Cyclist planning a longer ride
You want to plan your pre-ride breakfast around the ride and make separate plans for food and drink on the road. Sportzorg discusses these separately in its advice on nutrition for cycling.
Which option is right for you?
The practical choice mainly depends on when you eat, how much time you have to prepare breakfast and how often you have porridge at home.
Cyclist setting off early
You want to have breakfast at home without much preparation. Sachets save you weighing out a portion; extra-fine oats are another option if you prefer to measure one out yourself.
Shopper stocking up at home
You eat porridge regularly and consider pack size, the number of portions and where to keep an opened pack dry and tightly sealed.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide what matters most for your pre-ride breakfast: eating before you set off, speed, stocking up at home or checking the label. The percentages below show how many consumers consider each point their main priority.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast before setting off | Check the portion size and how much time you have between breakfast and setting off. Sportzorg recommends eating a meal 90 minutes to 3 hours before a race. | When I’m planning a ride, I want to know how my porridge fits into my overall pre-ride breakfast. Around 40% of consumers prioritise getting this balance right. |
| Preparation time | Check the preparation time and whether you need a pan or microwave. For sachets, also check how much each one contains. | On an early start, I want to have breakfast quickly without weighing anything out. Around 30% of consumers value this convenience most. |
| Stocking up and packaging | Compare the net weight and number of portions, and check how to store the pack once opened. Don’t assume it comes in a tin just because it’s a larger pack. | When I make porridge at home regularly, I want a pack that’s easy to store and seal. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. If you need a gluten-free option, check for the certification mark too. | I need to be able to check before buying whether this particular variety meets my dietary requirements. Around 10% of consumers put checking the label first. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing a pre-ride breakfast with a plan for on the road
Porridge can be part of your pre-ride meal, but that doesn’t automatically answer the question of what to eat and drink during a longer ride.
Before setting off, make a separate plan for food and drink on the road, based on your ride and what you’re used to having.
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Assuming one sachet is a complete breakfast
The Quaker Express Naturel pack described by Albert Heijn contains 27 g sachets. That alone doesn’t tell you whether one sachet is right for your overall breakfast.
Check the amount in each portion and consider it alongside the rest of your meal and the time until you set off.
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Assuming ordinary porridge oats are gluten-free
An ingredients list containing only oats doesn’t rule out the possible presence of gluten from other cereals. The Voedingscentrum recommends that people with coeliac disease look for the official Crossed Grain mark.
Check the allergen information and, if you need gluten-free oats, look for the mark on the specific product’s packaging.
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Confusing a large pack with a storage tin
The 1 kg wholegrain value pack described by Jumbo is a bag. So the pack size doesn’t tell you whether it comes in a resealable tin.
Choose your porridge oats based on the contents and ease of use; consider a separate storage box or tin as a separate choice for home.
Brands to consider
These examples highlight differences between specific porridge oat products, not between every product from each brand.
Quaker
Quaker offers both ordinary porridge oats and Express portions for anyone who wants to spend less time weighing them out.
- Albert Heijn describes Quaker Havermout as 100% wholegrain porridge oats and Quaker Oats Express Naturel as a pack containing 12 portions.
- Check the portion size and allergen information for each variety: the details aren’t the same on every Quaker pack.
Brinta
Brinta Havermout is an option if you want to measure out your own portions using extra-fine oats.
- Albert Heijn’s product information describes the 450 g pack as containing 100% oats that are quick to prepare.
- The warning about possible traces of wheat and rye makes it important to check the current label.
Jumbo
The fine wholegrain value pack is aimed at people who use larger quantities at home.
- Jumbo describes a 1 kg bag containing 25 portions of 40 g.
- It’s a bag, not a tin; seal it carefully after use and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Crownfield
Crownfield Biologisch Havermout is a 500 g porridge oat option in the range described by Lidl.
- Lidl lists the variety and pack weight for anyone looking for a smaller quantity.
- Check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergen details on the pack before choosing this variety.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge Fijne Volkoren Havermout is a straightforward oat option in the range described by ALDI.
- ALDI Nederland lists a 500 g pack of fine wholegrain porridge oats.
- Check the pack for the nutritional information and allergen details that apply to the variety you choose.
Porridge oats at Joybuy
These two packs suit a pre-ride breakfast at home if you’re choosing between individual portions and extra-fine oats. If you’d like to use a storage tin, consider it separately as a storage option.
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Quaker Express porridge oats 324 g
An option for breakfast at home if you’d rather use individual portions than weigh out your porridge oats.
The pack contains 12 portions of 27 g. Albert Heijn lists a preparation time of around 2 minutes for the Express Naturel variety; follow the preparation instructions and check the allergen information on this pack’s label.
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Brinta porridge oats 450 g
An option if you want to make your own portion with extra-fine oats before setting off.
Albert Heijn’s product information lists 100% oats and describes them as quick to prepare. Check the pack for preparation instructions and the warning about possible traces of wheat and rye.
Frequently asked questions
Is porridge a good breakfast before a bike ride?
Porridge can be part of your pre-ride breakfast. For a race, Sportzorg recommends a normal meal, or a meal that’s higher in carbohydrates if appropriate, 90 minutes to 3 hours beforehand. Choose your portion and the rest of your meal based on what you’re used to eating during training.
Is one instant portion enough for a pre-ride breakfast?
You can’t tell from the word ‘instant’ alone. The Quaker Express Naturel portion described contains 27 g of porridge oats; consider this alongside the rest of your breakfast and the time until you set off.
Will my breakfast provide enough food for a longer ride?
No. Breakfast before you set off isn’t a complete plan for food and drink on the road. For a longer ride, make a separate choice about what to take with you and what you can tolerate while cycling.
How should I store a larger bag of porridge oats?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. For Jumbo’s value pack, the advice is to store it in a cool, dry place and seal the bag carefully after use; choose a separate storage tin if you want one.
Are ordinary porridge oats suitable if I need to eat gluten-free?
Don’t assume they are. The Voedingscentrum points out that oat products can be contaminated with gluten and recommends the official Crossed Grain mark for people with coeliac disease. Check the label on the specific pack.