If you want to make a warm breakfast in just a few minutes and products with no added sugar are enough for you, individual sachets of instant porridge oats could be a good fit. Quaker Oats Express Naturel is one option, but Albert Heijn lists 1 g of sugars per 100 g, so it does not meet the Diabetes Fonds’ threshold of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. If you have coeliac disease, the Voedingscentrum also advises checking for the official Crossed Grain trademark; a sugar claim tells you nothing about whether a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
If you’re looking for instant oats that are literally sugar-free, check the total sugars in the nutrition table. The Diabetes Fonds sets the threshold at no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ does not mean the same thing.
An individual sachet saves you measuring, but you’ll still need liquid, a bowl and a microwave or pan to make warm porridge. Check that the preparation instructions suit the place where you’ll be having breakfast.
Regular oats aren’t automatically suitable if you have coeliac disease. According to the Voedingscentrum, oat products are only suitable if the packaging carries the official Crossed Grain trademark.
First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement, or whether you mean ‘no added sugars’. Then check that the preparation suits your morning routine and, if relevant, check the gluten-free labelling separately.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or no added sugars | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g with the 0.5 g per 100 g threshold the Diabetes Fonds gives for sugar-free products. Also read the ingredients list if you want to avoid added sugars. | If I stick to a strict limit for total sugars, ‘no added sugars’ on its own isn’t enough; around 50% of consumers put that sugar limit first. |
| Preparation and portion convenience | Check the preparation time, portion size and amount of liquid needed. Albert Heijn says Quaker Oats Express Naturel takes 2 minutes to prepare in a microwave or pan. | On a busy morning, I don’t want to weigh anything out, and my warm breakfast needs to suit the equipment I have available; around 40% of consumers put convenience first. |
| Suitability for a gluten-free diet | If you have coeliac disease, check the packaging for the official Crossed Grain trademark, as advised by the Voedingscentrum. Also read the allergen information for the exact variant. | If coeliac disease determines my choice of product, suitable gluten-free labelling matters more than speed or a sugar claim; this is the top priority for around 10% of consumers. |
A product with no added sugars can still contain sugars. For example, Albert Heijn lists 1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Oats Express Naturel.
If you need a sugar-free product, compare the nutrition table with the Diabetes Fonds’ threshold of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Serving sizes can vary, so nutrition figures per serving don’t give you a like-for-like comparison.
First compare the nutritional values, including sugars and fibre, per 100 g. Then consider the portion size you actually want to prepare.
The Voedingscentrum warns that oat products aren’t automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease, as they may be contaminated with gluten.
If you have coeliac disease, check every pack for the official Crossed Grain trademark and read the latest allergen information.
A short preparation time doesn’t mean a warm breakfast is ready without any preparation: you’ll also need liquid, a bowl and a microwave or pan.
Read the full preparation instructions and check that you have everything you need where you plan to have breakfast.
Within the Quaker range, Oats Express Naturel is worth considering if you’re looking for individual sachets of instant porridge oats with no added sugars.
Albert Heijn sells a product called Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal Glutenvrij.
No. According to the Diabetes Fonds, sugar-free means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, while a product with no added sugars can still contain sugars that occur naturally. So check both the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the ingredients list.
No, not according to the Diabetes Fonds’ threshold of no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Oats Express Naturel, although Quaker describes the product as having no added sugars.
Yes. Albert Heijn says it takes 2 minutes to prepare in a microwave or saucepan. Bear in mind that you’ll also need liquid, a bowl and the necessary equipment for a warm breakfast.
Not without checking the packaging. According to the Voedingscentrum, oat products are only suitable for people with coeliac disease if they carry the official Crossed Grain trademark; also check the allergen information for the exact variant.
First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, so differences in portion size don’t skew the comparison. Then read the ingredients and allergen information, and check how much liquid, time and equipment you’ll need to prepare them.
