For a quick work-from-home lunch, portion sachets are handy if you don’t want to weigh anything out, while a cup can save you using a separate bowl. A large pack is a better fit if you want to choose your own portion size; check the preparation method and equipment needed for each option. If you’re mainly choosing oats for their extra protein, compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the exact variant.
If you don’t want to weigh anything out or use much crockery, look at portion sachets or a cup. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Quaker Oats Express Naturel needs a microwave or saucepan; for Quaker Pots Protein Naturel, Quaker recommends adding boiling water.
If you regularly have porridge for lunch and want to decide how much to make, a large pack is worth considering. Bear in mind that you’ll need to measure out your portion and store the opened pack according to the storage instructions.
If extra protein is your main selection criterion, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. Check the ingredients too: the protein variants reviewed contain added soya protein, and according to Quaker, the Quaker pot also contains skimmed milk powder.
Start by thinking about how you can prepare your oats during your break. Then compare the amount per lunch and, if it matters to you, the nutritional information for the exact variant.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quick to prepare | Check whether you need a microwave, a pan or just boiling water. Also check whether you’ll need a bowl. | If my break is short, I don’t want to weigh anything out first or spend ages washing up. This convenience is a top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Choosing your own portion size | Compare the contents of each sachet or cup with the suggested serving size on a large pack, and check how to store it once opened. | If you often have porridge for lunch at home, you might want to decide for yourself how much goes in your bowl. This flexibility matters most to around 33% of consumers. |
| Protein and ingredients | Compare the protein content per 100 g and per actual portion; read the ingredients and allergen information. | I want to know how much protein is in the portion I’ve chosen and which ingredients have been added to provide it. This is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn lists Quaker Oats Express Naturel sachets at 27 g each. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 40 g of oats as a portion for its nutritional information. So, the number of sachets alone won’t tell you whether the amount is right for your lunch.
Check the weight of each sachet and decide what you’d like to eat or add alongside it.
A protein variant may contain different ingredients from regular oats. The product information for Quaker Oats Express Protein lists added soya protein; for Quaker Pots Protein Naturel, Quaker lists soya protein and skimmed milk powder.
Check the latest ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional values before choosing a variant.
A sachet, cup or large pack tells you something about how the product is used, but not necessarily what the packaging is made from. That distinction matters if a metal tin is a must-have for you.
If so, check the material and contents of the specific pack rather than relying on its name.
The Quaker products reviewed include regular oats, Oats Express portions and a Protein pot. This gives you a chance to compare different preparation methods and pack formats.
Jumbo offers its own-brand regular oats alongside portion packs and cups. That makes its range worth considering if you want to compare different pack formats.
Golden Bridge is worth considering if you want to portion out regular oats yourself, rather than for a specific instant cup.
These products suit two work-from-home lunch preferences: Quaker Express oats if you want individual portions, and Quaker Oats Express Protein if you want to consider a variant with added soya protein. For both, check the latest pack for preparation instructions and the amount you’ll be eating.
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The twelve individual portions are handy if you don’t want to weigh anything out during a short lunch break.
The product information says it takes two minutes to prepare in a microwave or saucepan. Check the weight of each portion and the latest allergen information on the pack.
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These oats with added soya protein are worth considering if protein content is part of how you choose what to have for lunch while working from home.
The product information says they take two minutes to prepare. Compare the protein content per 100 g and per portion on the latest label, and check the preparation method and allergens there too.
Yes, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also lists oats as a lunch option. It points out that iodine is added to bread but not to oats; bear this in mind if you often replace bread with oats.
No, it depends on the product. According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel can be prepared in a microwave or saucepan, while Quaker says to add boiling water to Pots Protein Naturel. Read the instructions for the exact variant before choosing.
Check the net quantity, ingredients and allergens, nutritional information, and the usage and storage instructions. This will help you judge how much you’ll get per lunch and whether you can prepare it with what you have at home.
