If you portion it yourself at home
You make porridge regularly and don’t mind measuring out the oats and adding water or milk yourself. In that case, fine oat flakes are worth considering alongside instant porridge in individual sachets.
Who are these options for?
If you want pre-measured portions
You don’t want to measure anything in the morning and are looking for a pack with individual portions. Check how many grams are in each sachet and what preparation method the label recommends.
If you need to check the label carefully
You distinguish between total and added sugars, or need to take gluten or other allergens into account. In that case, the nutrition information and allergen labelling for the variant you choose are what matter.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you need to avoid all sugars or just added sugars. Then compare the packaging and preparation method with your morning routine, and check the label for any dietary requirements.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars on the label | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g; don’t confuse ‘no added sugars’ with ‘sugar-free’. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a ‘sugar-free’ claim is only permitted if the product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If all sugars matter to me, I don’t want to rely solely on the wording about added sugars. For around 31% of consumers, avoiding total sugars is the priority. |
| Pack format | Check the pack size and number of portions, and decide whether you can measure out the oats yourself at home. | For a regular breakfast, I can portion out the oats myself and don’t need individual sachets. Roughly 31% of consumers prioritise this budget-friendly option. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the amount per portion and whether the recommended preparation method suits the equipment you have, and the milk or water available to you. | On a busy morning, I want pre-measured portions that I can prepare wherever I usually make breakfast. This is the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the variant. If you need a gluten-free product, look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain mark on the pack, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, a suitable label matters more than the convenience of choosing any oat product. This is the main concern for around 13% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g, even though no sugars have been added. That’s above the 0.5 g per 100 g threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Decide whether you want to avoid added sugars or all sugars, then check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g.
-
Assuming every oat product is gluten-free
The product information for Quaker Oats Express Naturel states that it may contain barley and wheat. So a standard pack of oats isn’t necessarily a suitable substitute for a product labelled gluten-free.
If you need a gluten-free product, check the labelling on the specific pack. If you have an allergy, also read the ingredients and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
-
Treating a breakfast drink as instant porridge
According to the ingredients list, Brinta Wake Up! Naturel contains rice, barley, wheat, sugar and maltodextrin, among other ingredients. It’s therefore not the same as a plain oat base with no added sugars.
If you’re considering an alternative breakfast product, check the grains, ingredients and nutrition information again.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Oats Express Naturel is instant porridge in portion sachets; the Protein variant also contains soya protein.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Oats Express Naturel takes 2 minutes to prepare and contains 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The stated sugar value means Naturel isn’t literally sugar-free. Also check the soya labelling on the Protein variant.
Albert Heijn
AH Biologisch fijne havervlokken is an oat base that you portion yourself at home, rather than individual instant sachets.
- Albert Heijn states that these fine oat flakes contain 0 g of added sugars and 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- This stated value is also above the threshold for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.
Jumbo
The range includes both fine wholegrain oat flakes in a larger pack and individual portions of porridge oats.
- The choice between measuring out the oats yourself and using pre-measured portions suits different morning routines.
- Before deciding how much sugar the product contains, read the ingredients and nutrition information on the pack you choose.
ALDI
Golden Bridge fijne volkoren havermout is standard porridge oats that you portion yourself, not an individual instant portion.
- ALDI’s product listing describes a 500 g pack of fine wholegrain porridge oats.
- Before choosing this variant to meet your requirements, check the sugar value, ingredients and preparation instructions on the pack.
Lidl
When you visit a store, you can compare oat products by pack format, ingredients and nutrition information.
- Comparing labels helps you distinguish a plain oat base from variants with extra ingredients.
- Check any ‘sugar-free’ or ‘gluten-free’ claim on the specific product, not based on the shop name.
Brinta
Wake Up! Naturel is a breakfast drink made with several types of grain, not an oat-based alternative to instant porridge.
- Brinta’s ingredients list identifies the grains used: rice, barley and wheat.
- The same ingredients list includes sugar and maltodextrin, so don’t choose this product as if it were a plain oat base with no added sugars.
Porridge on Joybuy
This selection features Quaker Express Oatmeal in a 324 g pack. Compare the nutrition information for this variant with your own requirements for total or added sugars.
Image unavailable
Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for Quaker porridge and want to check the sugar information on the pack against your own requirements.
Pack size: 324 g. Before buying, also read the ingredients and allergen information for this variant.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?
No. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a ‘sugar-free’ claim is only permitted when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. Albert Heijn states that Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains no added sugars, but it does contain 1.0 g of sugars per 100 g.
Can I choose standard instant porridge if I need to eat gluten-free?
Don’t choose based on the word ‘oats’ alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain mark on the pack; Quaker Oats Express Naturel states that it may contain barley and wheat. Always check the label on the variant you want to buy.
What should I check in instant porridge with added protein?
Read the ingredients and allergen information as well as the nutrition values per 100 g. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Quaker Oats Express Protein contains 15% soya protein and provides 22 g of protein per 100 g; the soya is important if you need to avoid this ingredient.
Should I check allergens if a product is mainly made from oats?
Yes, check the allergen information for the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed in the ingredients of prepacked foods; also read any warnings about the possible presence of other ingredients.