Who are individual sachets suited to?

The label-conscious portion chooser

You want a quick, single-serving breakfast, but before choosing a flavour you check for added sugar, carbohydrates per sachet and fibre.

The breakfast eater comparing fibre and protein

You want to know how much fibre and protein a real serving provides, and whether the ingredients, such as soya in a protein variety, suit you.

Someone who needs to eat gluten-free

You have a medical reason to avoid gluten, so you check the gluten-free label on the specific pack. Oats alone as an ingredient aren’t enough.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the ingredients and serving size. Then look at the nutritional value of your whole breakfast, including anything you add to the sachet.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Added sugar Read the ingredients list and compare sugars per 100 g and per sachet. Assess each flavour separately. I want to decide for myself what to add to my porridge, without added sugar in the sachet. This is a priority for around 31% of consumers.
Carbohydrates per breakfast Use the serving size and the carbohydrate information on the label to work out the amount per sachet; include milk, yoghurt or toppings too. When I make porridge with milk or fruit, I want to take the carbohydrates in the whole meal into account. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this planning.
Fibre and protein Compare both values per 100 g and per actual serving. For a protein variety, also check the protein source and allergens. I want to know how much fibre and protein the sachet actually contains for my breakfast. Around 25% of consumers put this comparison first.
Portion convenience Check the number of sachets, the amount in each sachet and the preparation instructions. When I’m having breakfast on my own or taking a portion with me, I don’t want to weigh out the oats every time. Portion convenience is a priority for around 13% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming an individual sachet means no added sugar

    A measured portion tells you nothing about the ingredients. Albert Heijn lists sugar in Quaker Oats Express Cinnamon; according to Jumbo, Havermout Porties Original also contains sugar.

    Read the ingredients for the variety you’ve chosen and compare the amount of sugar per sachet.

  • Looking only at the sugars in the dry sachet

    Milk, yoghurt, fruit and other additions change the nutritional value of your prepared breakfast. diabetes.nl also explains that the right eating pattern varies from person to person.

    When putting your breakfast together, include the carbohydrates from both the sachet and anything you add.

  • Assuming all oats are gluten-free

    According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can become contaminated with gluten. This distinction matters if you have coeliac disease.

    If you have coeliac disease, check the current pack for the official Crossed Grain symbol and read the allergen information.

Brands to consider

Quaker

Oats Express is available in the portion varieties reviewed, with different ingredients.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Oats Express Naturel is made from wholegrain oats; the Protein variety contains wholegrain oats and soya protein.
  • Oats Express Cinnamon also contains sugar. Check the label for the variety you’ve chosen, not for a different flavour.

Jumbo

According to Jumbo, Havermout Porties Original contains five 27 g sachets.

  • The amount in each sachet is clearly stated.
  • According to Jumbo, Original contains sugar as an ingredient and 2.9 g of sugars per sachet.

Elovena

The Natural and Raspberry varieties reviewed are instant porridge, sold in packs of five 40 g sachets.

  • Albert Heijn labels Elovena Natural as gluten-free and states that no sugars have been added to this variety.
  • Raspberry has different ingredients, including sugar. If you have coeliac disease, also check the current label and symbol.

Joybuy product for this topic

If you’re putting together a single-serving breakfast with porridge, this Quaker product gives you a starting point for checking the serving size and nutritional information on the pack.

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

For a single-serving breakfast, it helps to know how much oats to use each time. The pack contains 324 g; check the current label for the serving size, carbohydrates per serving, ingredients and allergens.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is instant porridge in an individual sachet automatically suitable for people with diabetes?

No. An individual sachet mainly gives you a measured portion. Compare the ingredients and the carbohydrates, sugars and fibre in your chosen variety; diabetes.nl recommends checking the label on breakfast cereals.

How do I work out the carbohydrates in my prepared breakfast?

Start with the carbohydrates in the dry sachet, then include those in any milk, yoghurt, fruit or other additions. According to diabetes.nl, the right eating pattern varies from person to person.

What should I look for in a variety with added protein?

As well as the protein per serving, check the carbohydrates, ingredients and allergens. According to Albert Heijn, the Quaker Oats Express Protein variety reviewed contains soya protein; this is important if you need to avoid soya.

Does it make a difference whether I prepare it with water or milk?

Water doesn’t add any nutrients to the dry porridge; milk changes the nutritional value of the prepared breakfast. Follow the instructions on the pack for your variety to find out how much liquid to use and how to prepare it.

Is a product containing oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?

You can’t tell from the oats alone. According to the Voedingscentrum, people with coeliac disease need to look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the pack of an oat product; also check the current allergen information.