For a Christmas breakfast for one, portion sachets are handy if you don’t want to weigh out oats or open a large pack. A larger pack lets you choose how much porridge you make, but you’ll need to store it properly once opened. With a prepared pot or mix, it’s especially important to check the ingredients. If you have coeliac disease, the Voedingscentrum specifically recommends looking for the official Crossed Grain trademark.
If you’re making one warm portion at Christmas, a pre-measured sachet is one option. Albert Heijn lists Quaker Oats Express Naturel as containing twelve 27 g sachets. Check that this amount suits your breakfast.
If the ingredients are a key consideration, compare plain porridge oats with flavoured and protein varieties by checking the packaging. Quaker Netherlands states that Oats Express Naturel may contain soya, barley and wheat. If you have coeliac disease, the Voedingscentrum recommends choosing a pack bearing the official Crossed Grain trademark.
A larger pack lets you measure out the amount you want for each breakfast. Think about how many more breakfasts you’ll make and whether you can seal the opened pack properly. The Voedingscentrum recommends storing porridge oats in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed pack.
First decide whether you want a pre-measured portion or would rather measure it out yourself. Then compare the ingredients and the amount you’ll need for each breakfast.
Choose these: if you don’t want to weigh out the oats for one breakfast. Quaker Oats Express Naturel is one example, with 27 g sachets.
Bear in mind: check whether 27 g is the amount you want to eat.
Choose this: if you’re planning several breakfasts or want to decide how much oats to use yourself.
Bear in mind: once opened, the pack needs to be sealed and stored properly.
Choose this: if you want to compare the nutritional information for a prepared portion. Quaker Netherlands lists 12 g of protein per 45 g portion of Pots Protein Peanut Butter.
Bear in mind: this variety contains ingredients including milk powder, soya protein, sugar and salt, so it isn’t plain porridge oats.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Speed and portion size | Check the weight per sachet and the preparation instructions. | If I’m having breakfast alone and don’t want to weigh it out, I want to know whether one sachet gives me the amount I’m looking for. For around 36% of consumers, portion convenience is the most important factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen list. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain trademark. | I want to know what else is in my breakfast besides oats and which allergens are listed. This is the most important consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Using it after Christmas | Think about how many breakfasts you’re planning and how you’ll seal an opened pack properly. | For one Christmas breakfast, I don’t want to open more than I’ll use later. That’s why around 21% of consumers prioritise having enough for several breakfasts. |
| Ingredients per portion | Compare the nutritional information per portion and read the ingredients in flavoured varieties. | If I’m considering a prepared variety, I want to be able to weigh up the stated protein content against the other ingredients. This takes priority for around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats may come into contact with gluten during processing. Other grains may also be listed as potential allergens, depending on the product.
If you have coeliac disease, check the pack for the official Crossed Grain trademark and read the current allergen information.
According to Albert Heijn, each sachet of Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains 27 g. The Voedingscentrum also uses a 40 g portion when providing nutritional information for regular porridge oats; this isn’t a prescribed amount for your breakfast.
Check the weight per sachet before deciding how many sachets or additional ingredients to use.
Quaker Netherlands lists ingredients in Pots Protein Peanut Butter that include milk powder, soya protein, sugar and salt, as well as oats. The product name doesn’t tell you everything about what’s in it.
Read the ingredients list and compare the nutritional information for the portion you’ll actually eat.
After breakfast for one, you’re likely to have porridge oats left over from a large pack. The Voedingscentrum recommends storing them in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed pack.
Choose a pack size that suits your next breakfasts and seal it properly after use.
Quaker Oats Express Naturel is one example of plain porridge oats in pre-measured portions for one breakfast.
Brinta Havermout is an alternative if you’d like to measure out your own portion of fine oat flakes.
The range described by Jumbo includes Havermout Porties Original as well as a larger pack of fine wholegrain oat flakes.
Albert Heijn’s product information can help you compare the Quaker and Brinta packs mentioned here.
Lidl describes a 500 g pack of jumbo oat flakes for anyone who wants to measure out their own portions.
Aldi describes Golden Bridge fine wholegrain porridge oats in a 500 g pack.
These products are aimed at breakfasts made with portion packs or a porridge mix. The main thing to compare is whether you want plain porridge oats or a prepared mix with other ingredients.
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An option if you’d rather use a portion pack than measure out oats yourself for one breakfast.
Check the pack for the amount per sachet, preparation instructions and current allergen information.
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An option if you’re looking for a pre-measured porridge mix with milk rather than plain porridge oats.
The product name also mentions glucose. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack before choosing this variety.
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A pre-measured mix for anyone who wants red dates and raisins in their breakfast instead of a plain oat base.
The product name also mentions glucose. Check the full ingredients list and allergen information on the pack.
It depends on how much you want to eat and what you have with it. Albert Heijn lists Quaker Oats Express Naturel as containing 27 g per sachet. Compare that weight with your usual breakfast before choosing a pack.
Not without checking the pack. According to the Voedingscentrum, oat products may come into contact with gluten during processing. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain trademark on the pack.
Store an opened pack in a cool, dry, dark place and seal it properly, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum. When choosing a large pack, consider how many more breakfasts you plan to make.
