Which option suits you?

Keeping a strict eye on sugar

You’re specifically looking for a product labelled ‘sugar-free’. So don’t just look for ‘no added sugars’; check the amount of sugars per 100 g on the label too.

Picnicking without cooking facilities

You want to take a portion that’s practical to prepare in the park. Check in advance whether your chosen porridge needs hot water, a pan or a microwave, or whether it can be prepared cold.

Portioning it yourself

You’d rather take fine rolled oats and decide at home how much to put in your container, along with your choice of toppings. That gives you flexibility, but you’ll need to measure and pack your portion before you leave.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is an absolute requirement. Then consider what you’ll be able to use to prepare your porridge at the picnic spot, and whether you want to portion it out yourself.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters most to
The sugar claim Check the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, ‘sugar-free’ can only be used for a solid food if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I’m looking for something strictly sugar-free, I don’t want to mistake ‘no added sugars’ for the same claim. For around 42% of consumers, keeping to a strict sugar limit is the main priority.
Preparing it in the park Check whether your chosen product needs hot water, a pan or a microwave, or whether the packaging says it can also be prepared cold. See if you’ll need to measure out a portion yourself. Without cooking facilities, I want to know how I can prepare my portion of oats on the spot. For around 33% of consumers, this practical convenience comes first.
Making it your own Read the ingredients list and decide whether you want to portion out the oats at home; also check the allergen information on the exact pack. If you measure it out yourself and add toppings, you can choose what goes into your porridge, but you’ll also need to pack a portion. For around 25% of consumers, having this flexibility matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    A product can contain sugars that occur naturally. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim for solid foods requires a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ means something different.

    If sugar-free is an absolute requirement, check both the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the exact pack.

  • Relying on a name such as ‘Original’ or ‘Natural’

    A flavour name doesn’t tell you whether sugar has been added. For example, Jumbo lists sugar in the ingredients of Jumbo Havermout Porties Original.

    Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the product you want to take with you, rather than relying on the name on the front of the pack.

  • Taking porridge made with dairy without keeping it chilled

    If your portion contains milk, yoghurt or quark, how you store it during the picnic is part of your decision. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using a cool bag for chilled picnic food and advises not leaving food that spoils quickly out of the fridge for more than two hours.

    Take your chilled portion in a cool bag with ice packs, or pack dry oats and add a suitable liquid when you get there.

  • Assuming ordinary oats are suitable for people with coeliac disease

    Oat products can come into contact with gluten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says people with coeliac disease should look for the official Crossed Grain trademark when choosing an oat product.

    Check the gluten-free marking and allergen information for each individual product.

Brands to consider

Quaker

Quaker sells both portion sachets and single-serve cups. According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel comes in a pack of 12 sachets and takes two minutes to prepare.

  • A portion-sized pack can be handy if you don’t want to measure anything out before your picnic.
  • ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’. Albert Heijn also lists 12 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Protein Naturel; this cup contains milk and soya.

Brinta

According to Albert Heijn, Brinta Havermout 450 g contains 100% rolled oats. The extra-fine oats are designed for quick preparation with hot water.

  • You can measure out a portion at home and pack your toppings separately.
  • It doesn’t come in individual portions. Albert Heijn says the product may contain wheat and rye.

Albert Heijn

AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken is a 500 g pack that you can portion out yourself. Albert Heijn lists 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g.

  • Fine oats make a plain base, so you can choose the portion size and what to add yourself.
  • The sugar value listed isn’t, by itself, confirmation that the product is ‘sugar-free’. Check the allergen information on the pack too.

Jumbo

Jumbo sells fine rolled oats as well as individual portions of porridge; the ingredients vary between products.

  • You can choose between portioning out a larger pack yourself and taking a pre-portioned serving.
  • Jumbo lists sugar in the ingredients for Havermout Porties Original. So the name ‘Original’ doesn’t mean this product is unsweetened.

Golden Bridge (ALDI)

ALDI lists Golden Bridge Fijne Volkoren Havermout in a 500 g pack.

  • The pack is suitable if you want to measure out a portion for your picnic at home.
  • To check whether it meets your sugar requirements, look at the ingredients and nutritional information on the exact pack.

Oat products on Joybuy

You can compare these two oat products with your picnic plans: check the preparation instructions for the exact Quaker Express Oatmeal product, and decide whether you want to measure out a portion of Brinta Havermout at home.

Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g pack

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

If you want to take this oat product on a picnic, you can divide the 324 g pack into portions at home. Check the sugars per 100 g for the exact product and see how it can be prepared without a pan or microwave.

View on Joybuy
Brinta Havermout, 450 g pack

Brinta Havermout 450 g

If you want to measure out your own portion of oats for a picnic, this 450 g pack could suit you. According to the product information on Joybuy, Brinta Havermout contains 100% rolled oats; take a container with you and check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the pack.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No: ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t rule out sugars that occur naturally. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim is only allowed for solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. For example, Albert Heijn says Quaker Oats Express Naturel has no added sugars, but does contain 1 g of sugars per 100 g.

Can I take porridge with yoghurt or milk to the park?

Yes, as long as you keep your portion chilled and don’t leave it out of the fridge for too long. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using a cool bag for chilled picnic food and says food that spoils quickly should be left out of the fridge for no more than two hours.

Are ordinary oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?

Not necessarily: oat products can come into contact with gluten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says people with coeliac disease should look for the official Crossed Grain trademark on oat products. So check the packaging of the product you choose.

When should I choose fine rolled oats instead of portion sachets?

Choose fine rolled oats if you want to decide at home how much to take and which toppings to add to your picnic porridge. You’ll need to measure and pack a portion yourself, though. With portion sachets, check the ingredients, sugars per 100 g and preparation instructions for the specific product.