Dave’s Killer Bread is a popular brand that’s become known for having nutritious bread options, and you may be wondering: is Dave’s Killer Bread healthy? Is it really as good as people claim?
I’m Jamie, a Registered Dietitian, and I’m here to help! Navigating the grocery store (and especially the bread aisle!) can be tricky with a seemingly endless amount of products claiming to be “healthy”.
In the article I’ll cover the facts about Dave’s Killer Bread so that you can decide whether or not it’s a good choice for you!
About Dave’s Killer Bread
Dave’s Killer Bread is a popular brand with a line of breads made with organic ingredients, seeds, and grains.
They carry a wide variety of options including thin-sliced bread, “breakfast” bread, bagels, English muffins, buns, and rolls. They even have some fun snacks!
Most of their breads are made with nutritious whole grains and seeds and are good sources of fiber (more on the nutrition facts in a minute!).
Some of their most popular varieties are their “21 Whole Grains and Seeds”, “Good Seed”, and “Sprouted Whole Grain” bread.
Another fun fact about Dave’s- they’re a proud second chance employer, meaning they regularly hire those with criminal backgrounds to give them a second chance.
Dave’s Killer Bread Nutrition
Dave’s Killer Bread has a huge line of products and they all vary quite a bit nutritionally. For this nutrition analysis, let’s look at their “21 Whole Grains and Seeds” variety.
Nutrition facts per slice
- Calories: 110
- Total fat: 1.5g
- Saturated fat: 0g
- Sodium: 170g
- Total carbohydrate: 22g
- Dietary fiber: 5g
- Added sugar: 5g
- Protein: 5g
Ingredients
Organic whole wheat (organic whole wheat flour, organic cracked whole wheat), water, organic cane sugar, organic 21 Whole Grains and Seeds mix (organic whole flax seeds, organic sunflower seeds, organic ground whole flax seeds, organic brown sesame seeds, organic triticale, organic pumpkin seeds, organic rolled barley, organic rolled oats, organic rolled rye, organic black sesame seeds, organic blue cornmeal, organic millet, organic rolled spelt, organic brown rice flour, organic amaranth flour, organic yellow cornmeal, organic KAMUT® khorasan wheat, organic quinoa, organic buckwheat flour, organic sorghum flour, organic poppy seeds), organic wheat gluten, organic oat fiber, contains 2% or less of each of the following: organic molasses, sea salt, yeast, organic vinegar, organic cultured wheat flour, enzymes, organic acerola cherry powder.
While their ingredient list is quite long, their breads are absolutely packed with nutritious ingredients like whole wheat flour, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and quinoa.
Nutrition overview
The very first ingredient of their 21 Whole Grains and Seeds bread is organic whole wheat which is a great sign! Their bread is made with whole grains, has 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein per slice. Nutritionally speaking, those are great nutrition stats for bread!
Each slice of bread does contain 5g of added sugar, which may be a negative if you’re looking for a bread without added sugars. Most of their products do contain some added sugar. Personally, I enjoy their bread so much that I don’t mind the small amount added.
Most of their breads are pretty similar with the exception of their “white bread done right” variety. That variety still contains some whole grains but is mostly refined flour and has less protein (3 grams) and less fiber (2 grams) per slice.
Overall, I’m a huge fan of the nutrition content of their products and find that there’s several healthy options depending on what you’re looking for!
Dave’s Killer Bread Pros + Cons
Pros
- Whole grain options: Many of the Dave’s products are made with wholesome, nutritious ingredients like whole grains and seeds. The Dietary Guidelines recommend to make at least half of your grains whole grains, so this is a great way to start doing that. Just remember that not all of their products are made with whole grains as they still do have several refined flour varieties.
- High fiber: Many of the products are a good source of fiber, too. Fiber recommendations for women are at least 25 grams per day and at least 38 grams per day for men. Fiber helps manage cholesterol levels, improves gut health and can even reduce risk for certain diseases.
- Flavor: Whole grain breads often don’t taste great, but that’s not the case for this line of bread. Their products are flavorful with a hint of sweetness and nuttiness.
- Texture: I also find that their products have a wonderful soft texture with a bit of crunch from seeds. If you’re not into the texture of seeds, I’d skip the seeded varieties.
- Vegan: All of their breads, bagels and buns are vegan.
- Organic ingredients: Dave’s bread uses organic ingredients if that’s something that’s important to you. They also don’t use any high-fructose corn syrup in their products.
Potential Drawbacks
- Added sugars: One of the potential drawbacks for some may be the addition of added sugar. With that said, I still consider their grams of sugar to be low. Remember, you don’t have to cut out all added sugar. You can choose which products are worthwhile for you.
- Price: Depending on where you grab it, their products can run a little bit pricier compared with other brands. Pro tip: When it goes on sale, grab a few loaves and freeze them!
How do their thin-sliced breads compare?
Their thin sliced variety is quite similar as well, but the nutrition stats are based on two thinner slices versus one thicker slice.
For example, the thin-sliced version of their 21 Whole Grains and Seeds bread has 3g of fiber, 6g of protein, and 6g of added sugars per 2 slices. Two slices is also slightly higher calorie at 140 calories versus 110 calories per 1 slice of their thicker bread.
I like to use their thin-sliced breads for regular sandwiches and their thicker sliced breads for open-faced sandwiches.
Dave’s Killer Bread Buns and Bagels
Dave’s also has an amazing line of buns and bagels.
Whole grain buns can be especially difficult to find, but their 21 Whole Grains and Seeds Burger Buns are a fabulous option. One bun has 170 calories, 3g of fiber and 6g of protein. They’re soft, made with whole grains and seeds, and very tasty!
Their Epic Everything Bagel is another favorite of mine with 230 calories, 13 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.
Is Dave’s Killer Bread vegan?
All of Dave’s Killer Bread products are considered vegan and don’t contain animal products, according to their FAQ page. The only products that are not vegan are their snack bars, because they contain honey.
Is Dave’s Killer Bread healthy?
Yes! While everyone’s needs differ nutritionally, Dave’s Killer bread is a great healthy option for most people.
Finding whole wheat bread products that are both nutritious and enjoyable can sometimes be a challenge, but they’ve really nailed it if you ask me!
Many of their products have at least 5g of protein and 5g of fiber per serving, which are great stats for bread products. Not only that, but their products taste great too.
If you’re looking for breads, bagels or buns made with whole grains and fiber, give them a try!
As a dietitian I love recommending Dave’s Killer Bread, but remember: the “healthiest bread” for you really depends on your preferences, your needs, and your budget, too!
If you’re looking for more bread recommendations, I have an entire blog on my 15 favorite healthy bread options.
More Product Reviews from a Dietitian
Is Premier Protein Good For You? The Truth from a Dietitian
Is Fairlife Milk Healthy? A Dietitian Review
Is Annie’s Mac and Cheese Healthy? A Dietitian Review
LMNT vs Liquid IV: Which Electrolyte Drink is Best?
