Campers who want to customise their breakfast
Want to bring a dry breakfast base and choose your own fruit, nuts or other toppings? Plain oats are a good fit. Just remember to check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy.
Which type of oatmeal is practical for you?
Festival-goers short on time
A pre-measured portion can be handy if you have access to the liquid and preparation method stated on the pack. Even with express oats, check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety.
Campers with coeliac disease
Regular oats aren’t automatically suitable. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns of possible gluten contamination, so check for a gluten-free label and the official Crossed Grain symbol on the pack.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide what matters most to you when choosing oatmeal for a festival campsite: the sugar information, available preparation methods, allergens or how to store your toppings. Whether you choose flakes or single-serve packs depends on what works best in practice.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugars and sugars present | Compare the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Don’t treat ‘no added sugars’ as meaning ‘sugar-free’. | I want to decide for myself what to add to my oatmeal, rather than relying only on the claim on the front of the pack. For around 36% of these consumers, avoiding added sugars comes first. |
| Preparation | Check whether your chosen variety needs a pan, microwave or another preparation method, and what liquid you’ll need. | If I have little time or cooking space at the campsite, my breakfast needs to suit the facilities available. For around 29% of these consumers, ease of preparation is the top priority. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the allergen information. If you have coeliac disease, specifically check for a gluten-free label and the Crossed Grain symbol. | I can’t simply bring regular oats or a protein variety if gluten or soya is a concern for me. For around 21% of these consumers, checking allergens matters most. |
| Storage at the campsite | Choose toppings that suit your cooling facilities, and check how to store the oatmeal pack once opened. | Without reliable refrigeration, I want to bring a dry breakfast base without relying on perishable toppings. Around 14% of these consumers therefore prioritise storage. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘zero sugars’
Oatmeal can contain naturally occurring sugars, even when no sugars have been added. For example, Albert Heijn lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Oatmeal, alongside the claim ‘no added sugars’.
Check the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for the exact variety.
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Assuming regular oats are gluten-free oats
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten, so they may not be suitable for people with coeliac disease.
If you have coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free product label and the official Crossed Grain symbol on the pack.
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Planning only for the dry oatmeal
Milk and yoghurt are perishable toppings. Choosing a dry breakfast base doesn’t solve the problem of storing those toppings.
Before buying, work out whether you can keep them safely chilled, or choose toppings that suit the facilities available.
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Using ‘protein’ or ‘express’ as a guide to sugar content
These words don’t tell you what’s in every variety. Albert Heijn lists added sugars and soya in its Wholegrain Oatmeal Protein; the Quaker Express Protein variety reviewed also contains soya.
For each pack, check the ingredients, sugars and allergens first, then make sure the preparation method will work at your campsite.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Brinta
The 450 g Oatmeal product reviewed is an option if you want to prepare fine oat flakes with water or milk.
- Jumbo’s product information lists 100% oat flakes and 0.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The allergen information lists oats and possible traces of rye and wheat, so this isn’t a gluten-free option for people with coeliac disease.
Quaker
The products reviewed include plain oatmeal and an express variety. Compare them as separate products.
- For the plain Oatmeal reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 100% wholegrain oats, the claim ‘no added sugars’ and 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The Express Protein variety reviewed contains soya and may contain barley and wheat.
Albert Heijn
Among the own-brand products reviewed, the gluten-free and protein varieties differ in ways that matter when choosing.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Gluten-free Wholegrain Oatmeal is produced in a completely gluten-free environment.
- AH Wholegrain Oatmeal Protein lists 0.8 g of added sugars per 100 g and contains soya. The product name doesn’t replace checking the label.
Jumbo
The oatmeal range includes fine and coarse own-brand flakes, as well as products from other brands.
- That gives you a range of pack sizes and types of flakes to compare individually.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information for each product; the range itself doesn’t tell you what sugar claims apply to each variety.
GOLDEN BRIDGE
ALDI lists 500 g Coarse Wholegrain Oatmeal in this product range.
- The coarse flakes offer a recognisable product variety to compare with fine flakes.
- Before making a choice based on sugar content or dietary needs, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the exact pack.
CROWNFIELD
Lidl describes its 500 g Organic Oatmeal as an in-store product.
- The listed 500 g pack size can help you plan how many portions to bring.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack of the variety you find.
Oatmeal for a DIY camping breakfast
These Joybuy products are dry oatmeal options for anyone who wants to put together their own camping breakfast. The Quaker Express pack suits those looking for pre-measured portions; for each product, check that the preparation method, sugar information and allergens suit your plans.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
For anyone who wants to bring pre-measured portions and has a suitable way to prepare them, as well as the right liquid, at the campsite.
324 g pack. Check the preparation instructions, sugar information and allergens on the exact pack.
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Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
For anyone who wants to choose their own portions and toppings, and make breakfast from a dry base with water or milk.
According to Jumbo’s product information, this 450 g variety contains 100% oat flakes and 0.8 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the allergen information; regular oatmeal isn’t automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease.
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Zonnatura Organic Wholegrain Oatmeal 500 g
For anyone who wants to bring a dry oatmeal base and choose their own toppings.
500 g pack. Before buying, check the ingredients, the ‘of which sugars’ figure, the allergens and the preparation instructions for this variety.
Frequently asked questions
Is oatmeal with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No, it may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Alongside the claim ‘no added sugars’, Albert Heijn lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Oatmeal. So make sure you also read the nutritional information for the variety you buy.
Can I bring regular oatmeal if I have coeliac disease?
If you have coeliac disease, don’t choose regular oatmeal without checking it carefully first. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten. Check the exact pack for a gluten-free label and the official Crossed Grain symbol.
How should I plan for milk or yoghurt with oatmeal at the campsite?
Only use perishable toppings if you can store them safely. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing products with a longer shelf life for camping. Work out in advance what refrigeration you have for milk or yoghurt, or choose a topping that suits your setup.
Do I need a pan to make oatmeal at the campsite?
Not for every variety, but preparation methods vary from product to product. Albert Heijn gives pan or microwave instructions for Quaker Express Protein. Check the instructions on your pack and make sure you have the liquid and facilities you need.