Choose portion sachets if you don’t want to measure anything out and can use a bowl and microwave or pan in the canteen. A larger pack is a good fit if you want to take portions with you and prepare them yourself. If you only have access to hot water, check that the exact cup or mix is designed for it and is available; the Quaker pot for preparation with hot water was listed as discontinued by Albert Heijn.
If you want a pre-measured portion, look for portion sachets. According to the product information, Quaker Oats Express takes two minutes to prepare. However, the hot preparation method described still requires a bowl, liquid and a microwave or pan.
A larger pack is useful if you can measure out porridge at home or in the canteen and have a storage container, bowl and liquid to hand. Brinta Oatmeal lists 40 g portions, but these aren’t individually packed.
Compare the ingredients and allergens for the exact variants: Jumbo Oatmeal Portions Original lists sugar, while Quaker Oats Express Protein contains soya protein. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ordinary oats aren’t automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease; look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
Start with the facilities you can actually use at lunchtime. Then compare the portion size and the label of the variant you want to take with you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Check whether the exact variant requires a microwave, pan or just hot water; also check whether you’ll need a bowl. | If my break is short, I want to be able to make lunch with the facilities available in the canteen. For around 38% of consumers, ease of preparation comes first. |
| Portion size | Compare pre-measured sachets with a pack you scoop from yourself. Quaker Oats Express Plain comes in 27 g sachets; Brinta lists 40 g portions. | I like to take several lunches from one pack and don’t mind measuring them out myself. Around 31% of consumers put quantity and portion size first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the label for sugar and allergens on the exact variant. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol. | If I need to make a particular choice about ingredients, I want to know what’s in my sachet or mix. For around 31% of consumers, ingredients and dietary suitability are the main priorities. |
The hot preparation method described for Quaker Oats Express Plain uses a bowl, 180 ml of milk and a microwave or pan. So a sachet isn’t necessarily as easy to prepare as a cup designed for hot water.
Read the instructions on the exact pack and check what facilities your canteen has before choosing a format.
Jumbo Oatmeal Portions Original lists sugar as an ingredient. The word ‘porridge’ doesn’t tell you whether a particular variant is sweetened.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the flavours or variants you’re considering.
Quaker Oats Express Protein contains soya protein. This matters if you want to avoid products containing soya, whatever the preparation time.
Check the allergens and nutritional information on the exact pack rather than relying on ‘Protein’ in the name.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can come into contact with cereals containing gluten during processing. So the word ‘oats’ alone isn’t enough to confirm suitability for people with coeliac disease.
Check the current label for the official Crossed Grain symbol.
The product ranges discussed here offer different portion formats; their inclusion doesn’t indicate that any specific variant is available.
Oats Express includes individual portions, including plain oats and a Protein variant.
Porridge in a larger pack for anyone who measures out their own lunch portions.
The own-brand range includes both larger packs of porridge oats and Oatmeal Portions Original in individual sachets.
An ALDI own brand offering fine wholegrain porridge oats in a larger pack.
These products include individual portions of oats, porridge oats to measure out yourself and prepared porridge mixes. Before choosing a product for a canteen lunch, check the preparation method and ingredients on the exact pack.
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An option if you want a pre-measured portion of oats for lunch. The pack contains 12 portions; the hot preparation method described for this variant requires a bowl, liquid and a microwave or pan.
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A larger pack for anyone who can measure out and take a lunch portion with them. Brinta lists 40 g portions; the microwave method described uses a bowl and milk. Check the label if possible traces of wheat or rye are relevant to your choice.
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Consider this prepared porridge mix if you’re looking for something to make with hot water, but check the pack instructions to make sure it’ll work in your canteen. Also read the ingredients and nutritional information for the mix and accompanying glucose before deciding whether this variant suits your preferences.
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A variant with red dates and raisins for anyone looking for a prepared mix rather than plain porridge oats. If you want to make it with hot water in the canteen, check the preparation instructions. Also check the ingredients and nutritional information for the mix and accompanying glucose.
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An oat product with added soya protein to consider if that’s the kind of formulation you’re looking for. Check the allergens and preparation instructions on the exact pack: both microwave or pan preparation and hot-water preparation are described for this variant.
Not every sachet is designed to be made with hot water alone. The hot preparation method described for Quaker Oats Express Plain requires a bowl, milk and a microwave or pan. Check the instructions for your exact variant before relying on hot water from the canteen.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can come into contact with cereals containing gluten during processing. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products is shown on the label. Check the label for the exact variant, especially when comparing plain porridge oats with a protein variant or prepared mix.
