Parents looking to limit added sugar
They want plain oats for school lunches and compare the ingredients list with the sugars per 100 g. Even a product in single-portion sachets can contain sugar as an ingredient.
Who is this for?
Pupils with a short lunch break
A quick-to-prepare portion can be especially useful, provided there is a suitable bowl, liquid and the necessary facilities available at school.
Families who need to buy gluten-free
You cannot tell whether a product is suitable just from the word ‘oats’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that oats may be contaminated with gluten; for coeliac disease, the current pack label is key.
What should you look for?
First decide what matters most for this school lunch: ingredients, preparation during the break, allergens or preparing it at home. Then check whether the oats you choose will work in those circumstances.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Check the ingredients and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; a plain-sounding name is not enough. | If I want to limit added sugar, I need to know what is actually in the oats. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the ingredients. |
| Preparing it at school | Check the preparation instructions and whether the required liquid, bowl and equipment are available and permitted. | During a short break, I want to be able to prepare my lunch without impractical steps. For around 29% of consumers, the convenience of individual portions matters most. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the current allergen information; if you have coeliac disease, check for an explicit gluten-free label. | If gluten or another allergen is a deciding factor for me, the product label needs to suit my requirements. This is the first consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
| Preparing it at home | Compare individual sachets with loose oats and decide whether portioning and preparing them at home is practical. | If I can prepare lunch at home, I do not necessarily need to pack an instant sachet. Around 21% of consumers prefer this way of preparing it. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a portion of oats is automatically free from added sugar
Jumbo lists sugar as an ingredient in Havermout Porties Original, which contains 10.7 g of sugars per 100 g. So, single-portion packaging does not tell you whether sugar has been added.
Before packing it, check the ingredients list and compare the sugars per 100 g with those in a plain variety.
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Confusing ‘no added sugar’ with ‘reduced sugar’
The first claim is not a comparison with another product. On its own, it does not tell you how much sugar the oats contain compared with an alternative.
Compare the ingredients and nutrition information per 100 g, rather than assuming the product contains less sugar from its name.
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Assuming regular oats are automatically gluten-free
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats may be contaminated with gluten. The packaging for Quaker Oats Express Naturel also lists cereals containing gluten and the possible presence of other allergens.
If you have coeliac disease, check for an explicit gluten-free label and read the current allergen information every time you buy.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Oats Express Naturel is an instant oat product in individual portions.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Naturel contains wholegrain oats, has no added sugar and takes around 2 minutes to prepare.
- The Naturel packaging lists cereals containing gluten and the possible presence of soya, barley and wheat. The separate Protein Naturel variety contains soya protein.
Elovena
Natural Instant Oatmeal is an instant oat product in individual portions, labelled gluten-free.
- Albert Heijn states that this variety has no added sugar and is prepared with 200 ml of boiling water or milk.
- If you buy it again, check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes both loose wholegrain oats and oats in individual portions; check the label of each variety separately.
- Loose oats are an option if you want to portion and prepare the school lunch at home.
- According to the product information, Jumbo Havermout Porties Original contains sugar as an ingredient and has 10.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
Golden Bridge
This ALDI own brand offers finely milled wholegrain oats for anyone who wants to prepare portions at home.
- ALDI describes this variety as finely milled wholegrain oats in a 500 g pack.
- Do not assume it comes in individual instant portions or is suitable for a gluten-free diet; check the label on the pack you choose.
Oats at Joybuy
This selection features instant oats for a school lunch where ingredients and ease of preparation matter. Before buying, check the current ingredients, allergen information and preparation instructions on the pack you choose.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
Worth considering if you are looking for instant oats for a portioned school lunch; check whether you can prepare them at school.
Pack size: 324 g. Check the current ingredients list, nutrition information and allergen statement before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean instant oats are low in sugar?
No, that claim alone does not tell you how much sugar the product contains. Check the ‘of which sugars’ line per 100 g in the nutrition information and read the ingredients list.
Can a pupil with coeliac disease take regular oats to school?
Do not assume they are suitable without checking the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that oats may be contaminated with gluten; if you have coeliac disease, choose a suitable product with an explicit gluten-free label and check the current allergen information.
Can a pupil prepare instant oats at school?
Yes, provided the preparation instructions for the product match what the school allows and has available. According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel requires 180 ml of milk and preparation in a microwave or pan; Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal is prepared with 200 ml of boiling water or milk. Check the packaging and, if needed, provide a suitable bowl and spoon.