People eating alone who want a set portion
A sachet sets the amount of dry oats in advance. To assess the nutritional value of your breakfast, add the liquid and toppings you choose.
Who are the different options suited to?
Breakfast lovers keeping an eye on protein
A protein mix could suit you if the protein content of the dry oats is an important point of comparison. Check the ingredients too: the Quaker Protein option reviewed contains soya protein.
People who prefer to weigh their own portions
With a large pack of oats, you decide how much dry oats to use. It takes a little more effort than using a portion sachet, but lets you choose your own serving size.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether a pre-measured amount matters more to you than portioning it yourself. Then compare the ingredients, protein content and preparation instructions of the products that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Set dry portion | Check the weight per sachet and the preparation instructions. The liquid you add is part of the breakfast too. | When I have breakfast on my own, I don’t want to keep scooping oats out of a large pack. For around 31% of consumers, a set dry portion would be the main reason for choosing it. |
| Protein in the mix | Compare the protein per 100 g and per sachet, and check the ingredients for soya. | I want to compare the protein content of my porridge without losing sight of the breakfast as a whole. Extra protein would be the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Check which liquid and equipment you need; a breakfast drink is a different type of product from a bowl of porridge. | On a busy morning, I want to know whether I can make a bowl quickly or whether I’m looking for something drinkable instead. For around 25% of consumers, ease of preparation would be the top priority. |
| Weighing your own portion | Check whether it’s loose oats or portion sachets, and choose an amount you can measure out yourself. | I can weigh a portion at home and don’t need individual sachets. Portioning it myself would be the deciding factor for around 19% of consumers. |
Common comparison mistakes
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Assuming a sachet is the whole breakfast
The sachet only determines the amount of dry mix. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Quaker Oats Express Naturel is prepared with 180 ml of milk; any toppings are added on top of that.
Assess the nutritional value of the liquid and additions alongside that of the oats.
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Treating sweetened portions as the same as plain porridge oats
Jumbo lists sugar as an ingredient in Havermout Porties Original and states that each sachet contains 2.9 g of sugars. This gives it a different composition from a plain oat base.
Read the ingredients and compare the sugars per sachet. Choose plain oats if you want to decide what to add yourself.
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Comparing a breakfast drink as if it were plain porridge oats
Brinta Wake Up! is a grain-based breakfast drink that contains ingredients including sugar and maltodextrin. It’s a different type of product from loose rolled oats or a porridge sachet.
Compare ingredients and nutritional information within the same product type before making a choice.
Brands and own-label options to consider
Quaker
Quaker has Oats Express options reviewed here in plain and added soya protein varieties.
- Albert Heijn lists Oats Express Naturel as 27 g portion sachets containing wholegrain oats, with no added sugars.
- According to Albert Heijn, the dry mix in the Protein option contains 15% soya protein. For both options, check the preparation liquid when assessing the nutritional value of the whole bowl.
Brinta
Brinta Havermout is an option you can portion yourself; Wake Up! is a separate breakfast drink.
- According to Jumbo’s product information, Brinta Havermout consists of 100% rolled oats.
- Brinta Havermout is not pre-packed into individual breakfast portions. Don’t compare Wake Up! with plain porridge oats as if they were equivalent products.
Albert Heijn
The own-label range offers a point of comparison for portioned porridge oats.
- The product information for AH Havermout Porties Gezoet describes five 27 g sachets.
- The product page lists this item as discontinued. If you choose an alternative, check the current packaging, ingredients and nutritional information.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers an own-label option in portion sachets as well as loose-pack porridge oats.
- According to Jumbo, Jumbo Havermout Porties Original consists of five 27 g sachets.
- Jumbo lists sugar in the ingredients and 2.9 g of sugars per sachet; this is not an unsweetened oat base.
Lidl
Lidl lists Healthy Fit Proteïne havermout as an in-store product.
- The product name makes it easy to identify the option to look for on the packaging.
- Before choosing, read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging; the product name alone doesn’t tell you its nutritional values.
ALDI / Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge Fijne volkoren havermout is a loose-pack option for anyone who wants to weigh out their own portion.
- ALDI lists a 500 g pack of fine wholegrain oats.
- The pack doesn’t contain pre-measured individual portions. Check the label for the nutritional information of the option you choose.
Porridge on Joybuy
This Quaker pack is worth considering if you’re looking at instant porridge with a protein option. Before buying, check whether the pack contains individual sachets if a set portion is important to you.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for a protein option in instant porridge. The pack contains 302 g; if you don’t want to weigh out portions yourself, check how many individual portions it contains and their weight.
When comparing products, check the ingredients for soya and see whether the nutritional values are given per 100 g or per portion.
Frequently asked questions
Will a sachet of instant porridge automatically help you lose weight?
No. A sachet only sets the amount of dry oats. According to the Voedingscentrum, weight loss depends on your energy balance throughout the day; for the nutritional value of your breakfast, include milk, yoghurt and toppings too.
When might a protein option be a good choice?
A protein option is worth considering if you want to compare the protein content of the dry mix. Albert Heijn lists 22 g of protein per 100 g for Quaker Oats Express Protein, with 15% soya protein in the ingredients; also check the portion size and how it’s prepared.
Can I tell from the name whether a porridge product helps with weight management?
No. A product name doesn’t prove that it has any effect on weight. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that medical claims are prohibited when promoting food products. When choosing breakfast, it’s better to compare the portion size, ingredients and nutritional information of the specific product.
How do I assess the nutritional value of a prepared bowl?
Add together the dry oats, the liquid used to prepare them and any toppings. The Voedingscentrum gives 146 kcal for 40 g of dry oats as an example of nutritional value; the value for a branded product or prepared bowl may differ.