honey Solids
- Monocalcium Phosphate
- Ground Flaxmeal
- Soy Lecithin
- Reb-A (Stevia Leaf Sweetener)
- Citric Acid
- Grain Vinegar
Nutrition Facts:
- 45 calories per 1 slice of bread
- 1g total fat
- 190mg sodium
- 19g total carbohydrates (5g dietary fiber and 2g sugar)
- 5g protein
- Iron – 2% recommended daily allowance
Vegan Alternatives to Sara Lee Bread
There are several breads on the market that use healthier ingredients and fewer preservatives. Below are a few examples.
Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Bread
This is the vegan’s go-to bread. Found in the frozen food aisle, it has all-natural ingredients. It is organic, high fiber, vegan, non-GMO, flourless, and a complete plant protein. Ezekiel bread contains 18 amino acids, including the 9 essential amino acids that comprise a complete protein. Made from freshly sprouted organically grown grains, it is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and natural fiber.
Ezekiel bread comes in several flavors, including:
- Sprouted Grain Bread
- Sesame
- Cinnamon Raisin
- Flax
- Low-Sodium
- 7 Sprouted Grains (plain and Cinnamon Raisin)
- Genesis 1:29 Sprouted Whole Grain and Seed
- 9 Gluten-Free Bread Flavors
- 4 Gluten-Free Sprouted for Life Flavors
Sprouted Grain Bread
Ingredients in the Sprouted Grain Bread:
- Organic Sprouted Wheat
- Filtered Water
- Organic Sprouted Barley
- Organic Sprouted Millet
- Organic Malted Barley
- Organic Sprouted Lentils
- Organic Sprouted Soybeans
- Organic Sprouted Spelt
- Fresh Yeast
- Organic Wheat Gluten
- Sea Salt
Nutrition Facts:
- 80 calories per 1 slice serving
- 5g total fat
- 75mg cholesterol
- 15g total carbohydrates (3g dietary fiber)
- 5g protein
- Many mineral and trace nutrients
Dave’s Killer Bread
Began in the Portland Farmers Market in 2005, a family business became a nationwide brand in 2016. Their breads are certified non-GMO, certified organic, and packed with seeds and grains. With 22g whole grains, the breads bear the Whole Grain sticker. It also carries the kosher certification.
Varieties:
- 21 Whole Grains and Seeds
- Good Seed
- White Bread Done Right
- Powerseed
- 100% Whole Wheat
- Righteous Rye
- Thin Sliced Breads
- Several Breakfast Breads
- Burgers and Buns
21 Whole Grains and Seeds Bread
Ingredients in the 21 Whole Grains and Seeds Bread:
- Organic Whole Wheat Flour
- Organic Cracked Whole Wheat
- Water
- Organic Dried Cane Syrup
- Grain Mix
- Organic Whole Ground Flaxseeds
- Organic Whole Flaxseeds
- Organic Sunflower Seeds
- Organic Oats
- Organic Pumpkin Seeds
- Organic Millet
- Organic Rye
- Organic Brown Rice
- Organic Triticale
- Organic Barley
- Organic Unhulled Sesame Seeds
- Organic Black Sesame Seeds
- Organic Amaranth Flakes
- Organic Buckwheat
- Organic Rolled Spelt
- Organic Blue Cornmeal
- Organic Yellow Corn
- Organic rolled KAMUT Khorasan Wheat
- Organic Poppy Seeds
- Organic Quinoa
- Organic Sorghum
- Organic Wheat Gluten
- Organic Oat Fiber
- Organic Molasses
- Sea Salt
- Yeast
- Organic Cultured Wheat
Nutrition Facts:
- 110 calories in 1 slice
- 5g total fat
- 170mg sodium
- 100mg potassium
- 22g total carbohydrates (5g dietary fiber, 4g sugar)
- 6g protein
Arnold’s Whole Grains
Arnold’s Whole Grains may be sold under other names (in my area they are called Orowheat). The bread is vegan but has several allergens, including milk, soy, tree nuts, and wheat. The bread is made with real hazelnuts, whole grains, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It does not use high fructose corn syrup either. The Whole Grain Council has certified this bread as it contains at least ½ serving of whole grains. This does not mean that it doesn’t also use extra bran, germ, or refined flours.
Not all of the varieties of Arnold Bread are vegan, but many types are, including the Oatnut highlighted here. They also have an organic line of breads that are plant-based. There is a completely plant-based Veggie Herb made with Cauliflower Sandwich Thin Rolls.
Arnold’s Whole Grains Oatnut Bread
Ingredients in Arnold’s Whole Grains Oatnut Bread:
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Water
- Enriched Wheat Flour
- Flour
- Malted Barley Flour
- Reduced Iron
- Niacin
- Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B1)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
- Folic Acid
- Oats
- Sugar
- Wheat Gluten
- Yeast
- Soybean Oil
- Hazelnuts (Filberts)
- Cultured Wheat Flour
- Salt
- Sunflower Seeds
- Soy Lecithin
- Grain Vinegar
- Citric Acid
- Nuts
- Walnuts
- Almonds
Nutrition Facts:
- 120 calories in one slice
- 5g total fat (1g polyunsaturated, 1g monounsaturated)
- 150mg sodium
- 21g carbohydrates (2g dietary fiber, 3g added sugars)
- 4g protein
- 50mg calcium
- 1mg iron
Related Questions
Is Sara Lee Bread Gluten-Free?
No, due to the presence of wheat in the form of flour and gluten. Sara Lee does not have any gluten-free options.
Is Sara Lee Bread Kosher?
Yes, Sara Lee considered letting its kosher certification lapse, but they decided to renew this in 2019.