Who are individual portions useful for?

Solo breakfast eaters who don't want to weigh their food

If you usually have breakfast on your own, a portion sachet saves you measuring it out. Check how many grams it contains, though: a pre-set portion may not be the same amount you usually have.

Breakfast eaters at home who want to portion it themselves

A larger bag lets you choose how much to have each morning. The trade-off is that you’ll need to scoop or weigh out the oatmeal every time.

Shoppers who read labels carefully

If you want to compare ingredients, sugars or allergens, the information for the exact variant is more useful than a description such as Original or Natural on the front of the pack.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether a set portion matters more to you than choosing the amount yourself. Then think about how you’ll prepare the oatmeal and read the label for the variant you want to buy.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
A portion that suits you Check the number of sachets and the weight of each one, then compare it with the amount you usually have. If I’m having breakfast on my own, I don’t want to weigh it out every time, but a set sachet still needs to be the right size for my breakfast. Around 45% of consumers put finding a suitable portion first.
Preparation Check the preparation method for the variant you’ve chosen and what you’ll need. On a busy morning, I want to know whether I can prepare it in my kitchen. Quick, simple preparation is the main priority for around 28% of consumers.
Ingredients and nutrition Compare the ingredients, sugars per 100 g and per portion, and the allergen information on the packaging. When I compare variants, I want to know exactly what’s in my portion and which allergens are listed. Around 27% of consumers put this information first.

Common mistakes

  • Looking only at the total pack weight

    A 324 g pack containing twelve portion sachets and a pack with five 27 g portions don’t provide the same amount for each breakfast. Albert Heijn lists twelve sachets for Quaker Express Naturel; Jumbo lists five for Havermout Porties Original.

    Check both the number of portions and the weight per portion before choosing a pack size.

  • Assuming all portioned oatmeal has the same ingredients

    Jumbo lists sugar as an ingredient in Havermout Porties Original. The product format alone tells you nothing about the ingredients in another variant.

    Read the ingredients list and nutritional information, including sugars per 100 g and per portion, for the product you’re actually buying.

  • Assuming oats are automatically gluten-free

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that oats can come into contact with cereals containing gluten. The name oatmeal therefore doesn’t confirm that a product is gluten-free.

    If you need to choose a gluten-free product, check the current allergen information and look for the official Crossed Grain mark on the packaging.

Brands and retailers to consider

Quaker

Quaker offers regular oatmeal and Express variants. Albert Heijn lists Express Naturel 324 g as containing twelve individual portion sachets.

  • Individual sachets mean you don’t have to weigh out each breakfast.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and amount per sachet for each variant.

Brinta

Brinta Havermout is fine oatmeal in a 450 g pack. Albert Heijn lists approximately eleven 40 g portions, prepared with milk.

  • You can choose how much to have for breakfast.
  • The pack mentioned isn’t made up of individual portion sachets; check the label for allergen information.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists Havermout Porties Original with five 27 g portions, as well as regular oatmeal in a larger pack.

  • These two formats let you choose between set portions and measuring out your own.
  • Jumbo lists sugar as an ingredient in Porties Original; check the ingredients for the variant you choose.

Albert Heijn

Here, Albert Heijn is a retailer of products including Quaker Express Naturel and Brinta Havermout, rather than a separate oatmeal brand.

  • The product information shows the difference between sachets and oatmeal you portion yourself.
  • Check the packaging of the variant you buy for the latest product information.

Golden Bridge (ALDI)

ALDI Netherlands lists Golden Bridge fine wholegrain oatmeal in a 500 g pack.

  • A larger pack gives you the flexibility to measure out your own portions.
  • This product isn’t described as a pack containing individual sachets.

Quaker portion packs at Joybuy

These two Quaker Express variants are worth considering if you’re looking for oatmeal for one. Compare them with a larger bag or a cup, taking into account the portion information and preparation method that matter for your breakfast.

Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g pack

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

If you have breakfast on your own and don’t want to weigh out a portion, Joybuy lists twelve individual portion sachets and a two-minute preparation time in the microwave or a saucepan.

Check the weight per sachet if you’re used to having a particular amount. Also read the current allergen information on the packaging.

View at Joybuy
Quaker Oats Express Protein, 302 g pack

Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g

If you’re considering this Express variant for breakfast for one, check the current packaging to see how many individual portions it contains and how many grams are in each one.

Check the exact variant, ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the label; the word Protein in the product name isn’t a nutritional assessment in itself.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

When are portion sachets useful for one person?

Portion sachets are useful if you don’t want to measure out your own serving. Check the weight per sachet and the number of sachets in the pack, though: a pre-measured portion may not match the amount you want to use.

How can I tell if portioned oatmeal contains added sugar?

Read the ingredients list for the exact variant. Jumbo lists sugar as an ingredient in Havermout Porties Original; also check the nutritional information for the amount of sugars per 100 g and per portion.

Is oatmeal automatically gluten-free?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can come into contact with cereals containing gluten. If you need a gluten-free product, check the allergen information and look for the official Crossed Grain mark on the current packaging.

What packaging information is useful when comparing products?

Check the number of portions, weight per portion, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that the contents of prepacked foods must be clearly legible on the label, so use the packaging of the variant you’ve chosen as your reference.