People working from home who prepare several lunches
If you measure out your own portions and add water, milk, yoghurt or toppings, fine wholegrain own-brand oats are a useful benchmark for your regular lunch.
Which option is right for you?
People working from home with a short lunch break
A pre-measured portion saves you the effort of weighing it out. Just check that the stated preparation method works with the pan or microwave you have available.
Shoppers who compare ingredients carefully
If you’re keeping an eye on protein, added ingredients or allergens, the nutritional information and ingredients list tell you more than the product name alone.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how much preparation you can fit into your lunch break. Then compare portions and ingredients. If allergens are a key consideration for you, start with the latest label.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing several lunches | Pack size, serving size and whether you need to measure the oats yourself. | If I often make an oat-based lunch, I want to choose how much I use each time. For around 36% of consumers, that flexibility is the main priority when preparing lunch. |
| Quick preparation | Preparation method, amount of liquid needed and grams per serving. | When I have little time between tasks, I want to skip the measuring. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this convenience above all. |
| Protein and ingredients | Protein per 100 g and per chosen serving; full ingredients list. | If I’m considering a protein option, I want to know what else is in my lunch besides oats. For around 21% of consumers, the ingredients are the main factor in their choice. |
| Allergens | Ingredients, allergen information and warnings about the possible presence of other cereals. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check whether the product is suitable before using it. For around 14% of consumers, suitability determines their choice. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming one sachet is a full lunch portion
Quaker Oats Express Natural, as described by Albert Heijn, comes in 27 g sachets. A pre-measured amount doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much you’ll want for your lunch.
Check the weight per sachet and decide what other ingredients you’d like to add to your lunch.
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Assuming regular oats are always suitable for a gluten-free diet
Oat products may also carry warnings about other cereals containing gluten. This matters if you need to avoid those ingredients.
Check the latest allergen information and any gluten-free statement on the packaging; don’t assume a product is suitable just because it contains oats.
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Choosing based on the word ‘protein’ alone
A protein option may contain different ingredients from regular oats. For example, the AH option described by Albert Heijn also contains soya protein isolate, linseed and sunflower seeds.
Compare the nutritional information per serving and read the ingredients and allergen list before choosing an option.
Brands compared
Jumbo
The fine wholegrain oats in the 1 kg pack reviewed are a basic option that you can portion yourself.
- Jumbo says this option is made from wholegrain oats.
- It isn’t pre-portioned; check the packaging for allergen information.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers both fine wholegrain oats and a separate protein option.
- Albert Heijn states that the protein option contains 20 g of protein per 100 g.
- As well as oats, this option contains soya protein isolate and seeds; compare the ingredients for each option.
Brinta
Brinta Oatmeal 450 g is made with extra-fine oats and doesn’t come in individual portion sachets.
- According to the product information, the option reviewed is made from oats.
- The packaging warns that it may contain wheat and rye.
Quaker
Quaker Oats Express Natural is an example of a product for anyone looking for pre-measured portions.
- For the option reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 12 sachets of 27 g and a preparation time of 2 minutes.
- Check that the serving size and allergen information suit your lunch.
Golden Bridge
ALDI lists both fine and coarse wholegrain oatmeal under its Golden Bridge brand.
- You can compare the fine and coarse options to find the oat texture you prefer.
- Check the label on your chosen pack for ingredients and allergens.
Oatmeal products at Joybuy
These products give you three ways to choose an oat-based lunch: an Express option, extra-fine Brinta oats and an Express Protein option. Check the latest packaging for serving sizes, preparation instructions and ingredients for each product.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
Consider this Express option if you’re looking for an oat-based lunch to enjoy during a short break. Check the packaging for serving sizes, preparation instructions and allergens.
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Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
An option if you’d like to portion out fine oats yourself. According to the product information, this option contains oats and the flakes are extra fine; check the latest label for allergen information.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g
If you’d like to compare a protein option for your oat-based lunch, check the protein per serving in the nutritional information. Also check the ingredients and allergens; the name alone won’t tell you what’s in your lunch.
Frequently asked questions
Can you eat oatmeal for lunch?
Yes. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), you can eat oatmeal for lunch. What you add will change the nutritional make-up of the meal, so check the nutritional information for the products and portions you use.
Do you need portion sachets for a quick work-from-home lunch?
No. Portion sachets are mainly useful if you don’t want to measure out the oats yourself. Quaker Oats Express Natural, as described by Albert Heijn, comes in 27 g sachets and has a stated preparation time of 2 minutes. With loose fine oats, you can measure out the portion you want and follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
How can you check whether an oat product meets your allergen requirements?
Read the ingredients, allergen information and warnings on the latest packaging. The information differs between the products reviewed: Quaker Oats Express Natural may contain soya, barley and wheat, while the Brinta Oatmeal described warns that it may contain wheat and rye.