For lunch at university, start by choosing plain oatmeal whose salt content you can compare per 100 g of dry product. Quaker Netherlands lists 0 g of salt per 100 g for Oats Express Naturel; Albert Heijn lists 0.03 g per 100 g for AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken. A single-serve pack saves you measuring, while loose flakes let you decide the portion size yourself. For both, check that the preparation method suits the facilities available in your canteen.
You want a warm lunch with a plain oat base, so you can decide what to add yourself. Compare the salt content of dry products per 100 g: the figure for a prepared bowl may also depend on the milk and other ingredients used.
You have little time to measure out or prepare a portion. Check that the instructions work with the microwave, hot water and bowl available in your canteen.
You use oatmeal for several meals and want to choose between loose flakes and individual portions. Consider whether you can measure out portions at home and take them with you in a sealed container.
Start by checking the salt content and ingredients of the dry product. Then consider whether you can prepare the oatmeal during your break and whether the packaging suits the way you take your portions with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt and ingredients | Compare the salt content of dry products per 100 g and read the ingredients list. The figure for a prepared portion is based on something different. | If I want to put together a low-salt lunch, I’d rather choose what to add to plain oats myself. Around 36% of consumers prioritise salt and ingredients. |
| Preparation time | Read the preparation instructions and check that the necessary equipment and liquid are available. | With a short break, I want to be able to make a warm bowl without much preparation. Around 29% of consumers prioritise quick preparation. |
| Portioning | Choose between individual portions and flakes you measure out yourself; also consider what you need to take them with you. | When I use oatmeal for several lunches, I want to be able to portion it out in advance. Around 21% of consumers prioritise taking suitable portions with them. |
| Gluten and allergens | If you have coeliac disease, check for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain trademark, and read the latest allergen information. | If I need to check the packaging because of coeliac disease or an allergy, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. For around 14% of consumers, this is their first concern. |
Albert Heijn shows a per-portion value for Brinta Havermout prepared with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk. You can’t directly compare the salt content of that bowl with a figure per 100 g of dry oat flakes.
First compare the nutritional information for dry products on the same basis. When putting together your lunch, also take into account anything you add yourself.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can come into contact with cereals containing gluten. This means ordinary oatmeal is not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Check the packaging for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain trademark, and read the latest allergen information.
A statement about added salt is not the same as the total salt figure in the nutritional information. A flavoured variety or anything you add to your bowl can also change its nutritional content.
Read both the ingredients list and the salt content per 100 g for the product you’re buying.
Quaker offers both regular wholegrain oatmeal and Oats Express Naturel in single-serve packs.
According to Albert Heijn, Brinta Havermout consists of oat flakes for cooking with water or milk.
AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken is an option if you want to measure out loose flakes yourself.
The Jumbo range includes loose fine oat flakes as well as oatmeal in single-serve portions.
ALDI lists Golden Bridge fine wholegrain oatmeal in a 500 g pack.
This selection features a Quaker Express oat product for anyone wanting to take oatmeal with them for lunch. Compare the salt content per 100 g on the packaging and check that the preparation instructions suit your canteen.
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An oat product to consider for lunch at university. The pack contains 324 g; check the latest preparation instructions, ingredients and salt content per 100 g before choosing it.
Where possible, compare the salt content per 100 g for two dry products. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this makes the labels easier to compare; take extra care if the portion shown has already been prepared with milk.
Not automatically. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that oat products can come into contact with cereals containing gluten. If you have coeliac disease, check the packaging for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain trademark.
Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for unpackaged foods must be made available to consumers in another way. Ask the canteen for information about the dish you’d like to have.
The packaging is where you can check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and preparation method for the variety you’re buying. For this lunch choice, pay particular attention to salt per 100 g and what you’ll need to prepare it.
