If you want to choose what goes into your breakfast, start with plain wholegrain oats and pay attention to your portion size and toppings too. Instant sachets can be a good option if measuring and preparing breakfast is tricky on busy mornings. Choose a protein-enriched variety only after checking the other ingredients and allergens. Brinta is a quick-to-prepare wholegrain alternative made from wheat, but it isn’t instant oats.
Would you like to make a wholegrain breakfast on busy mornings without measuring out the oats yourself? A plain sachet can save you that step. Check how much preparation each product requires and what other ingredients you’ll need.
Would you like to choose how much fruit, nuts, milk, yoghurt or plant-based drink you add? Plain wholegrain oats give you a base that you can build on yourself. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, how you prepare them also affects the finished meal.
Would you like to compare a protein-enriched oat option with regular porridge oats? Compare the nutritional values per serving and check which ingredients have been used to boost the protein, especially if soya or other allergens are a concern for you.
First decide whether you’re looking for a plain wholegrain oat base, a pre-measured instant serving or a variety with extra ingredients. Then check the nutritional information for your usual serving and consider what you add to the oats.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain base and ingredients | Check whether wholegrain oats or wholegrain oat flakes are the main ingredient, and read the full ingredients list. | I want to choose what else goes into my breakfast. Around 36% of consumers say this control is their top priority. |
| Preparation and serving sizes | Check the preparation time and the quantity in each sachet or in a serving you measure out yourself. | When my morning is short on time, I want to make a serving without measuring it out first. This convenience is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Protein and other ingredients | Compare the protein content per 100 g and per serving, and check which ingredients have been added. | I want to weigh up the protein content against what else is in the product. Extra protein is the deciding factor for around 21% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Check the current gluten-free label and allergen information on the packaging; don’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone. | If I need to avoid gluten or an allergen, I want to check the packaging before I choose. This is the main requirement for around 14% of consumers. |
Wholegrain describes the oats, not the complete meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that preparation and toppings also affect what you end up eating.
So check both the ingredients in the oat product and what you add yourself. With a plain base, you can choose those additions separately.
A pre-measured serving saves you measuring it out, but you may still need liquid and equipment to prepare breakfast.
Read the instructions on the packaging and check that the preparation method suits your morning. Albert Heijn lists a preparation time of two minutes for Quaker Oats Express Naturel.
A higher protein content doesn’t tell you what other ingredients or allergens a variety contains. AH Volkoren havermout proteïne contains, among other things, soya protein and seeds.
Compare the nutritional values for a serving you would actually eat, and read the ingredients and allergen information before choosing a protein-enriched variety.
Regular oats can come into contact with cereals containing gluten. Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt is also made from wheat, so it isn’t an oat product.
If you need a gluten-free option, check the label and allergen information for the specific product on the packaging.
These examples show why it’s important to assess each product range individually: plain oats, a protein-enriched variety and a wheat-based cereal breakfast aren’t interchangeable.
Offers regular oats and Oats Express sachets for quick preparation.
A quick-to-prepare wholegrain cereal breakfast made from wheat, not a type of instant oats.
Offers, among other products, protein-enriched wholegrain oats for anyone who wants to compare nutritional values and ingredients.
Offers fine and coarse wholegrain oats, as well as pre-portioned varieties in different pack sizes.
ALDI’s own-brand range includes fine wholegrain oats as a loose oat option.
No, instant oats aren’t a weight-loss product in themselves. If you’re comparing breakfasts as part of managing your weight, consider the serving size, how you prepare it and what you add to the oats. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, these factors affect what the finished meal contains.
Not necessarily: Albert Heijn states that Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains 100% wholegrain cereals and lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient. Check the ingredients for the specific variety, as these can differ from one product to another.
No, don’t assume that regular oats are suitable if you have coeliac disease. Oats can come into contact with cereals containing gluten, so check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the packaging for the specific product.
No. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt consists of wholemeal wheat flour and salt, while porridge oats are made from oats. Choose Brinta only if a wheat-based cereal breakfast suits your needs, and check the allergen information.
