If you want to control the amount of oats and what you add, plain oats in a larger pack are a straightforward option. Sachets save you measuring, but check the amount in each sachet and the nutrition information too. If you’re choosing with diabetes in mind, ‘no added sugar’ alone doesn’t tell you enough: compare the carbohydrate and sugar figures on the label, and take into account what you add to your oats.
You want to compare the carbohydrates and sugars in the oats with those in your own portion, including when you add milk, fruit or other ingredients. Diabetes.nl recommends checking the figures per 100 g when reading nutrition information.
You eat porridge regularly and want to choose a pack size you’re likely to use up. It also matters whether you’d rather measure the oats yourself or use a pre-measured portion.
You don’t want to measure oats every time on a busy morning. A sachet gives you a set amount of oats, but you still decide what to add and how much you ultimately eat.
First, choose between measuring the oats yourself and using pre-measured sachets. Then compare the nutrition information on a like-for-like basis, and check the pack for ingredients and allergens that matter to your household.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates and ingredients | Compare carbohydrates, including sugars, per 100 g of dry product; also check the ingredients and the amount you use. | When putting my breakfast together, I want to see what comes from the oats and what I add myself. Around 36% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Pack size and pantry supplies | Check the net weight, the number of portions you can get from the pack and the storage instructions. | If I use porridge regularly, I want to choose a pack that suits how much my household eats. For around 29% of consumers, planning pantry supplies comes first. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the amount in each sachet or your own portion, and follow the preparation instructions for the variant you choose. | On busy mornings, I don’t want to measure the oats, but I do want to know how much each sachet contains. Around 21% of consumers prioritise a set portion that’s easy to prepare. |
| Allergens | Read the current allergen information and any warnings about the possible presence of other cereals. | If someone in my household needs to avoid certain cereals, I check the pack before putting it in the cupboard. Around 14% of consumers give this check the highest priority. |
According to Diabetes.nl, this statement means that no sugars have been added; it doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars or other carbohydrates.
Check the carbohydrate and sugar figures per 100 g, decide on your portion size and take the ingredients in your prepared bowl into account.
A larger pack only suits your pantry plans if you’re likely to use all of it and can store it as instructed.
Compare the net weight and number of portions with how much you use, and read the storage instructions on the pack.
Nutrition information per 100 g of dry oats uses a different basis from figures for porridge made with milk. For example, the Brinta information shown by Albert Heijn also lists a portion made with semi-skimmed milk.
First compare dry products per 100 g, then work out the ingredients in your own bowl separately.
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats may come into contact with gluten during production. Product pages for ordinary porridge oats also include warnings about the possible presence of other cereals.
If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free claim and current allergen information on the pack; don’t assume a product is suitable just because it says ‘oats’.
Offers both a 600 g pack of porridge oats and Oats Express Naturel in portion sachets.
The Brinta Porridge Oats described come in a 450 g pack of oats for making hot porridge.
AH Wholegrain Fine Oat Flakes is a 500 g own-brand option that you can portion yourself.
Jumbo Wholegrain Fine Oat Flakes Value Pack is a 1 kg own-brand pack.
Golden Bridge Fine Wholegrain Porridge Oats is a 500 g pack listed by ALDI Netherlands.
These two Quaker Oatmeal pack sizes suit anyone who’d rather measure out their own porridge oats than use pre-measured sachets. Choose the amount that suits how much you use, and check the label on your chosen pack when comparing nutrition information.
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The 600 g pack is an option if you eat porridge regularly and want to measure out your own portions. Check the label for the nutrition information for your chosen portion, and remember to factor in anything you add.
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The 375 g pack may suit you if you want to buy a smaller amount of oats to portion yourself. Before comparing it with another variant, check the nutrition information per 100 g on the current label.
No. Check the nutrition information and your actual portion size rather than relying on that label alone. Diabetes.nl recommends checking the carbohydrate and sugar figures on the label; ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t mean the product contains no carbohydrates.
Don’t assume ordinary porridge oats are gluten-free. The Voedingscentrum points out that oats may come into contact with gluten; check the gluten-free claim and allergen information on the packaging of the specific product.
First compare the nutrition information per 100 g of dry product, then check how much oats you actually use. The Quaker Oats Express Naturel sachets described contain 27 g each, while the Quaker 600 g pack described lists a 40 g portion. Milk and toppings change the nutritional value of the prepared bowl.
