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Bread Without Sugar: What are the Best Brands?

April 27, 2020   61 Comments

Do you know how hard it is to find bread with no added sugar? Recently, I went off of sugar for three weeks and I had to search!

Bread Without Sugar: What are the Best Brands?

The bad news is that there weren’t many options and the ones that fit the bill were expensive. The good news is that I found my new favorite bread.

My favorite healthy bread is 100% whole wheat and is pretty delicious. You can find decent bread in the store if you look hard enough.

All the breads featured here do have a little sugar (1 gram per slice). Yeast needs sugar in order to create the texture of bread so it is (I believe) impossible for bread to have no sugar added.

Compared to other 100% whole wheat breads that add sugar for flavor, these three breads have far less sugar and are all sprouted grain bread.

Sprouted grain breads may be a little more nutritious than regular bread but I like them because of their lack of added sugar.

Instead of grinding up the whole grains and making flour, the grains have been allowed to germinate before they are ground into flour.

Their flavor comes from the nuttiness of the grain and not from sugar. This makes them a bit of an acquired taste if you are used to sweeter, fluffy bread.

In addition to being the lowest in sugar that I have found, these store bought brands have much more protein than regular bread.

Silver Hills Bakery sprouted bread is made in Canada and a game changer. I don’t know how they do it but the bread is fluffy in texture and very tasty. Can you see all those air bubbles? This was far less dense than many of the other options.

The best one was called “Squirrelly” and did not remind me of anything a squirrel would eat. I didn’t miss the sugar!

I found it at Big Y but it is also can be found in the freezer section at Targets nationwide. Check out: Where to buy.

For one slice of Sprouted Power - The Big 16 (another flavor of Silver Hills Bakery bread):

100 calories, 0 g fat, 0.0 g saturated fat, 18 g carbohydrates, 1 g sugar, 6 g protein, 4.0 g fiber, 135 mg sodium, 3 WW Smart Pts

I ate it with avocado or peanut butter spread on it. YUM!

I found Silver Hills in the freezer section of one grocery store and in the bread section of another store. Ack! Make up your minds! This is not as common as other brands so I would suggest calling your store and finding out if they have it (and then asking them where they keep it).

I have featured two other brands of sprouted bread on my site (usually found in the freezer section). Ezekiel Bread is a great option. My favorite loaf is the raisin bread which has natural sugar because of the raisins. I love it with peanut butter in the morning.

Famously, Trader Joe's has Ezekiel bread in its stores (not in the freezer where I found it at Stop & Shop).

Alvarado Street Bakery has added some new breads in its line up that are fluffier. I tried the sourdough sprouted option and I really liked it (it could have been more sour). As a San Francisco resident for many years, sourdough has a flavor that I enjoy.

I found this brand both on the shelf and in the freezer as well.

Sprouted breads are getting more and more popular it seems, I have been covering them for a while now and I am happy to see so many brands and options.

I buy a couple of loaves when they are on sale (they are expensive for bread) and I always keep them in my freezer.

When I want to eat bread, I pop a slice in my toaster on defrost and there you have it. Keeping bread in the freezer ensure's freshness and you don't run out.

Yes, some of these taste like cardboard but others are fantastic! It is all up to personal preference and my suggestion is to give two or three brands a try before you give up on them. They are a great almost zero added sugar option.

Do you have a favorite bread without sugar? Please share.

Other posts you might like:

Trader Joe's Ezekiel Bread: Nutrition

Trader Joe's Ezekiel Bread: Nutrition

It is hard not to like a bread that is inspired by a book since I love to read....

Have You Tried Sprouted Bread?

Alvarado St. Bakery makes sprouted bread and you can find it all over the country....

Get Free Email Updates! Yes please!

61 Comments:

Sprouted Power looks good, will have to look for it. I've been in a bread rut lately and needing a change. Sometimes I'll get a loaf of Vermont Bread Co.'s but seriously, we need more good bread choices! There's a Big Y nearby, now if only I can pass by their paczki donuts that greet you right as you enter, LOL. Thanks Lisa :)

Ezekiel is my favorite. Since I'm extremely sensitive to salt and have been basically salt-free for decades, I get the low sodium one. I've been using it for years. I did try the Alvarado Street low sodium years ago which was good, but I prefer Ezekiel.

Would it be possible for you to talk about store brand items. I get a sprouted bread at Aldi that is much cheaper. I also use Price Chopper brand items and they are very good.

I recently bought the "original" Ezekiel bread for the first time. I wasn't sure if I liked it the first time or two that I ate it, but now I really enjoy it with mashed avocado on top. The Sprouts close to me carries Silver Hills bread so I'll have to check it out next. Thanks for the review.

Paczki donuts are no longer a temptation because they are not available after Ash Wednesday, which was Feb. 14 this year.

I really like Dave’s Killer Bread! I tell my husband that the last piece, the heel, is mine. I then dump all the seeds left in the bag onto my peanut butter and spread them around. Great breakfast with a fruit and coffee!

Trader Joe’s also has their brand of sprouted grain bread which taste the same as Ezekiel bread but is about a $1 cheaper. Watch out for the sugar in Dave’s Killer Bread, some have as much as 5G per slice!

@Madeline - that is a great idea! Yes, I will work on store brands. Thank you for your question!

I use Joseph's Oat

Bran and Whole Wheat pita rounds for 60 calories each (1 smart point) and there is no sugar. I get them at Market Basket.

Lisa - if you do store brands, please include Trader Joe's!

We were given a zojirushi bread machine and would love your healthiest bread recipes

I make my own. The tsp of sugar in a 2 - 3 loaf batch is mostly consumed by the yeast in the proofing process (yeast + water + sugar = CO2 + alcohol) The CO2 makes the bread rise and the alcohol boiling off is a big part of the fragrance. If you think it is too much work check out the King Arthur Flour site for their "no knead" method ... It does have to sit overnight but is easy, good and has no added sugar at all. I also add cooked quinoi (so?) or mashed cooked beans to the sponge to up the protein. Makes the bread soft and chewy as well. I have been making bread for 50 years and added a stand mixer to my tools a few years ago when I injured my shoulder. With a stand mixer there are no excuses for store bought bread.

All bread still have a lot of carbs. Most grains and some veg also have lectins which kill digestive flora and encourage the growth of bad bacteria causing one to want more carbs (simple and complex) thus causing the formation of belly fat. Instead of offing sugar only, try to abstain from certain carbs. Whole eggs are really a health food and filled with vitamins, minerals, protein, good fat, fight heart disease and fight belly fat. Eat mostly veggies that have a lot of fiber and (exclude potatoes). Exclude grains except for buckwheat, quinoa and a few others. Buckwheat groats (available from Bob's Red Mill) can be popped like popcorn for a great snack.

I still eat tomatoes, peppers, and some grains and beans. I just make sure they are cooked completely to rid them of lectins. There is such a thing called red kidney bean poisoning caused by raw or undercooked kidney beans. These are my favorite so I buy canned and make sure they are very cooked.

Prebiotics help the gut flora and usage of probiotics. Probiotics alone can be killed without multiplying if prebotics are not used with them. It is believed that improper flora is a contributing factor in obesity.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319593.php

When I read the Silver Hills Bakery website for Squirrelly bread, it says it has 180 mg of sodium per slice which is quite a bit. You listed 135 mg. Is that a typo or is that actually what your wrapper lists as the correct amount?

Thanks.

I can’t have gluten so sprouted bread is out. Any recommendations for GF?

@Vivian - I posted the nutritional information for the BIG 16 bread - not the Squirrelly. I will clarify that above. I agree that Squirrelly is a bit too much. I can't win!! Thank you for your comment.

Homemade Grains
No Yeast. No Sugar.
1 "Slice"

4 Tblspns. Whole Wheat 1 tspn. Buckwheat 1 tspn. Hemp Seeds Mixed With Water Upon A Microwavable Plate.

Zap In A Microwave Oven @350 Then At 275 Degrees (In Order To

Dry It).

There Are No Holes In It (it Doesn't rise).

Despite it It Is Very Bendable Also Cuts Easily.

Since None Of The Posters Deploy Anything Oily

What It Cannot wrap Anything oily slippery (Mayo, Miracle

Whip)

What It CAN Wrap Anything Which Is Not Slippery Peanut

Butter Vegs Tomatoe Sauce Stir Fry Sauce.

I Assemble One Of Those For Wraps Pizza.

I Assemble Two Of Those For Sandwiches Calzones.

Trader Joe’s sells sprouted breads that are good. I really like the rye sprouted bread

I agree with you. The Ezekiel Raisin Bread is so good. I also love the Sesame, lots of flavor toasted. I actually lost belly fat when I started adding this bread and complex carbs. High protein diet causes belly fat unless you are a body builder working it off. I love SF sour dough bread and anxious to try the Alvarado bakery one. Does it contain yeast or is it real sour dough?

Jedjp-https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-causes-of-bel…

Low protein and excess carbs cause belly fat.

Foods to eat to combat belly fat.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-causes-of-belly-fat…

I guess the jelly beans I am having for breakfast do not combat belly fat. Someone help! I have a crazy sweettooth! and very little willpower.

Try berries for your sweet tooth. Berries have the lowest amount of sugar. Raspberries have the lowest. Watermelon is good too. If you want sweeter, try oranges, bananas, or kiwi fruit. There is more sugar but loads of antioxidants and vitamins. As a diabetic, I stick with berries.

I tried them. Figs are the only thing that touches my sweet tooth and they are not always available or affordable.

You might want to try Nature's Own Life, Sugar Free, 100% Whole Grain, 11g whole grain per slice. Per slice, 50 calories, 1g Total fat, 125g Sodium, 9g Total carbs, 1g fiber, Og Sugar,<1g maltitol, 4g protein. The Numbers are from the nutrition label. The first ingredient is Whole Wheat Flour followed by Water. I like it best toasted, as it is a little dense.

I love Publix Chicago rolls no sugar if doing ww it’s 3 sp per roll very satisfying

for Peggy and Cathy -It does make a difference that there is no sugar, HOWEVER, any grain has a lot of carbs. Yes, we need some. Carbs are the problem that make us fat, they turn to sugar in the body. No sugar in the bread, so what? That is a marketing ploy.

I recommend Paleo breads that are protein based.

The link below has 2 g of carbs!

https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/low-carb-bread-recipe-…

https://julianbakery.com/product/paleo-bread-almond/

I rarely eat any bread at all. Our brains are addicted to sugar and carbs. The more veggie I eat, the less I want bread, rice or pasta. Doesn't matter if it is whole grain. Don't wait until you are diabetic like me and can rarely, if at all, have bread, pasta or rice.

Eggs are a good belly fast buster and easy to fix. Add meat or veggies and it becomes very satisfying. I eat them nearly every day. At 67 my cholesterol is low and I have lost over 20 pounds in 3 weeks and I am still losing.

Aunt Millies Oatmeal Bread also is just 1gram of sugar per slice and is soft and fluffy.

In case no one read my previous post, no added sugar means nothing! Carbs turn to sugar. Bread is mostly carbs. The little sugar they may put in a loaf of bread is miniscule compared to all the carbs present in a loaf of bread.

Bread of any kind is like crack to me...it makes me want more and more. Recently read the book Grain Brain and have started making almond flour buns for my kids lunches. Only very occasionally do I eat bread because the lack of nutritional value and the fact that I can’t think about anything else after I eat it. My migraines are very seldom now... interesting.

I don't know about the sugar content on this one but I buy it regularly because it's a nice sized piece of bread and only 1 pt on the WW plan. It's Schmidt 647. Yes it is pricey but I use it sparingly. I'll buy two loaves at a time and freeze one. Not one piece gets left. I find it on Amazon. I get the Italian. That's all I got.

I do a low carb woe and have found at Sprouts Oasis bread. It is a sprouted wheat bread (low carb veggie) . It is 50 calories per slice, with 7g of carbs- minus the fiber 1 =6carbs and total sugars 0, & no sugars added. Ingredients you can understand and pretty good tasting. I like it!

What do you think about the 2 ingredient dough made with white self rising flour and nonfat Greek yogurt so popular on WW website? Haven’t tried making it, as I’ve always chosen to eat breads like you have reviewed today. Is it like white bread? Does it really help with weight loss? Is it a sustainable food to eat over the long run? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I am going back to a low carb diet to try and lose weight again, and have been researching low carb bread recipes. I found one that only has a wee bit of sugar, and yes, it is for the yeast! This bread I found is not carb free, but way fewer carbs per slice than even whole wheat bread. I will be trying it as soon as I assemble the ingredients - who knew rye flour was so hard to find?

@Heidi You might want to read the research on celiac disease and wheat allergy. Brother-in-law has a sensitivity to gluten also and has suffered from symptoms, headache being one. Although it is rare to have wheat allergy that has not been diagnosed in childhood, there apparently can be a sensitivity to gluten.

https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food…

Gluten sensitivity and celiac disease:

https://www.verywellhealth.com/gluten-related-neurological-…

@ifortuna I truly believe with all the pesticides in wheat every brain is sensitive to gluten...the Grain Brain has some very compelling cases of depression, ADHD, OCD, anxiety, migraines being relieved when grain was removed from the diet. The amount of chemicals put into processed foods which are not intended for human consumption...people eat 5 lbs of these chemicals a year when they eat processed foods!!

We love Ezekiel and also for more regular bread - no sugar - in Heidelberg Breads http://www.heidelbergbread.com Added sugar in everything was a big surprise when we started looking!

thanks for the variety of choices for NSGA.

At Pegy- Dave’s Killer Bread has sugar in it, that’s why I don’t eat it, I can taste it. Blech,

Trader Joe's Sprouted Wheat Sourdough bread. 1g sugar per slice.

I don't see any comments about Mahler's California Lifestyle Walnut Flax Bread from Mahler's Bakery in Oceanside CA. https://mahlersbakery.com/where-to-buy/

It is low carb, low sugar and has tons of fiber, and the cinnamon gives if a great flavor and scent while toasting. Less calories than the others posted.

Borderline Type 2 Diabetic, on strict low sugar diet plus cholesterol was very high. Nutritionist workshop! She said Sprouted bread is what everyone would be healthier eating. My fav after being on this diet 7 weeks & trying them all? Oroweat Smart & Healthy Sprouted Grain "Multigrain". This is one you didn't mention.

Natural Grocers has the best price for Silver Hills that I could find. Even have it under $3 when it’s on sale.

I am near a TJ's and FairWay. Do any of the store have Sprouted Bread?

I enjoy Trader Joe’s sprouted grain bread.

I enjoy Trader Joe’s sprouted grain bread.

Cherrel, I looked on Amazon, and there are a few types of Schmidt 647 bread. One says carb smart on the wrapper (multi grain), two don't (wheat and Italian). I'm assuming it is the carb smart multi grain that is 1 ww point?

I forgot about this very easy, no-knead bread from a few years ago but now with good bread hard to find due to covid19, I'm putting a batch together today. Bake as needed, makes 3 good-sized loaves, no sugar. Best darned bread ever! https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/no-knead-crusty-whi…

Carbs are not the enemy. 6 months ago I took a leap and went 95% vegan, where lots of us eat lots of carbs. It was hard to let potatoes and bread back into my world but I have lost weight and my issues with bloating and gerd have disappeared. I only eat sprouted bread, Ezekial. I want to try the others mentioned above. I'm not a nutritionish. I'm just a single person with a single experience but it should be known. I don't eat processed vegan foods, junk food, etc.

BARBL, looks wonderful, and when I can ever find yeast in the store again, I will try this recipe. 8-(

Tammie, my daughter's boyfriend is vegan, and the recipes we have tried are delicious. But, both he and my daughter are overweight, and neither is losing weight on a vegan diet, so as you said, everyone's experience is different!

Wow Tammy, that is great. It's so wonderful to hear another's adventure into health via WFPB. My family's results include reversing ulcerative colitis, ending hbp and high cholesterol, reversing pre-diabetes, weight loss as a side benefit, and as of today my husband's stage 4 prostate cancer can't be found anymore. He became very compliant after his diagnosis 2 yrs ago and we are keeping our fingers crossed that he continues this remission. [and watching Dr.Greger's lectures]. This my 3rd year and I couldn't be happier. Best wishes on your continued good health!

Patti, maybe your daughter and her BF would like to check out youtubers, ''Krocks in the Kitchen''. They are a very over weight couple who share a phenominal story of their wfpb way of eating. Very helpful and entertaining. Best of health to you and your family.

Hi BARBL! I will mention the YouTubers you suggest to my daughter. Thanks!

My favorite bread is Alpine Valley Organic 21 Whole Grains and Seeds. It has one gram of sugar, and 70 calories. What I like about it is that it feels and tastes dense and substantial. I don’t like breads that feel soft like they are all air.

I love bread! Hard to find that brand near me. Dave’s Killer bread is what I have been using. Is it good from your standards? I don’t like the taste of Ezekiel bread.

Dave's Killer Bread has 3 grams of sugar per slice, and it's all added sugar. When you bite into a piece, the first thing you notice is how sweet it is. I have a half-used loaf in the fridge from when my grocery stores ran out of lower-fat bread. It's too bad about the sugar, because the bread tastes so good. I won't use it for a traditional sandwich, though, because that would be six grams of added sugar. I have done open-face type things with it.

I wrote back the comment Dave's bread was vetoed by Nutritionist I had to see to lower blood sugar. Why the make a sprouted bread with that much sugar is surprising. Why would anyone pay more than $6 for a loaf of trendy unhealthy bread? Oroweat makes the best sprouted whole wheat loaf but it's impossible to find anymore. Lots of Dave's though.

I have a question. Because of reading this article, I bought a loaf of Ezekiel Bread. It was in the freezer section. I've heard before that people on WW liked this bread. However, to me it tasted like straw. I'm wondering, was it stale, or do all sprouted breads tend to be on the dry side? I was considering ordering some of the brands mentioned by commenters here, but if the sprouted component results in a dry bread, I would skip it.

I was looking for Ezekial 4.9 bread on Amazon recently and instead came across another fav of mine, Alvarado St, AND it's available, albeit at a price gouging price 40.00 [for 3 fresh loaves]. The ratings were positive and rang sincere, so in these desperate times, I ordered them. Alvarado St breads are not hard, dry, cardboardy like some healthy bread. I'll freeze all 3 and use sparingly which is easy to do. But I do love a good breakfast toast with PB/banana or avocado to break up the oatmeal days!

Just for info - in Europe bread is normally baked WITHOUT sugar. The bread we buy in grocery stores does 90% of the time not have added sugar. Even the famous French baguette is not (neither is allowed to be baked with) sugar. So you don't need sugar to bake a bread. It always annoys me a lot when in the US that it's so hard to find bread without added sugars (as well as Americans often thinking that bread NEEDS to have sugar to make it!!), even though no added sugar is the default way of making bread in major parts of the world.

Snack Girl,

Congratulations on your sugar free efforts. I am inspired by your recipes and ideas but was especially pleased to see the sugar free apple butter. I have written about the sugar free bread that Kroger sells under their Private Selection brand. I thought it might be worth repeating for those of us who refuse to pay $5.00 a loaf for Ezekial (in the freezer no less). Private Selection also has a sugar free bun, as well. I agree with your previous posters, BARBL and Tammie, that carbs are not the problem. It is animal fats. I am down 30 pounds since going WFPB and eat all of the whole wheat sugar free bread that I want. I do try to minimize sugar, salt, alcohol, oil and fats. Some of us call it getting off the SOFAS.

Powdered ginger will help yeast rise as well as sugar. I make my own sugar free bread all the time. Use half the amount of ginger as sugar.

WF PB means what?

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