If you’re heading to the park without a heat source, choose instant oats whose packaging explicitly says they can be mixed with cold liquid; individual portions save you having to measure them out. A larger bag works if you can portion the oats at home and take them with you dry, but check the preparation instructions too. Choose a variety with added protein only if that matters to you, and read the ingredients and allergen information.
You want to take dry oats with you and mix them with a cold liquid in the park. Check the preparation instructions: Albert Heijn lists a cold option for Quaker Oats Express Naturel, while the instructions for Młyny Stoisław Instant Havermout at Jumbo call for a hot liquid.
You want to know which ingredients and allergens are in your chosen variety before you buy. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, regular oats are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease; look for the Crossed Grain symbol and check the current packaging.
You want to compare the protein content per 100 g and per serving. Check the source of the protein too: the Quaker variety with added soya protein contains soya as an ingredient.
First decide whether you want to mix your oats with a cold liquid in the park or can take hot water with you. Then choose packaging that you can carry dry, and check any ingredients that matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cold preparation | Look for explicit instructions for mixing with a cold liquid; the word ‘instant’ alone isn’t enough. | If I’m not taking hot water, I still want to be able to prepare my oats in the park. Being able to prepare them cold is the top priority for around 37% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging; if you have coeliac disease, look for the Crossed Grain symbol too. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the product name. Ingredients and allergens are the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Protein content | Compare the amount of protein per 100 g and per serving, and check where the protein comes from. | If I want to choose a higher-protein product for this picnic, the ingredients matter more than the packaging format. Around 18% of consumers prioritise extra protein. |
| Stock and portions | Check whether the oats are individually portioned or measure them out at home; store any remaining oats in a tightly sealed, dry container, following the instructions. | If I want to prepare for several picnics from one larger bag, I need to be able to measure out portions and store the rest properly. This is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
Jumbo’s instructions for Młyny Stoisław Instant Havermout call for hot milk or water and a three-minute wait. That won’t help if you only have cold water with you in the park.
If you don’t have a heat source, choose a variety whose packaging says it can be prepared cold, or plan how you’ll carry hot water safely.
Added soya or milk protein changes the ingredients and allergens you need to check; the protein figure won’t tell you this.
As well as checking the nutrition information per 100 g and per serving, read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, regular oats may be unsuitable for people with coeliac disease because of gluten contamination.
If you have coeliac disease, look for the Crossed Grain symbol and check the current allergen information on the packaging.
A large pack needs to be measured out and sealed carefully. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing oats in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container.
Measure out what you need at home, take that portion with you in a well-sealed container, and reseal the remaining oats after use.
The Oats Express range includes a plain variety and one with added soya protein.
Jumbo lists a chocolate-flavoured instant porridge meal in a 75 g serving.
The instant porridge listed by Jumbo comes in a 500 g pack.
This Quaker variety is a good fit if you want to consider protein content. The product description says to prepare it with hot water, so if you’re planning a picnic without a heat source, check whether the packaging also allows for cold preparation.
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An option if you want to keep an eye on protein content at your picnic.
The product information lists 22 g of protein per 100 g and says to prepare it with hot water. Check the current packaging if you want to mix the oats cold.
If you have allergies, check the packaging for information about soya, cereals containing gluten, and the possible presence of wheat and barley.
No, but preparation instructions vary by product. For Quaker Oats Express Naturel, Albert Heijn says to mix with cold water, milk, yoghurt or quark, among other options; Jumbo’s instructions for Młyny Stoisław Instant Havermout specify a hot liquid.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for dry oats; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing them in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container. Take milk, yoghurt or quark in a cool bag if it needs to stay chilled, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for picnics.
Not necessarily. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats may be contaminated with gluten; if you have coeliac disease, look for the Crossed Grain symbol and check the allergen information on the packaging.
Check the allergen information on the packaging of the pre-packed product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists cereals containing gluten, soya and milk among the allergens that must be included on the label.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a ‘best before’ date relates to quality and doesn’t automatically mean the product is unsafe afterwards. If the packaging is intact, check the oats by looking at them, smelling them and tasting them; once opened, follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
