If you want to decide what goes into your Sunday breakfast, start with plain oatmeal and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for dry products. A plain sachet can be handy if you don’t want to weigh out a portion. For ready-made porridge, check the ingredients and nutritional information for the prepared product. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean sugar-free.
With plain oatmeal, you decide what to make your porridge with and what to add. To check the sugar content of dry oatmeal, look at the nutritional information per 100 g. Milk, yoghurt and fruit all contribute to the finished bowl.
A plain portion sachet can make preparation easier. Just check the ingredients for the exact variety and follow the preparation instructions.
Regular oatmeal isn’t automatically gluten-free. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that oat products can be contaminated with gluten, so look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the allergen information on the packaging.
First, compare like with like: dry oatmeal with dry oatmeal, or prepared porridge with prepared porridge. Then decide what matters most to you: choosing your own ingredients, minimal preparation, gluten-free labelling or the amount in each pack.
Choose this when: You want to decide what to make your oatmeal with and what to add.
Keep in mind: The nutritional value of your bowl also depends on the milk, yoghurt or toppings you use.
Choose this when: You want a pre-measured amount for breakfast.
Keep in mind: ‘Plain’ is no substitute for checking the ingredients list for the exact variety.
Choose this when: You want a prepared product rather than making porridge yourself.
Keep in mind: Compare the ingredients and nutritional value of the prepared porridge, not those of dry oats.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and sugars | Read the ingredients list and check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Only compare products in the same form. | If I decide what goes into my bowl, I want to be able to tell a plain oat base apart from a blended mix. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this control. |
| Ease of preparation | Check the portion size and preparation instructions for the exact variety. | On a Sunday, I might want to make a warm bowl quickly without weighing out the oatmeal first. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Gluten-free labelling | If you need to avoid gluten strictly, look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the allergen information. | If I need to avoid gluten strictly, the label is decisive; around 14% of consumers prioritise this reassurance. |
| Amount per pack | Compare the net weight and portion size with the amount of oatmeal you usually use. | If I’m buying oatmeal for several breakfasts, I want to know how many portions I’ll get from a pack. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this consideration. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that a product with no added sugars can still contain sugars that occur naturally. Ingredients you add yourself also change the nutritional value of your bowl.
Read the ingredients list and check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Don’t compare dry oatmeal directly with prepared porridge.
Nutritional information for oatmeal made with milk includes the milk too. You can’t attribute that figure to the dry oats alone.
Check whether the nutritional information applies to the dry product or to the preparation method shown on the packaging.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten. So ‘oats’ on the ingredients list doesn’t offer the same assurance as a gluten-free label.
If you need to avoid gluten strictly, check for a gluten-free label and read the allergen information on the exact product packaging.
Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient in Brinta Havermout.
Quaker lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient in Oats Express Naturel, a plain portion option.
The product information for AH Biologisch Havermout lists wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient.
Jumbo lists wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient in Havermout Grove Vlokken Volkoren.
Lidl lists CROWNFIELD Biologisch havermout in a 500 g pack.
These products come in two pack sizes for an oatmeal breakfast: Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g, and Zonnatura oatmeal, 500 g. If these factors affect your choice, check the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions for each product.
Image unavailable
A good option if you’re considering Quaker Express Oatmeal for Sunday breakfast. The pack contains 324 g; check the ingredients, sugar content per 100 g and preparation instructions for this exact variety.
Image unavailable
A good option if you want to put together your own bowl of oatmeal. The pack contains 500 g; check the ingredients for this exact variety and compare the sugar content per 100 g with that of other dry products.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product can contain sugars that occur naturally even if no sugar has been added. So check both the ingredients list and ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g.
The figure may apply to dry oatmeal or to a prepared portion. Milk, yoghurt, fruit and other additions all contribute to your bowl, so check what the stated nutritional value refers to.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that oat products can be contaminated with gluten. If gluten-free labelling is essential for your choice, check for an explicit label and read the allergen information on the exact product packaging.
Read the ingredients list and any warnings for the exact variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists 14 allergens that are subject to labelling rules; the information on the specific pack is what you should use to assess the product.
