Who is this choice relevant to?

Breakfast eaters looking to avoid added sugar

With plain oatmeal as your base, you decide what to add to your breakfast. Check the ingredients list and nutritional information even for plain varieties.

Breakfast eaters short on preparation time

A pre-measured portion saves you measuring on a busy morning. Check how much liquid you need and whether you can prepare it using the equipment you have.

Breakfast eaters who need to check for allergens

If you have coeliac disease, ordinary oatmeal is not automatically suitable. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for the Crossed Grain trademark; check the up-to-date allergen information for each variety too.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, choose a base that suits your preference for avoiding added sugar. Then compare the preparation method, portion size and any dietary requirements.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Added sugar Read the ingredients list and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Naturally occurring sugars are still included in the nutritional information. If I add my own fruit or other ingredients, I want to know what is already in the dry base. This check comes first for around 36% of consumers.
Preparation time Check the preparation time, how much liquid you need, and whether it is suitable for the microwave or a pan. On a busy morning, I don’t want to measure out a portion first or spend ages at the hob. Around 29% of consumers put convenience during preparation first.
Portion size and fibre Compare the portion size and the stated amount of fibre per 100 g or per portion. If oatmeal is often on the breakfast menu, I want to be able to decide how much I use and compare the nutritional information properly. Around 21% of consumers give this top priority.
Allergens and gluten Check the ingredients and allergen information; if you have coeliac disease, look for the Crossed Grain trademark. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, suitability matters more than convenience or taste. This dietary check is the main concern for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a flavoured variety is the same as plain oatmeal

    A flavour name doesn’t tell you whether sugar has been added. For example, Quaker lists sugar as an ingredient in Oats Express Cinnamon, while Quaker says Oatmeal Original is made from 100% wholegrain oats.

    Before choosing a flavoured variety, compare the ingredients list and the sugars per 100 g.

  • Assuming ordinary oats are automatically suitable for coeliac disease

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten during processing. So the words ‘oats’ or ‘wholegrain’ on their own are not enough.

    If you have coeliac disease, check that the official Crossed Grain trademark is on the packaging and read the up-to-date allergen information.

  • Assessing the dry oatmeal on its own

    Milk, yoghurt and toppings all contribute to the nutritional content of your finished bowl. For example, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists sugars in porridge made with whole milk and no added sugar.

    So check the nutritional information for the liquid and any extras you use too.

Brands to compare

Quaker

The range includes plain oatmeal, quick plain portions, flavoured varieties and a variety with soya protein.

  • Quaker says Oatmeal Original is made from 100% wholegrain oats.
  • Check the variety you choose: Oats Express Cinnamon contains sugar as an ingredient, while Oats Express Protein Plain contains soya.

Brinta

Brinta Oatmeal is an option if you want to make a warm breakfast with fine oat flakes.

  • The product information at Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient.
  • The product information mentions possible traces of wheat and rye; if you have coeliac disease, check the trademark on the packaging.

Albert Heijn

AH Wholegrain Oatmeal Fine Flakes is a loose oatmeal base that lets you choose your own portion size.

  • Albert Heijn states that this product contains 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
  • Check the current packaging for allergens and whether it is suitable for your diet.

Jumbo

Jumbo Wholegrain Fine Oat Flakes is a loose oatmeal base for portions you measure out yourself.

  • Jumbo lists wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient in the 500 g variety.
  • Compare the nutritional information on the packaging you actually choose.

Golden Bridge (ALDI)

ALDI lists fine and coarse wholegrain oatmeal in the Golden Bridge range.

  • Choosing between fine and coarse flakes makes texture a practical point of comparison.
  • Before you decide, check the ingredients, sugars and allergens on the packaging of your chosen variety.

Crownfield (Lidl)

Lidl lists CROWNFIELD Organic Oatmeal in a 500 g pack.

  • The product name makes it easy to identify the oatmeal variety on the label.
  • Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging itself; ‘organic’ tells you nothing about the amount of sugars.

Oatmeal on Joybuy

These products show two options for a weekday breakfast: a 324 g pack of Quaker Express and 450 g of Brinta oat flakes. Check the current packaging for both if added sugar or allergens are deciding factors.

Quaker Express oatmeal, 324 g

Quaker Express oatmeal 324 g

An option if you want oatmeal that’s quick to prepare on weekdays. Joybuy’s product information says it takes two minutes to prepare in the microwave or a saucepan.

Check the ingredients, sugars and allergens on the current packaging, especially if you have specific dietary requirements.

View at Joybuy
Brinta oatmeal, 450 g

Brinta oatmeal 450 g

A base for anyone who wants to measure out their own portion of oatmeal and choose what to add. The product information for this Brinta oatmeal lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient.

Check the current allergen information and, if you have coeliac disease, look for the Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean oatmeal contains no sugars?

No. Oats can contain naturally occurring sugars, even if no sugar has been added as an ingredient. So check both the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table.

Is ordinary oatmeal suitable for coeliac disease?

Not automatically. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten during processing. If you have coeliac disease, only choose oatmeal with the official Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging, and check the up-to-date allergen information.

What should I look for when adding flavour to plain oatmeal?

Look at the ingredients and nutritional information for the whole bowl, not just the dry oatmeal. Fruit, yoghurt, milk and other additions change what ends up in your portion; with a plain base, you decide what to add.