Bread doesn’t have to be something you avoid to eat healthy. The key is knowing which brands use quality ingredients, offer meaningful nutrition and skip unnecessary additives and refined oils.

Whether you want a clean everyday loaf, a gluten-free option or a lower-calorie bread that fits your goals, these are some of the healthiest breads and bagels on the market.

What I Look for in a Healthier Bread

When comparing breads, I generally look for:

• Whole-food or organic ingredients
• Whole grains and a solid amount of fiber
• No seed oils
• Minimal added sugar
• No unnecessary preservatives or artificial ingredients

Not every option on this list is perfect for every person. Some are ingredient-first choices, while others are helpful for specific goals like eating gluten-free or maintaining a calorie deficit.

Where to find these

• Whole foods has the most options! (all of these)
• Costco tends to have one mighty mill
• Dave’s killer bread is at most stores

You can click here to shop many of the breads I mentioned!

Best Overall Bread: One Mighty Mill

One Mighty Mill makes some of the best bread on the market.

The company uses an old-school stone-milling process that crushes the entire organic grain, helping retain the bran, germ and endosperm. The result is a flavorful, buttery-soft bread that still contains the goodness of the whole grain.

Their breads are certified USDA Organic, made without refined sugar and use extra virgin olive oil instead of seed oils. The ingredient lists are truly impressive.

Some of their best options include:

• Mighty Wheat Bread
• Power Grains Bread
• Everything Bread
• Sourdough Bread

I often find the One Mighty Mill Sourdough Bread at Costco, making it an especially convenient and affordable option.

If you want one clean, dependable bread for toast, sandwiches and everyday meals, this is one of my top choices.

Best Accessible Organic Bread: Dave’s Killer Bread

Look, Dave’s Killer Bread isn’t always perfect. Some varieties contain more added sugar than I would ideally like, so you still want to read the label.

However, Dave’s remains one of the most accessible organic bread brands on the market. You can find it at most major grocery stores, and several of its varieties have solid nutritional profiles.

My favorite options are:

21 Whole Grains and Seeds

This bread is made with organic whole wheat and a blend of grains and seeds including flax, quinoa, oats, barley, rye, millet and pumpkin seeds. Each full-size slice provides 4 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

Good Seed

Good Seed is another organic, seed-oil-free option made with whole wheat, flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, oats and quinoa. Each full-size slice provides 3 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein.

These may not have the shortest ingredient lists on this list, but they are still practical upgrades from many conventional grocery-store breads.

Best Gluten-Free Bread: Base Culture

A gluten-free label doesn’t automatically make a bread healthy. Many gluten-free breads are made with refined starches, gums, added sugar and inflammatory oils.

Base Culture is a much better option because the brand uses recognizable ingredients like eggs, almond or cashew butter, flaxseed, psyllium husk, arrowroot flour and apple cider vinegar.

Depending on your preferences, you can choose from options such as:

• Sourdough Bread
• Original Keto Bread
• Simply White Bread
• Simply Honey Nut Bread

Base Culture breads are gluten-free and made without refined oils or artificial ingredients. Most are sold frozen, so I recommend keeping the loaf in your freezer and toasting individual slices as needed.

Because many varieties contain eggs and nuts, always check the label if you are shopping for someone with allergies.

Cleanest Minimal-Ingredient Gluten-Free Bread: PACHA

PACHA is another phenomenal gluten-free option with one of the simplest ingredient lists you’ll find.

Its original buckwheat loaf is made with just two ingredients: sprouted buckwheat and sea salt. That’s it.

Despite its name, buckwheat is naturally gluten-free and isn’t actually a type of wheat. PACHA’s original bread is also free from grains, dairy, eggs, gums, added sugar and seed oils.

The texture is denser and heartier than traditional sandwich bread, so I especially love it toasted and topped with eggs, avocado, grass-fed butter or nut butter.

Best Lower-Calorie Bread: Hero Bread

If you’re working toward a fat-loss goal, Hero Bread can be a helpful calorie-deficit hack.

Its Classic White Bread has 45 calories, 5 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per slice. It is also made with olive oil rather than seed oils.

Hero isn’t necessarily the least-processed bread on this list. It relies on added fibers and proteins to create its lower-carb nutritional profile. However, it can be a practical option when you want a larger sandwich or more satisfying meal without using a significant portion of your daily calories.

Because it is extremely high in fiber, start with a smaller serving if you aren’t accustomed to eating that much fiber at once.

The Healthiest Bagels

Best Overall Bagels: One Mighty Mill

One Mighty Mill bagels are some of the cleanest bagels on the market.

Just like the brand’s breads, they are made with freshly stone-milled organic flour. They don’t contain seed oils or refined sugar, and the bagels themselves are oil-free.

Current flavors include:

• Whole Wheat Plain
• Everything
• Cinnamon Raisin

These are a great choice when you want a traditional, satisfying bagel made with high-quality organic ingredients.

Best Lower-Calorie, High-Protein Bagels: Hero

Hero Bagels are another helpful option for anyone prioritizing protein, fiber or a calorie deficit.

The Hero Classic Plain Bagel contains 130 calories, 19 grams of protein and 21 grams of fiber. The Everything Bagel contains 140 calories, 17 grams of protein and 20 grams of fiber.

Current options include:

• Classic Plain
• Everything

Again, these are not as minimally processed as One Mighty Mill bagels, but the macros make them a helpful tool for certain health and weight-loss goals. Pair one with eggs, cottage cheese, smoked salmon or another whole-food protein for a balanced and satisfying breakfast.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to eliminate bread or bagels to eat healthier. Start by choosing the option that best fits your needs.

For the cleanest everyday bread and bagels, One Mighty Mill is my top choice. Dave’s Killer Bread is a solid and accessible organic option. Base Culture and PACHA are my favorites for gluten-free bread, while Hero is useful when calories, protein or fiber are your main priorities.

As always, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s finding better options that make healthy eating realistic, enjoyable and sustainable.