If you don’t have a bowl at the office
A single-serve cup or pot can be handy if you don’t want to bring a separate bowl. Check the packaging to see what you need to add and whether you have the necessary facilities at work.
Which packaging works best for you?
If you plan your lunches in advance
Individually packed portions make it easy to take porridge with you for several working days without measuring it out yourself. A sachet does, however, require a suitable container and the equipment specified in the instructions.
If you compare labels
Ingredients vary between plain, sweetened and soya protein varieties. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and check the allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying.
What should you look for when buying?
First, decide whether the packaging itself needs to double as a container for preparing the porridge. Then compare portion sizes, the facilities available at the office and the label.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing it at the office | Can the packaging be used to prepare the porridge? Check which liquid and preparation method the instructions specify. | If I don’t have a bowl at work, I want to bring packaging that I can prepare the porridge in. For around 42% of consumers, being able to prepare it themselves would be their main concern when buying. |
| Portions for working days | Compare the number of portions and the weight per portion; a multipack of sachets is not a single-serve cup. | If I’m packing lunches for several working days, I want to take portions with me without measuring them out each time. For around 33% of consumers, planning portions would be the priority. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Check the ingredients, nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and the current allergen declaration. | Before choosing a lunch product, I want to know what’s in it and which allergens are listed. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label would be their first priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a sachet is the same as a lunch cup
A pre-measured sachet is not necessarily a container for preparing the porridge. For the microwave method described for Quaker Oats Express Naturel, you’ll need a bowl and 180 ml of milk.
Before buying, check the instructions for the variety you’ve chosen and make sure you have the necessary bowl and facilities at the office.
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Assuming every oat product is gluten-free
The portions reviewed list gluten-containing cereals or the possible presence of other cereals. So the product name alone doesn’t tell you enough about allergens.
For a gluten-free option, look for a clear ‘gluten-free’ statement or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the allergen information on the current packaging.
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Thinking an old product listing is a current buying option
The 50 g Quaker Natural Oatmeal Pot shows how a pot works when you only need to add hot water, but Albert Heijn lists this variety as discontinued.
Use the pot as an example of a packaging format, not as a current product recommendation. Check availability and the information for the exact variety you want to buy with a retailer.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Among the Quaker products reviewed, you’ll find sachets, a soya protein variety and a single-serve porridge pot.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Oats Express Naturel comes in 12 individual portions.
- The microwave method described for Naturel requires a bowl. Albert Heijn lists the 50 g Natural Oatmeal Pot as discontinued; the Protein variety contains soya.
Jumbo
Jumbo Oatmeal Portions Original is an own-brand pack for anyone looking for several pre-measured portions to take to the office.
- The pack contains five 27 g portions.
- These are sachets, not cups. The product information lists 2,9 g of sugars per portion and advises checking the cereals and allergens listed.
Upfront
The Oats Cup Chocolate is a single-serve cup for anyone who’d rather take a larger portion than a standard sachet.
- The cup listed by Jumbo contains 75 g of instant porridge meal; the nutritional information states 18 g of protein and 11 g of fibre per cup.
- The cup contains milk and gluten-containing cereals. Check the packaging to see which liquid and preparation method are required.
Joybuy products for an office lunch
Compare these instant porridge products if you want to take a portion to the office. Check each pack to see whether it contains individual portions and what you need to prepare them; don’t assume it’s a self-contained cup or a metal tin.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
For anyone who wants to take individual portions of porridge to the office and has access to a bowl.
The pack contains 12 portions of 27 g. The microwave method described requires a bowl and 180 ml of milk; the sachets are not self-contained cups.
Check the current allergen information, including the declaration of gluten-containing cereals and the possible presence of soya, wheat and barley.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g
For anyone who wants to compare the ingredients of an instant porridge variety with soya protein for an office lunch.
The pack contains 302 g. The ingredients list wholegrain oats and soya protein; check the packaging for the number of portions and preparation instructions.
Contains soya. Also check the current allergen information for the stated possible presence of wheat and barley.
Frequently asked questions
Is a sachet the same as a porridge cup?
No. A sachet contains a pre-measured portion of porridge, but it doesn’t automatically double as a container for preparing it. For example, the microwave method described for Quaker Oats Express Naturel requires a bowl and 180 ml of milk. Check the packaging instructions for cups too.
Can I take porridge with me for lunch?
Yes, the Voedingscentrum also lists porridge as a suitable lunch option. For the office, choose a pack with a portion size and preparation method that suit what you can take with you and use on site.
How can I tell if an oat product is gluten-free?
According to the Voedingscentrum, you can identify a gluten-free product by the ‘gluten-free’ statement or the Crossed Grain symbol. Don’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone: check the statement and allergen information on the packaging of the specific product.
Where can I check the allergens in instant porridge?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging. For these product varieties, look out in particular for declarations of gluten-containing cereals, soya and milk; these vary by product.