When comparing instant oats for one, start by checking how much fibre is in the portion you’ll actually eat. A plain single-serve sachet saves you weighing, while a larger pack of fine oats lets you measure out your own portion. With flavoured varieties and breakfast drinks, it’s also worth checking the ingredients and sugars.
A single-serve sachet is handy for a breakfast or light meal for one when you want to keep preparation to a minimum. A breakfast drink is another option if you’d rather not have a bowl of porridge; compare the nutrition information for each product type separately.
The value per 100 g makes it easier to compare products on the same basis, but the amount in your bowl also depends on the serving size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 4.4 g of fibre for 40 g of regular oats; for instant products, check the value for the serving you’ll have.
A larger pack of oats lets you weigh out your own portion and add ingredients if you like. The trade-off is that you won’t have individually measured sachets, and you’ll need to store the opened pack properly.
First decide what matters most to you: the fibre in your own serving, quick preparation or measuring out your own portions. Then compare the ingredients and preparation instructions for the specific product.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre per serving | Compare fibre per 100 g and per sachet or measured serving. Check whether the serving value applies to dry or prepared oats. | When I make one bowl, I want to know how much fibre is in the amount I actually use. For around 34% of consumers, this serving-size figure is the top priority. |
| Ease of preparation | Check whether the product is pre-portioned and what liquid and preparation method the pack specifies. | When I’m short on time, I don’t want to weigh anything, and the preparation needs to suit my kitchen. Around 33% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Measuring your own portions | Check the pack size and whether you can seal the pack properly after opening. | I want to be able to switch between a smaller and larger bowl, and I don’t mind weighing my own portion. This flexibility matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, sugars per serving and allergen information. If you have coeliac disease, also check for the Crossed Grain symbol. | If I’m looking for a plain base or need to consider allergens, I want to check the ingredients before buying. For around 13% of consumers, this check matters more than the other factors. |
The value per 100 g doesn’t tell you how much fibre is in your sachet or measured bowl. A serving value may also refer to the dry product or to oats prepared with milk.
Read both values on the pack, and only compare servings when it’s clear what has been included in the preparation.
Ingredients vary from one variety to another. Quaker Netherlands lists 19 g of sugars per 100 g for Oats Express Cinnamon, so don’t assess a plain variety using the information for cinnamon, or vice versa.
Compare the ingredients and sugar content on the same nutritional basis. With plain oats, you can add your own flavour, for example with cinnamon or fruit.
A pre-measured sachet saves you measuring, but with a larger pack you can choose how much to use for each meal.
Choose a size that suits how often you want a fixed serving straight away and how often you’d rather measure out your own portion at home.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. So the word ‘oats’ on the pack alone isn’t a reliable indication that they’re suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Check for the official Crossed Grain symbol and read the latest allergen information for the product you’ve chosen.
The main differences here are the product format and recipe. So compare the specific pack or sachet, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Quaker offers Oats Express single-serve packs, among other products, for anyone looking for a pre-measured portion of oats.
Brinta offers both fine oats for a bowl of porridge and Wake-up! sachets for a breakfast drink.
Jumbo is a supermarket own-label brand and retailer where you can compare single servings with larger packs of oats.
At Albert Heijn, you can compare product information for options including Quaker Oats Express, Brinta Oats and own-label single servings.
Golden Bridge fine wholegrain oats are an option if you’d rather measure out your own portions from a larger pack.
These two products suit different ways of making oats for one: a Quaker Express serving that needs no measuring, or Brinta oats that let you measure out your own portion. Before choosing, check the fibre information on the latest pack and consider how much you’ll use.
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An option if you want to prepare oats for one without measuring out a portion yourself.
324 g pack. Check the label to see how much fibre is in each sachet and which preparation method and allergen information apply to this pack.
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An option if you want to choose how much oats to take from the pack for each meal.
450 g pack. Weigh your portion and use the nutrition information on the label to assess the fibre in that amount; also check the allergen information.
First compare the fibre per 100 g of dry product, then look at the amount you’ll actually use. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 4.4 g of fibre for 40 g of regular oats; for the instant product you choose, use the serving value on its label and check whether it applies to the dry or prepared product.
Plain oats are handy if you want to choose the flavour and added ingredients yourself; a flavoured variety may be more convenient if you’d rather not add anything. Be sure to check the ingredients for each variety: Quaker Netherlands lists 19 g of sugars per 100 g for Oats Express Cinnamon.
Don’t assume they are. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing; check for the official Crossed Grain symbol and the latest allergen information for the product you’ve chosen.
Store opened oats in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Before use, also check for any changes in smell or texture.
