Students keeping an eye on added sugar
You want to decide for yourself what goes into your oatmeal. So check the ingredients in the dry oats as well as the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g: the latter includes sugars that occur naturally.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Students weighing up the cost of their meals
You compare packs by price per kilo, rather than looking only at pack size. Also consider whether you can store and use up a larger pack, or would rather buy smaller amounts.
Students short on preparation time or needing a gluten-free option
Quick preparation and an explicitly gluten-free pack address different needs. Check the preparation instructions if speed matters; if you need a gluten-free option, check the label and allergen information for the variety you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the ingredients and nutritional information for the dry oatmeal. Then compare the price per kilo and decide which type of oats or pack best suits the way you prepare it.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Read the ingredients list and compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g of dry oatmeal. | If I want to decide the flavour of my porridge myself, I look for an oat base without added flavourings. Around 42% of consumers put checking for added sugar first. |
| Meal costs | Compare the price per kilo of similar products and check whether you can use up the pack. | With a limited grocery budget, I want to know what a pack costs per kilo, not just what the shelf label says. For around 33% of consumers, price per kilo is the first consideration. |
| Ease of preparation | Check the preparation instructions and see whether the portions are individually packed. | When I’m short on time, I want to know how many steps are involved in preparing it. Convenience is the main reason around 17% of consumers choose a particular variety. |
| Gluten-free option | Check for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label and read the allergen information on the pack. | If I need a gluten-free option, I can’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone. Around 8% of consumers say this product feature is their top priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Reading the sugar value for prepared porridge as if it applies to dry oats
Nutritional information for porridge made with milk doesn’t describe the oatmeal alone. For example, the store information for Brinta Oatmeal also shows a prepared portion made with semi-skimmed milk.
First compare the dry products per 100 g. Then assess milk, fruit and other additions separately.
-
Assuming every flavour has the same ingredients
‘Oats’ or ‘wholegrain’ on the front doesn’t tell you what other ingredients have been added to a particular variety.
Check the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g again for each flavour.
-
Looking only at pack size
If you’re keeping an eye on meal costs, it’s difficult to compare a smaller pack with a larger one based on size alone.
Compare the price per kilo of the same type of oatmeal, then decide whether individual portions are worth the difference to you.
-
Assuming regular oats are the same as gluten-free oatmeal
Regular AH oatmeal states that it may contain other cereals containing gluten. AH Gluten-Free Wholegrain Oatmeal is a separate product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free.
If you need a gluten-free variety, check the label and allergen information on every pack.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The AH range includes fine and coarse wholegrain oats, as well as a separate gluten-free wholegrain variety.
- For AH Wholegrain Fine Oats, Albert Heijn lists oats as the ingredient and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
- The regular variety is not interchangeable with AH Gluten-Free Wholegrain Oatmeal if you need a gluten-free option.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers fine wholegrain oats and also includes individually portioned packs in its range.
- Jumbo Wholegrain Fine Oats lists wholegrain oats as the ingredient.
- For an individually portioned pack, compare the price per kilo and check the ingredients for the variety you choose.
Quaker
Quaker offers regular oatmeal and Oats Express Naturel in individually portioned packs.
- Quaker lists wholegrain oatmeal as an ingredient in Oats Express Naturel and says it contains no added sugars.
- A different flavour may have a different ingredients list and sugar value, so check the label for each variety.
Brinta
According to the product information, Brinta Oatmeal is made from fine oats for hot porridge.
- Albert Heijn lists 100% oats as the ingredient in Brinta Oatmeal.
- Don’t read a sugar value for porridge made with milk as if it were the value for dry oats.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is ALDI’s brand of fine and coarse wholegrain oatmeal in the range reviewed.
- ALDI lists both a fine and a coarse wholegrain variety.
- If you’re choosing based on sugar content, check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack for that variety.
Oatmeal products at Joybuy
These packs of oatmeal are for anyone looking to put together a simple meal. When choosing based on added sugar and cost, always compare the ingredients, nutritional information per 100 g and price per kilo for the specific pack. Don’t assume a product is gluten-free based on its name.
No image available
Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
Consider this option if preparation time matters to you. Check the preparation instructions, ingredients and price per kilo for this pack before choosing.
No image available
Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
The 600 g pack may suit you if you make oatmeal regularly and can use up that amount. Compare its price per kilo with smaller packs and check the nutritional information for this variety.
No image available
Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
If you’d rather buy less at a time than you would with a 600 g pack, this is the smaller Quaker option. To compare costs, look at the price per kilo rather than pack size alone, and check the label for the sugar value.
No image available
Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
Brinta describes these oats as extra fine; check the preparation instructions if you want to make hot porridge quickly. Albert Heijn lists 100% oats as the ingredient in Brinta Oatmeal. Compare the nutritional information for the dry oats, not for a portion made with milk.
No image available
Zonnatura Organic Whole Wheat Oatmeal 500 g
Include this 500 g pack in your comparison if you’re weighing up different types of oatmeal. Check the ingredients, sugar value per 100 g and preparation instructions on the pack; the product name alone won’t answer those questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is plain oatmeal completely sugar-free?
No, even plain oatmeal can contain naturally occurring sugars. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 0.3 g of sugar for a 40 g bowl of oatmeal. For a specific pack, check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g and read the ingredients list if you want to avoid added sugar.
Why compare the sugar value per 100 g?
This lets you compare dry oatmeal products on the same basis, even if the stated portion sizes differ. The European Commission describes nutritional information per 100 g or 100 ml as the basis for a nutrition table; also compare the ingredients in each product.
Is ‘less sugar’ on the front enough to help me choose oatmeal?
No, that wording doesn’t replace comparing the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Also check the price per kilo if you’re weighing up the pack against your grocery budget.
Can I choose regular oatmeal if I need a gluten-free option?
If you need a gluten-free option, choose a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the allergen information. Regular AH oatmeal states that it may contain other cereals containing gluten; AH Gluten-Free Wholegrain Oatmeal is a separate variety.
Does milk or fruit change the sugar value of my porridge?
Yes, the nutritional value of prepared porridge also depends on what you add. First compare the dry oatmeal, then look separately at the milk, fruit or other ingredients you use.