Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents keeping an eye on salt

If you’re looking for a quick breakfast for yourself, you can compare products by their salt content per 100 g. With a plain base, you decide which toppings to add.

Families sharing breakfast with a toddler

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests porridge and other wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt as alternatives at breakfast for children aged 1 to 3. This advice does not automatically apply to younger babies.

Households that need to choose gluten-free

If gluten-free is an essential product requirement, check the gluten-free claim and allergen information separately. Also check the salt content: gluten-free does not automatically mean low in salt.

What should you look for?

Start by comparing salt per 100 g on the same basis, then choose between a pre-measured portion and oats you measure yourself. Check any family or dietary requirements separately.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Salt per 100 g Compare the salt information for dry products per 100 g and read the ingredients list. If I want to limit salt, I want to choose what else goes into my bowl. For around 36% of consumers, keeping an eye on salt comes first.
Preparation and portions Check the preparation time, the amount of liquid needed and whether the oats are already portioned. On a busy morning, I want to do as little as possible before breakfast is ready. Around 29% of consumers give ease of preparation top priority.
Ingredients for a shared breakfast Check whether the oats are wholegrain and whether sugar or salt has been added. If my toddler is eating with me, I look for a wholegrain base with no added sugar or salt that I can serve as an alternative at breakfast. For around 21% of consumers, this family requirement is the most important.
Gluten-free suitability Read the gluten-free claim and allergen information; assess the salt content separately. If gluten-free is essential in my household, it determines which pack I can consider. Around 14% of consumers put this requirement first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming gluten-free means low in salt

    Albert Heijn’s product information lists 1 g of salt per 100 g for Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal Glutenvrij. So a gluten-free claim does not tell you how much salt a product contains.

    If salt is a priority, always check the salt information per 100 g too.

  • Comparing a prepared portion with dry oats

    For Brinta Havermout, Albert Heijn shows nutritional values for a portion made with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk. The stated 0.25 g of salt is therefore based on something different from 100 g of dry oats.

    First compare values on the same basis, then consider what your choice of liquid and toppings adds to the bowl.

  • Assuming portion sachets contain no sugar

    Jumbo lists sugar in the ingredients for Havermout Porties Original. A pre-measured portion does not, in itself, tell you what the product contains.

    As well as the preparation instructions, read the ingredients list and nutritional information.

  • Assuming porridge can replace all bread

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests porridge as an alternative at breakfast for children aged 1 to 3, and notes that bread contributes to iodine intake at other times of the day.

    Don’t use this breakfast alternative as a reason to remove bread from your daily diet without considering it carefully.

Brands to consider

Quaker

Quaker offers both regular wholegrain porridge oats and single-serve Oats Express Naturel.

  • Albert Heijn lists a preparation time of 2 minutes and 0 g of salt per 100 g for Oats Express Naturel.
  • You need to measure regular porridge oats yourself; check the current label and preparation instructions for both options.

Brinta

According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Brinta Havermout consists of fine oats for making hot porridge.

  • The ingredients list names oats as an ingredient.
  • The nutritional values shown are for a portion made with semi-skimmed milk, not for 100 g of dry oats.

Albert Heijn

AH Volkoren Havermout Fijne Vlokken is a product that you measure and prepare yourself.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added salt and 0.03 g of salt per 100 g; the preparation instructions say to simmer the oats gently for about 1 minute.
  • The oats are not portioned individually.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers both single-serve porridge oats and organic wholegrain porridge oats in a larger pack.

  • Jumbo Biologisch Volkoren Havermout lists only organic wholegrain oats as an ingredient and contains 0.00 g of salt per 100 g.
  • According to the ingredients list, Jumbo Havermout Porties Original contains sugar. The pack says to cook the organic option for 3 minutes, then leave it to stand for 3 minutes.

Lidl

Lidl Netherlands lists oats in a 500 g pack.

  • A pack of oats lets you choose your own portion size.
  • If you’re choosing based on salt content, read the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack.

ALDI

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

  • The product name distinguishes this fine wholegrain option from coarser porridge oats.
  • Before choosing this option because salt is a priority, compare the salt content and ingredients on the current pack.

Porridge on Joybuy

This Quaker Express porridge is worth considering if you’re looking for a quick breakfast base. Check the current preparation instructions, ingredients and salt content per 100 g on the pack before choosing.

Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g pack

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

Express porridge to consider if you’re looking for a quick breakfast base; check the preparation instructions and salt content on the current label.

Pack weight: 324 g.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is instant porridge automatically low in salt?

No. Albert Heijn’s product information lists 0 g of salt per 100 g for Quaker Oats Express Naturel and 1 g per 100 g for Elovena Natural Instant Oatmeal Glutenvrij. So check the current salt information for each option and compare values on the same basis.

Can my baby or toddler have porridge for breakfast?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests porridge and other wholegrain breakfast cereals with no added sugar or salt as alternatives to bread at breakfast for children aged 1 to 3. It also notes that bread contributes to iodine intake at other times of the day. This advice is not intended for babies under 1 year old.

Is gluten-free instant porridge also a low-salt option?

Not necessarily. Gluten-free suitability and salt content are different product characteristics. If gluten-free is essential, check the current pack and allergen information, and compare the salt content separately per 100 g.

Why might the salt content on a pack look different from that of regular porridge oats?

The values may be based on different quantities or preparation methods. For example, for Brinta Havermout, Albert Heijn shows nutritional values for a portion made with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk. Don’t compare these directly with the salt content per 100 g of dry porridge oats.