For a simple breakfast alongside a meal delivery service, choose plain oatmeal and check both the ingredients list and what you add to your porridge yourself. Fine flakes or individual portions can make it easier to prepare. If you have coeliac disease, ordinary oats are not automatically suitable: the official Crossed Grain symbol must be on the packaging.
If you have a main meal delivered, you can prepare your own oatmeal for breakfast or a snack. Choose ingredients and a preparation method to suit your circumstances; a tailored delivered meal does not tell you whether a separate oat product you buy is suitable.
If simple preparation and predictable portions matter, fine flakes or portion packs are worth considering. Also check that the ingredients, allergens and preparation steps are suitable for the person.
Ordinary oatmeal is not automatically suitable. According to the Voedingscentrum, oats must carry the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging to be suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Start by checking the ingredients in the dry oatmeal. Then consider how you will prepare the porridge, and check any dietary requirements separately.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Adding your own extras | Check the ingredients list for added sweeteners, and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g of dry oatmeal. | If I choose what goes into my porridge, I want to be able to control sweeteners separately. Around 44% of consumers would put control over additions first. |
| Easy preparation | Check the portion size, preparation instructions and amount of liquid needed; bear in mind that you will need to handle a hot bowl. | For breakfast alongside delivered main meals, I want to do as little measuring or cooking as possible. Ease of preparation would be the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Suitability for coeliac disease | Look for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging and read the allergen information. | If coeliac disease is a factor, I want to be sure the oat product I choose is suitable for that diet. This would be the main concern for around 23% of consumers. |
That statement does not tell you what you add to the porridge yourself. The ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table also includes naturally occurring sugars.
Read both the ingredients list and the nutrition table, then choose mindfully which drink, fruit or sweetener to use.
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. So seeing oats listed as the only ingredient on the packaging is not enough.
If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging you buy.
Milk, yoghurt and toppings change the nutritional value of the finished bowl. So sugar figures based on different measures do not allow for a direct product comparison.
Compare packaged oatmeal per 100 g on the same basis, and assess the extras in your own portion separately.
Brinta makes plain oatmeal with extra-fine flakes for hot porridge.
Quaker offers ordinary oatmeal as well as Oats Express Naturel in portion packs.
Zonnatura offers organic wholegrain oatmeal, among other products, as well as a gluten-free multiseed variety.
This brand offers a gluten-free oatmeal variety for anyone specifically looking for an oat product with a certification mark.
Golden Bridge offers fine wholegrain oatmeal in a 500 g pack.
These two Quaker packs are options for plain oatmeal alongside a meal delivery service: a standard pack for measuring out your own portions, and an Express variety for anyone who prioritises preparation time. For both products, check the current packaging if allergens or a gluten-free diet are important.
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This plain option suits anyone who wants to choose what goes into their porridge. Compare the sugar value of the dry oatmeal per 100 g, and count your chosen drink and toppings separately. If you have coeliac disease, check for the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging and look for any statement about possible traces of wheat and barley.
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This Express variety is worth considering if you want to do less measuring at breakfast. Before comparing it with ordinary oatmeal, check the number of portions, preparation instructions and sugar value per 100 g on the packaging. If you have coeliac disease, look for the Crossed Grain symbol and check for any statement about possible traces of wheat and barley.
No. The ‘of which sugars’ line also includes naturally occurring sugars. Check the ingredients list as well to see whether sweeteners have been added, and remember to account for what you put in the porridge yourself.
Not automatically. The Voedingscentrum points out that oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
Do not assume so: oatmeal for breakfast or a snack is not the same as a complete main meal. If you need a prescribed diet or modified texture, discuss what is suitable with the healthcare professional or dietitian involved in your care.
First compare the nutritional values of the dry products per 100 g, then read the ingredients and allergen information. The Voedingscentrum describes figures per 100 g as the basis for the nutrition table; you can only compare prepared porridge fairly if the additions and quantities also match.
