Choose plain wholegrain oats if fibre and a simple ingredients list are your priorities, and you can manage the preparation. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, an average 40 g serving of oatmeal contains 4.4 g of fibre; the nutritional value of a specific product may differ. Sachets or a breakfast drink may be more convenient if you want to avoid measuring or washing up, but check the ingredients, allergens and preparation requirements for each product.
You’re looking for a simple oat base and want to compare the fibre content on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 4.4 g of fibre for an average 40 g serving of oatmeal; check the value for the product you take with you.
You don’t want to spend time measuring or washing up. Sachets are pre-portioned, while a breakfast drink has a different composition from plain oatmeal. For quick-cooking varieties, also check that you have the liquid and equipment you’ll need at the campsite.
You’ll need to look beyond the word ‘oats’. The Dutch Coeliac Association warns that standard oats may be contaminated with gluten. Check the gluten-free claim and allergen information on the packaging of the product you choose.
First, decide which need matters most for your camping breakfast. Then compare the nutritional information and preparation instructions for products that meet it.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and oat base | Compare fibre per 100 g and per serving, and read the ingredients list too. | If fibre is my main goal, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. Around 34% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Preparation | Check whether you’ll need hot water, a pan, a microwave or another liquid. | With limited cooking facilities, I want to know whether I can actually prepare breakfast. For around 33% of consumers, ease of preparation comes first. |
| Pack size | Check the weight and number of servings, and whether you can keep an opened pack dry and sealed while travelling. | For a short trip, I don’t want to carry more than I’ll use; for several mornings, the pack needs to last. Pack size matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the latest allergen information and check for a gluten-free claim if needed. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, suitability comes before the convenience of a sachet. This is the main concern for around 13% of consumers. |
A product containing oats may also include other grains, sugar and flavourings. According to Brinta, Brinta Wake Up! Naturel contains, among other ingredients, rice, barley, wheat, sugar and milk-containing flavourings.
Read the ingredients list and compare the nutritional information per 100 g before comparing it with plain oatmeal.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, standard oats may be contaminated with gluten. So the word ‘oats’ on its own doesn’t mean a product is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Check the current packaging to see whether the specific product is labelled gluten-free, and read the allergen information.
A large pack may provide several breakfasts, but you’ll also need to keep it dry and well sealed after opening. Sachets save you measuring, but create individual wrappers.
Choose a number of servings that suits the length of your trip, and a pack size that’s practical to store on the way.
Offers both plain wholegrain oatmeal and Oats Express sachets; for this choice, the main differences are the product format and preparation.
Brinta Wake Up! Naturel is a breakfast drink in sachets for anyone who’d rather mix a drink than make porridge.
The range includes several types of oatmeal, including fine flakes and a separate product labelled gluten-free.
Lidl’s jumbo oats come in a 500 g pack for anyone wanting to take plain oats along.
This ALDI own brand offers fine wholegrain oatmeal in a 1 kg pack, among other products.
These products include plain oatmeal and an Express variety. For a camping breakfast, focus on the pack size, preparation method and nutritional information for the variety you choose.
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A pack of plain oatmeal for anyone who wants to measure out their own servings. Quaker lists 100% wholegrain oatmeal as an ingredient for this product and says it may contain barley and wheat; check the label if you need to avoid these ingredients.
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An Express variety for anyone looking for pre-portioned oatmeal. Before setting off, check the preparation instructions on this pack and make sure you have the liquid and cooking facilities you need. Compare the fibre content on the same nutritional basis as other products.
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A smaller pack of plain oatmeal for anyone wanting to tailor what they take to the length of their trip. Check the pack for serving size, fibre per 100 g and preparation instructions before comparing it with other pack sizes.
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A pack of oats for anyone looking for a base for several breakfasts. Check the packaging for ingredients, fibre per 100 g, allergens and preparation instructions to see whether this variety suits your camping kit.
First compare the fibre per 100 g, then check how much is in the serving you’ll actually make. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 4.4 g of fibre for an average 40 g serving of plain oatmeal; for a specific pack, use its own nutritional information.
You can take dry oatmeal with you if you store it as instructed on the packaging and keep any opened pack dry and well sealed. Don’t assume a ready-to-drink oat product can be stored in the same way: check its storage instructions separately, including after opening.
Not all portioned oatmeal needs a microwave; preparation methods vary by product. The product information for Quaker Oats Express Naturel also gives instructions for preparing it in a pan. Check the instructions for your variety before setting off, so you know what liquid and cooking facilities you’ll need.
If you have coeliac disease, don’t rely on a standard pack of oats. According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, regular oats may be contaminated with gluten. Check that the specific product is clearly labelled gluten-free and read the latest allergen information.
