Families short on time in the morning
If family members eat breakfast at different times, individual portions and a short preparation time can come in handy. Also check whether the chosen variety is labelled as having no added sugar.
Who is this choice relevant for?
Families comparing sugar information
If you want to avoid added sugar, check both the ingredients list and the amount of sugars per 100 g. According to Diabetes Fonds, ‘no added sugar’ and ‘sugar-free’ don’t mean the same thing.
Families portioning from a large pack
Loose porridge oats let you choose how much each family member has. Bear in mind that a large pack of oats doesn’t offer the same preparation method as an instant portion.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether no added sugar is essential. Then compare the preparation method and portion packaging, and check the allergen information for everyone who’ll be eating.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugars | Read the ingredients list and compare the amount of sugars per 100 g in similar products. | If I want to avoid added sugar, I want to know what’s in my porridge rather than relying on the front of the pack to tell the whole story. For around 36% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the preparation time, preparation method and number of portions. | On a busy morning, I want to be able to prepare a bowl quickly for each family member without weighing anything out. Around 29% of consumers give this convenience the highest priority. |
| Portioning it yourself | Check whether you’re buying individual instant portions or loose oats that need to be prepared according to the pack instructions. | When I’m making breakfast for several family members, I’d rather decide how much each person gets and accept the extra preparation. This is the most important factor for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the allergen information for your chosen variety; if you have coeliac disease, also check for an official gluten-free label. | If someone in the family needs to avoid soya or has coeliac disease, I need to be able to check whether the product is suitable before buying. This is the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
A product with no added sugar may still contain naturally occurring sugars. According to Diabetes Fonds, ‘sugar-free’ means a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
As well as checking the claim, look at the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g, comparing similar porridge products.
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Assuming every portion sachet has no added sugar
The portion size tells you nothing about the ingredients. Jumbo lists sugar in the ingredients of its Havermout Porties Original.
Check the individual variety before choosing a portion pack if you want to avoid added sugar.
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Automatically assuming ordinary oats are gluten-free
Voedingscentrum points out that oats can be contaminated with gluten. So the word ‘oats’ alone doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
If you have coeliac disease, check for an official gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the pack.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Quaker
Oats Express Naturel and Oats Express Protein Naturel are different instant varieties for anyone looking to prepare porridge quickly.
- According to Albert Heijn, Oats Express Naturel is made from wholegrain oats and takes two minutes to prepare.
- According to Jumbo, Protein Naturel contains soya. If you have allergies, always check the information on the pack you’re choosing.
Jumbo
The range in this comparison includes both loose wholegrain oats and a portion product. They aren’t interchangeable if you’re looking for instant preparation.
- Jumbo lists wholegrain oats as the only ingredient in its 1 kg pack of fine oats.
- According to the ingredients list, Jumbo Havermout Porties Original contains sugar, so it doesn’t meet a strict no-added-sugar requirement.
Golden Bridge
ALDI lists Golden Bridge Fijne Volkoren Havermout as loose porridge oats in a 500 g pack.
- Don’t assume this variety is an instant product or has no added sugar based on the product name alone. Check the packaging to find out.
Crownfield
Lidl lists Crownfield Biologisch Havermout as loose porridge oats in a 500 g pack.
- Check the ingredients, preparation method and allergen information on the pack before choosing this porridge for a specific family need.
Instant porridge for a quick breakfast
These Joybuy products are individually packaged Quaker varieties for a quick family breakfast. Choose between the regular porridge variety and the Protein variety based on the label and allergen information; this isn’t a selection of loose porridge oats.
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Quaker Express porridge 324 g
An option for a quick breakfast when you want to prepare individual portions.
The product information gives a preparation time of two minutes. Check the ingredients on the pack and look for information about possible traces of soya, barley and wheat.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g
An instant option if you specifically want to compare protein content at family breakfast and don’t need to avoid soya.
The product information states that it takes two minutes to prepare, contains 22 g of protein per 100 g and has no added sugar. This variety contains soya protein and soya lecithin, and may contain barley and wheat.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean the same as sugar-free?
No. No added sugar doesn’t rule out naturally occurring sugars; according to Diabetes Fonds, ‘sugar-free’ means a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check both the ingredients list and the nutritional information per 100 g.
Which instant porridge is suitable if I want to avoid added sugar?
Quaker Oats Express Naturel meets that requirement if you also want individual portions and a short preparation time: the product information lists wholegrain oats and a two-minute preparation time. Check the ingredients of the exact variety when you buy it.
Does Jumbo Havermout Porties Original meet that requirement?
No, not if you want to avoid added sugar altogether. Jumbo lists sugar in the ingredients of Havermout Porties Original; portion packaging on its own tells you nothing about what’s in the product.
Is ordinary porridge suitable for people with coeliac disease?
Don’t assume that it is. Voedingscentrum warns that oats can be contaminated with gluten; if you have coeliac disease, check whether the pack carries an official gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol.