Fine rolled oats are a good choice if you want to decide the portion size yourself. Instant oats in individual sachets are especially convenient when measuring is difficult and a set preparation routine is helpful. However, consider breakfast as part of an older person’s overall diet. If they are losing weight unintentionally or having difficulty swallowing, choosing a product alone is not enough: discuss these concerns with a healthcare professional.
If you want to include oats in a varied diet and are also considering the rest of the meal, bear in mind that the Voedingscentrum highlights how needs vary between older people, particularly if they are unwell or have a reduced appetite.
If you want to decide whether pre-portioned sachets make preparation easier, or whether fine loose oats that you can portion yourself fit better with your daily routine.
If you’re shopping for someone who has difficulty eating or swallowing, Thuisarts advises that the cause of swallowing problems should be investigated first. Choosing fine oats is no substitute for this assessment.
First, consider whether the person can measure and prepare their own portion. Then check the nutritional information for the whole breakfast, as well as any restrictions related to eating or swallowing.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional information | Compare the quantity of oats and the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. If you’re making porridge, include milk or any other additions in your calculations. | When I buy oats for an older person, I want to know how breakfast fits into the rest of their day. This is the main consideration for around 24% of consumers. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether the portion is pre-measured and what steps are involved in preparing it. | If measuring is difficult, a pre-portioned serving makes breakfast simple to prepare; this convenience is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Flexible portions | Check how many portions the pack contains and whether you can decide how much oats to serve at each meal. | I want to be able to adjust the quantity to suit how much someone usually eats, without being tied to a set sachet size. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this flexibility. |
| Texture and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information. If someone has difficulty swallowing, ask what consistency is suitable. | If someone chokes when eating or needs to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely solely on the words ‘fine’ or ‘instant’; this is the first consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
A bowl of porridge doesn’t show what someone eats throughout the day. The Voedingscentrum points out that illness or a reduced appetite may mean an older person needs additional advice.
Look at their overall diet. Discuss a prolonged reduction in food intake or unintentional weight loss with a doctor or dietitian.
The right thickness and texture vary from person to person. Thuisarts advises that the cause of someone’s difficulty swallowing should be investigated first.
Ask a healthcare professional for an assessment before changing the preparation method or consistency yourself.
Oat products may carry warnings about other grains. The Voedingscentrum states that, for people with coeliac disease, the labelling on the pack is what determines whether a product is suitable.
Before use, check the ingredients, allergen warnings and any gluten-free labelling on the current packaging.
Quaker offers both loose oats and Oats Express sachets. The sachets may be especially useful if pre-measured portions make preparation easier.
Brinta Havermout is an option if you want to prepare fine loose oats with water or milk.
AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken is an own-brand option if you want to measure the portion yourself.
Jumbo lists fine wholegrain oats in 500 g and 1 kg packs.
Golden Bridge offers fine wholegrain oats in a 500 g pack.
These products include fine loose oats and Quaker Express varieties for anyone looking for a convenient way to prepare breakfast. Compare the portions, preparation method and nutritional information for each pack; the product name alone won’t tell you whether a variety meets someone’s nutritional needs.
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For anyone who wants to measure out loose oat flakes and prepare them with water or milk.
If you have allergies, check the current packaging for ingredients and possible traces of other grains.
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For anyone considering an Express variety and wanting to take the nutritional content of the whole breakfast into account.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per prepared portion. Also check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging; ‘Protein’ in the name is not, by itself, nutritional advice.
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For anyone looking for an Express variety and wanting to check whether the portions suit their usual preparation routine.
Check the pack for portion size, preparation instructions and allergens. Fine or quick-to-prepare porridge is not automatically suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties.
Not necessarily: whether breakfast is suitable also depends on what else the person eats and drinks. The Voedingscentrum points out that older people have varying needs and may need additional advice if they are unwell or have a reduced appetite.
Don’t simply choose a finer or instant variety as a solution. Thuisarts advises that the cause of the swallowing problem should be investigated first; ask a healthcare professional which preparation method and consistency are suitable.
Don’t assume they are based on the product name. For people with coeliac disease, the Voedingscentrum advises checking whether the official Crossed Grain symbol appears on the packaging; also read the current ingredients and allergen information.
First, compare the quantity of oats per portion and the nutritional values on the same basis, for example per 100 g. Then consider the prepared meal: you can’t directly compare figures for dry oats with those for porridge made with milk.
Contact a doctor if someone continues to lose weight unintentionally or eats very little for several days, as advised by the Voedingscentrum. Ask them to assess the person’s overall diet rather than simply choosing a different oat product.
