If you’re looking for instant porridge for a child’s mealtime without added sugars, check the exact wording on the pack as well as the nutritional information: ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars at all. Quaker Oats Express Naturel comes in individual sachets for quick preparation at home. If gluten-free is essential, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free, such as Elovena Natural, and check the current label and the rules at the place where the child will be eating.
A plain instant porridge base gives you the option of adding your own toppings, such as fruit. Compare the ingredients list with the ‘of which sugars’ figure: a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars.
Ordinary oats are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging is important for oat products. Check the current label of the product you choose, too.
Individual sachets mean less measuring, but preparation instructions vary from product to product. Check whether you’ll have the required milk or water, and a pan or microwave, where you plan to use it.
When choosing instant porridge for a child’s mealtime, start with your preference around sugar and any allergens to consider. Then think about where it will be prepared to decide which pack is most practical.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claims and ingredients | Compare the wording on the pack with the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. | If you want a plain base for a child, you may wish to avoid added sugars without assuming that the total sugar content is zero. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the allergen and traces information on the current label, and ask about the rules at the child’s school or childcare setting. For coeliac disease, look for the Crossed Grain symbol. | If a child needs to avoid gluten or another allergen, the information for the specific product will determine whether it’s suitable to take along for a meal. Allergens are the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the portion size and whether you’ll need water, milk, a pan or a microwave to prepare it. | If there’s little time to measure out a portion, or the porridge will be prepared away from home, make sure the preparation method suits what’s available there. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
These terms don’t mean the same thing. The Naturel variants from Quaker and Elovena included in this review are marketed as having no added sugars, but their nutritional information still lists sugars.
Check the exact wording on the pack, as well as the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the ingredients list.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten. Quaker also states that Oats Express Naturel may contain barley and wheat.
If you have coeliac disease, check for the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging. If the porridge is for a meal at school or childcare, ask about their allergen policies, too.
Pre-measured portions are convenient, but that doesn’t tell you what’s in them: according to Jumbo, Jumbo Havermout Porties Original contains sugar.
Check the ingredients for the specific variant first, then choose the portion size and preparation method that suit the mealtime.
Oats Express Naturel is instant porridge in 12 individual sachets.
Natural instant oatmeal is portion-packed porridge that can be prepared with water or milk.
Jumbo sells both ordinary porridge oats and portion packs under its own brand.
Albert Heijn’s own-brand range includes the AH Oat & Go Appel-Kaneel porridge cup.
Golden Bridge sells fine wholegrain porridge oats in a 500 g pack.
No. The nutritional information for Quaker Oats Express Naturel and Elovena Natural lists 1 g and 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g respectively, even though these variants are marketed as having no added sugars. Check both the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the pack.
Not automatically. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten, and the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging is important for people with coeliac disease. Check the label of the product you choose; Quaker Oats Express Naturel, for example, states that it may contain barley and wheat.
It depends on the product. Albert Heijn describes preparing Quaker Oats Express Naturel with milk in a microwave or pan in two minutes. According to the product information, Elovena Natural can be made with water or milk. Follow the instructions on the pack you choose for the amount of liquid and preparation method.
