Who might find these choices useful?

The salt-conscious speedy breakfast eater

You want porridge that’s quick to prepare, so you compare the salt content of plain varieties. You don’t add any salt yourself.

The label-checker mindful of diabetes

You look beyond ‘no added sugar’: carbohydrates, fibre, the amount you use and additions such as milk or yoghurt all matter when assessing your breakfast.

The shopper who checks ingredients and allergens

You want to know whether a product contains only oats or other ingredients too, such as soya protein. You also check the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by comparing instant porridge labels per 100 g. Then decide what portion and preparation method you want to use; these may differ from the basis used to compare the products.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should pay particular attention?
Salt Compare salt per 100 g and check the ingredients list for added salt. If I’m watching my salt intake, I want to know how much salt the oat base contains, even in a quick breakfast. Around 34% of consumers put salt at the top of their list of buying criteria.
Carbohydrates and portion size Compare carbohydrates, sugars and fibre per 100 g, then consider your dry portion and any additions. ‘No added sugar’ doesn’t mean carbohydrate-free to me: I want to be able to assess what’s in my whole breakfast. For around 33% of consumers, checking nutritional values and portion size comes first.
Convenience Check the preparation time and whether you’re buying individual portions or oats to measure out yourself. On a busy morning, I want to know whether the preparation time fits my schedule. For around 20% of consumers, convenience is the most important factor when choosing.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging. I need to be able to see whether the product contains soya as well as oats, for example, and whether warnings about traces are relevant to me. Around 13% of consumers give this check top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Focusing only on salt or added sugar

    A low salt content doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates are in your portion. Porridge with no added sugar still contains carbohydrates.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then consider the amount you’ve chosen and the ingredients you add.

  • Comparing prepared and dry nutritional values directly

    The nutritional values shown for Brinta Havermout at Albert Heijn are for a prepared portion made with semi-skimmed milk. Those figures therefore don’t describe the dry oats alone.

    For a product comparison, use the dry values per 100 g on the label and assess milk, yoghurt and toppings separately.

  • Assuming every instant variety has the same ingredients

    According to the ingredients list shown by Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel contains wholegrain oats; the Protein variety also contains soya protein and soya lecithin.

    Read the ingredients list for the variety you’re buying, even if two packs look similar.

Brands compared

Quaker

The Express Naturel variety reviewed is worth considering if you want individual portions of instant porridge; the Express Protein variety has a different ingredients list.

  • Albert Heijn lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient in Express Naturel. The variety reviewed is designed to be prepared in 2 minutes.
  • The Protein variety contains soya protein and soya lecithin. Check the allergen information on the pack for both varieties too.

Brinta

Brinta Havermout is an option if you’d rather measure out your own oats than use individual instant portions.

  • According to the product information, the Havermout reviewed contains 100% oats.
  • The nutritional values shown by Albert Heijn are for the prepared product made with semi-skimmed milk. Use the dry values on the label when comparing products.

AH

AH Wholegrain Jumbo Oat Flakes come in a large pack for shoppers who want to measure out their own portions.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.03 g of salt per 100 g and 0 g of added salt for this variety.
  • Jumbo flakes in a large pack aren’t individual instant portions, so check whether the preparation time suits your morning routine.

Plain instant porridge on Joybuy

This selection features plain instant porridge in individual portions for a quick breakfast. Check the nutritional information on the current packaging before deciding how much to use.

Quaker Express porridge oats, 324 g pack

Quaker Express porridge oats 324 g

For anyone who wants to prepare plain porridge quickly in individual portions.

  • The product description lists 12 portion sachets and a preparation time of 2 minutes.
  • The ingredients information lists wholegrain oats; also check the current packaging for possible traces of soya, barley and wheat.
  • Compare salt, carbohydrates, sugars and fibre using the nutritional information on the pack.
View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is choosing instant porridge for diabetes based on low salt content enough?

No. The salt content doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates your breakfast contains. Compare carbohydrates, sugars and fibre per 100 g too, and consider your portion and any additions.

Should I compare salt and sugars per portion or per 100 g?

Compare products per 100 g first, so different portion sizes don’t skew the comparison. Then consider what the amount you use and your chosen preparation method add to your breakfast.

Can I choose regular porridge oats if I have coeliac disease?

Don’t assume a product is suitable just because it says ‘oats’. Check the current packaging for an explicit gluten-free claim and any warnings about possible traces of gluten-containing cereals.