For a simple porridge base you can customise yourself, loose wholegrain oats are a sensible place to start. Individual sachets are more suitable if portioning and preparation time matter more to you. Compare the salt content of dry products per 100 g, and check milk and toppings separately. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, an average 40 g portion of plain porridge oats contains 0 g of salt, but products and prepared meals can differ.
You want to check the ingredients in your porridge and the salt content of the dry oats. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 0 g of salt per 40 g serving of plain porridge oats. Check the value for the product you buy, and assess any additions separately.
You want to choose a pack size that suits how much porridge you eat. Check the net weight and whether you can store the oats somewhere dry.
You don’t want to weigh out a portion every time. Individual servings, such as Quaker Oats Express Naturel, can be practical. Check the ingredients and nutritional information for these products too.
First decide what matters most to you: control over the dry ingredients, a suitable pack size or a pre-measured portion. Then compare the nutritional information for similar products on the same basis.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt and ingredients | Compare the salt per 100 g of dry porridge oats and read the ingredients list, especially for varieties with added ingredients. | If I want to decide what goes into my breakfast, I want to assess the dry oats separately from the milk and toppings. For around 42% of consumers, checking salt would be the top priority. |
| Pack size | Check the net weight and consider whether you can store and use the whole pack while keeping it dry. | If I eat porridge regularly, I want a pack size that suits how much I use, without leaving oats unused. For around 33% of consumers, buying the right amount would come first. |
| Convenience | Check whether you’re buying loose oats or individual portions, and read the preparation instructions. | On busy mornings, I want to make a portion without weighing it out first. For around 25% of consumers, convenience would matter most. |
The nutritional information Albert Heijn shows for Brinta Havermout is for a serving made with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk. So the salt content given is not for the dry oats alone.
Compare dry porridge oats per 100 g, and assess milk and other additions separately.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can come into contact with gluten during processing. The word ‘wholegrain’ on a pack doesn’t tell you whether they’re gluten-free.
If you need a gluten-free product, check the specific gluten-free claim and the Crossed Grain trademark on the pack.
Jumbo sells loose wholegrain porridge oats, including fine oats in a 1 kg pack.
Golden Bridge is an ALDI own-brand range that includes fine wholegrain porridge oats.
Quaker sells both loose porridge oats and Oats Express Naturel in individual portions.
According to its product information, Brinta Havermout is made from 100% oats and has extra-fine flakes.
Albert Heijn stocks wholegrain porridge oats with fine flakes, as well as a separate product labelled gluten-free.
This selection includes a Quaker multipack of individual portions and loose oats from Brinta and Zonnatura. First choose the product type that suits how you use porridge oats, then compare the nutritional information for the variety you’ve chosen.
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Worth considering if you prefer pre-measured portions to weighing out the oats yourself. Before choosing, compare the salt per 100 g of dry oats and read the ingredients for this variety.
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A loose porridge oat option that you can measure out yourself. When comparing salt, distinguish between the nutritional value of dry oats and that of porridge made with milk.
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A porridge oat option to consider if you want to make up your own portions. Check the pack to see which nutritional values apply to the dry oats and what ingredients this variety contains.
Not all porridge oat varieties or prepared bowls have the same salt content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 0 g of salt for 40 g of plain porridge oats. Check the nutritional information per 100 g for your product, and assess milk and additions separately.
First compare the nutritional value of similar dry products per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that manufacturers set their own serving sizes, so values per serving aren’t always directly comparable.
No, you can’t tell from the product name alone. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can come into contact with gluten during processing. If you need a gluten-free product, check the pack for the Crossed Grain trademark.
