If you’re having lunch on your own and short on time
You’re looking for a measured portion you can prepare without weighing anything out, at home, school or the office, for example. Check what liquid and equipment the product requires.
Who is this for?
If you want to compare ingredients
You want to see on the label whether a portion is plain or sweetened, and compare its nutritional information and allergens before choosing.
If you want to portion it yourself at home
You eat porridge oats regularly and don’t mind measuring out an amount from a larger pack for each lunch.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether a pre-measured sachet matters more for your lunch than the freedom to portion it yourself. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the options you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Speed and a set portion | Check the number of sachets, the amount in each one and the preparation instructions, including the liquid and equipment required. | If I’m having lunch on my own and short on time, I want to prepare a set amount without weighing it out. Around 45% of consumers prioritise convenient portions and speed. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the ingredients and compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion; check the allergen information too. | I want to be able to distinguish between plain, sweetened and soya-protein varieties when choosing lunch. For around 36% of consumers, ingredients come first. |
| Portioning it yourself | Check the pack size and decide whether you can measure out a suitable amount each time. | At home, I want to choose how much porridge to prepare myself, even if that means weighing it out. This flexibility matters most to around 19% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a portion sachet contains plain porridge
A set portion tells you nothing about the ingredients. Alongside wholegrain oats, Jumbo lists sugar in its Havermout Porties Original.
Read the ingredients and the amount of sugar per portion if you want to decide for yourself what to add to your porridge.
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Overlooking soya in a protein version
The ingredients in Quaker Oats Express Protein include soya protein and soya lecithin. This is a key difference from a product made solely from oats.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack before buying.
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Assuming regular oats are automatically gluten-free
Oat products may come into contact with cereals containing gluten during processing. The name of the grain alone therefore doesn’t tell you whether the finished product is gluten-free.
Check the current pack for allergen information and any gluten-free claim.
Brands and product ranges compared
The differences below apply to the specific products and packs mentioned, not necessarily to a brand’s entire range.
Quaker
Oats Express is available in individual sachets as a plain variety, as well as in a Protein version with a different composition.
- According to the product information, Oats Express Naturel contains 12 portions and has a stated preparation time of two minutes.
- The Protein version reviewed contains soya protein. For both varieties, check the ingredients and preparation instructions on the pack you choose.
Brinta
The Brinta Havermout 450 g pack reviewed is a larger pack from which you measure out your own portions.
- Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes as the only ingredient in this product.
- There are no individually measured sachets; always check the current pack for any allergens relevant to you.
Jumbo
Havermout Porties Original comes in five individual 27 g portions.
- The sachets save you weighing out a portion for each lunch.
- According to Jumbo’s ingredient information, this Original variety contains sugar, so it isn’t the same as a plain variety.
Golden Bridge
The fine wholegrain porridge oats reviewed at ALDI come in a larger pack for you to measure out yourself.
- The pack listed contains 500 g, so you can choose the amount each time.
- This product doesn’t offer the convenience of pre-measured single-portion sachets.
Lidl
The coarse oat flakes reviewed come in a 500 g pack and are an option if you want to portion them yourself.
- You can choose how many oat flakes to use each time you prepare them.
- Coarse flakes in a larger pack aren’t the same product type as instant porridge in portion sachets.
Porridge products at Joybuy
These products include plain instant porridge, a Protein version and two porridge mixes. For the mixes, compare the ingredients and the amount in each sachet, especially if you’re looking for a set portion for lunch on your own.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An option if you don’t want to weigh anything out for lunch on your own.
- The plain version reviewed contains 12 portion sachets of 27 g.
- The preparation instructions say two minutes; check what liquid and equipment you’ll need.
- Read the current allergen information on the pack, particularly if soya, barley or wheat are relevant to you.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g
This variety is worth considering if you want to compare the protein content of porridge as part of your lunch.
- For the Protein version reviewed, the product information states 22 g of protein per 100 g and lists soya protein as an ingredient.
- Check the number of sachets and the amount in each one if a set portion size matters to you.
- Read the current allergen information; soya is an ingredient, and it’s also worth checking for the possible presence of other cereals.
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Family Whole porridge mix with milk and separate glucose sachet 838 g
Consider this mix only if its ingredients and preparation method suit what you’re looking for in a lunch.
- The product name mentions milk and a separate glucose sachet; consider the mix and the addition separately.
- Check the pack for the amount in each sachet, nutritional information and allergens.
- According to the product information, you’ll need boiling water and a suitable bowl to prepare it.
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Family Whole porridge mix with red dates and raisins, 838 g
This mix may suit you if you like red dates and raisins, provided you’re happy to use the other ingredients too.
- The product name mentions a separate glucose sachet; consider how you’d like to use it when preparing the mix.
- Check the current ingredients, nutritional information per portion and allergen information on the pack.
- According to the product information, prepare the mix with boiling water.
Frequently asked questions
Can you have porridge for lunch?
Yes, porridge can be part of a lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes porridge oats in its Wheel of Five dietary guidelines; when planning your own meal, also consider how you prepare them and what you add.
Is a portion sachet handy if you’re having lunch on your own?
A portion sachet saves you weighing anything out, but the amount in it needs to suit the lunch you want to make. If you have room to measure it out yourself at home, a larger pack gives you more flexibility over portion size.
Are regular porridge oats automatically gluten-free?
No, don’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone. Check the current allergen information and any gluten-free claim on the pack of the specific product.
Does every oat-based lunch have the same nutritional value as a bread-based lunch?
No, the nutritional content varies by product and preparation method. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also points out that iodine is added to bread but not to porridge oats, so porridge isn’t automatically an equivalent replacement for every bread-based lunch.