If keeping salt to a minimum is your priority and your holiday home has a microwave or a small saucepan, Quaker Oats Express Naturel could be a suitable option: Albert Heijn lists 0 g of salt per 100 g for this variety. If you need a gluten-free product or have limited cooking facilities, check those requirements separately. Always compare the salt content per 100 g of dry product before looking at serving sizes.
You want to be mindful of your salt intake at breakfast. Compare the nutrition information per 100 g, and take into account what you add to your porridge too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g, as serving sizes vary between manufacturers.
You want to know in advance whether your chosen porridge needs a microwave, a small saucepan or just water. Quaker and Elovena’s preparation instructions show that this varies by product.
If you have coeliac disease, you shouldn’t pack ordinary porridge oats without checking first. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says you need an officially certified gluten-free oat product with the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
For breakfast on holiday, start by comparing the salt content of dry products per 100 g. Then check that the preparation method, allergen information and pack size suit your stay.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt content | Compare the salt per 100 g of dry product and read the ingredients list. Keep an eye on any extras you add at breakfast too. | I want to know how much salt the porridge itself contains, even if I’m having a savoury breakfast. Keeping salt to a minimum is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Preparation | Check what equipment and liquid your chosen product needs, then see what’s available at your holiday home. | With limited kitchen equipment, I want a breakfast I can actually make while I’m there. Easy preparation is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | If you have coeliac disease, check for the Crossed Grain symbol. For other allergens, read the information on the packaging of your chosen product. | If I have coeliac disease or a relevant allergy, I want to know in advance whether this exact product meets my needs. Around 20% of consumers make this their top priority. |
| Pack size | Check the pack contents and number of servings, and consider how you’ll keep an opened pack dry. | For several breakfasts, I want to take enough with me without having to worry about storing an opened pack. Pack size is the first thing around 10% of consumers consider. |
Serving sizes aren’t the same for every brand. Albert Heijn lists 27 g per sachet for Quaker Oats Express Naturel and 40 g per sachet for Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal.
First compare the salt content per 100 g of dry product. Then check how much you actually use for breakfast.
Albert Heijn lists 1 g of salt per 100 g for Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal and 0 g per 100 g for Quaker Oats Express Naturel. A claim on the front of the pack is no substitute for checking the nutrition information.
For every flavour and variety, read both the ‘salt’ line and the ingredients list.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says ordinary oats aren’t automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease. Allergen information can also vary between instant varieties.
Before buying, check the information for your chosen variety. When it arrives, read the packaging again, including checking for any required gluten-free certification.
According to Albert Heijn, Quaker Oats Express Naturel is prepared using a microwave or small saucepan; other instant varieties have different instructions. So a short preparation time doesn’t tell you what equipment you’ll need.
Check the preparation method and facilities at your holiday home, including whether there’s a suitable bowl or pan.
The Oats Express sachets and Protein Naturel tub mentioned here have different preparation methods and nutritional values.
Albert Heijn sells Natural Instant Oatmeal as a gluten-free option in five 40 g sachets.
The Brinta Havermout described by Albert Heijn contains 100% oat flakes and comes in a 450 g pack.
This pack of Quaker Express Oatmeal could be a good fit if you’re looking for porridge for several holiday breakfasts. Check the salt content, preparation instructions and any allergen information on the packaging for your chosen variety.
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A pack for anyone looking to take porridge to their holiday home. Before you set off, check the packaging for your chosen product to see how much liquid you’ll need and what equipment is required.
Compare the salt content per 100 g of dry product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g because manufacturers choose their own serving sizes. Then consider how much you eat and any extras you add.
Not necessarily: Albert Heijn lists 1 g of salt per 100 g for Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal, which is sold as gluten-free. Treat the gluten-free claim and salt content as separate product features.
Ordinary porridge oats aren’t automatically suitable if you have coeliac disease. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says oats can be contaminated with gluten during processing, so check that the packaging for the exact variety you’ve chosen carries the official Crossed Grain symbol.
It depends on the variety. Albert Heijn says Quaker Oats Express Naturel needs a microwave or small saucepan, while Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal can be made with water or milk; Quaker’s instructions for the Protein Naturel tub say to use boiling water. Read the instructions on your chosen pack and check what’s available at your holiday home.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal an opened pack properly. The product information mentioned here recommends storing it in a dry place or in a cool, dry place, so keep the pack away from moisture.
