If you want to make a quick, smaller portion of porridge and keep an eye on sugar, compare the total sugar content first rather than relying only on the words ‘no added sugars’. Jumbo lists 1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Oats Express Original, while Albert Heijn lists 18 g per 100 g for its Oat & Go Apple Cinnamon cup, despite it containing 0 g of added sugars. Then consider which portion size, preparation method and ingredients suit your morning routine.
When the children have left home and you want to make a quick, warm breakfast, a plain instant variety can be a good starting point. Compare the total sugar content per 100 g and per portion before choosing a flavour.
A sachet or cup can be handy if you don’t want to weigh out oats every time. Check how much you prepare each time and whether the method suits what you use in the morning.
Fruit, nuts, seeds or extra protein can make a variety appealing. If you’re also keeping an eye on sugar or certain ingredients, compare the nutritional information and ingredients list for that specific variety.
Start with ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, then check your actual portion size and consider flavour, preparation and ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugar content | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, then calculate the amount for the portion you use. Check the ingredients list too. | If I mainly want to choose a lower-sugar option, I don’t want to compare a fruit variety with plain porridge based on the front of the pack. For around 45% of consumers, total sugar content comes first. |
| Portion and preparation | Check the amount in each sachet or cup and whether you need hot water, milk or a microwave. | When I’m making breakfast for myself, I want to do as little weighing as possible and use a preparation method that fits my routine. Around 28% of consumers prioritise convenient portions and preparation. |
| Flavour and ingredients | Check which ingredients give the product its flavour and read the allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen. | I want to be able to choose fruit, nuts or added protein without overlooking the sugar content or ingredients that matter to me. For around 27% of consumers, this combination matters most. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this wording doesn’t mean that a product contains no sugars. Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars for its Oat & Go Apple Cinnamon cup, but 18 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, then check how much sugar is in the portion you’ll actually prepare.
A cup with nuts and seeds or a variety with added soya protein has a different ingredients and allergen list from plain porridge.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour and pack you’re buying, especially if you need to avoid an ingredient.
A cup or sachet saves you weighing, but standard porridge oats may suit you better if you want to choose your own portion size.
Compare the portion size, preparation method and how often you make porridge before choosing a type of pack.
Oats Express includes a plain variety and a Protein variety for quick preparation.
Oat & Go comes in measured portions, including varieties with nuts and seeds or apple and cinnamon.
The range includes both standard porridge oats and measured portions, including Havermout Porties Original.
Golden Bridge offers fine and coarse wholegrain oats for making porridge from scratch.
Brinta Wholegrain Breakfast Cereal is stocked alongside porridge in breakfast ranges.
These four varieties are ordered by their stated total sugar content per 100 g. The comparison is based on product information from Jumbo, Joybuy and Albert Heijn; it isn’t a ranking of those retailers and doesn’t cover all the porridge available.
| Order | Product | Features | What this means for your choice | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quaker Oats Express Original Porridge 324 g | 1 g of sugars per 100 g; 100% wholegrain oats; ready in around 2 minutes. | Jumbo’s product information makes this plain variety a useful comparison point if total sugar content comes first. Consider whether you’d like to add something to its neutral flavour. | Jumbo |
| 2 | Quaker Express Protein Porridge 302 g | 1.2 g of sugars and 22 g of protein per 100 g; added soya protein; ready in around 2 minutes. | Joybuy lists more protein for this variety than for the plain one in Jumbo’s product information, but the ingredients differ. Check for soya if you have an allergy. | Joybuy |
| 3 | AH Terra Oat & Go Nuts & Seeds 65 g | 5.7 g of sugars, 11 g of fibre and 17 g of protein per 100 g; 0 g of added sugars. | This cup combines a measured portion with nuts and seeds. Albert Heijn also lists nuts and peanuts as ingredients, which is important if you have an allergy. | Albert Heijn |
| 4 | AH Oat & Go Apple Cinnamon 65 g | 18 g of sugars per 100 g; 0 g of added sugars; contains dried apple. | Albert Heijn’s information shows why ‘no added sugars’ is no substitute for comparing the total sugar content. | Albert Heijn |
This Quaker Express porridge is one option to consider if you’re looking for a quick oat-based breakfast. Before choosing, compare the nutritional information on the current pack with your preferred sugar content and portion size.
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For anyone checking instant porridge for its sugar content and preparation method.
Pack size: 324 g.
Check the current pack for ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, preparation instructions and allergen information for this variety.
No, it can still contain sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean a product contains no sugars; Albert Heijn lists 0 g of added sugars and 18 g of sugars per 100 g for its Apple Cinnamon cup.
First compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, so different portion sizes don’t skew the comparison. Then check the amount in the portion you’ll make and read the ingredients list. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends comparing labels if you’re keeping an eye on sugar.
Check the allergen information for the exact variety before choosing it. Albert Heijn lists peanuts and nuts, among other things, for the Terra Nuts & Seeds cup; the Quaker Protein variety mentioned contains soya protein.
