If you want to measure out your own portions for breakfasts or snacks, plain wholegrain oats and oat flakes make a practical staple. Compare the fibre content per 100 g and the ingredients on the pack. Sachets are better suited to when you need something quick to prepare, but give you less flexibility over portion size. If you have coeliac disease, ordinary oats are not automatically suitable: check that the specific pack is explicitly labelled gluten-free or carries the Crossed Grain symbol.
You want to measure out your own portions for several breakfasts or snacks. In that case, the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g are more useful to compare than the wording on the front of the pack alone. According to the Voedingscentrum, an average 40 g portion of oats contains 4.4 g of fibre; the figure for a specific product may differ.
At home or at work, you want to make a measured portion quickly. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Quaker Express Naturel takes around two minutes to prepare in a microwave or saucepan. Check which liquid and preparation method are recommended on your pack.
The word ‘oats’ alone doesn’t tell you whether a product meets your dietary requirements. The Voedingscentrum warns that oats can be contaminated with gluten; if you have coeliac disease, it’s important to look for an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the pack. Also read the ingredients and warnings about possible traces.
Start with the factor that determines your choice: the ingredients in a staple for your cupboard, preparation time, or an essential check for gluten and allergens. Then compare the options that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and ingredients | Compare fibre per 100 g on the same basis and check whether the ingredients list contains only oats or oat flakes. | If I want a simple oat base for several meals, I’d rather decide for myself what to add. For around 50% of consumers, these ingredients are the main priority. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the preparation time, the liquid required, and whether you need a microwave or pan. | When I’m busy, I don’t want to measure out oats and spend a long time preparing them. That’s why around 30% of consumers prioritise speed and pre-measured portions. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the up-to-date ingredients and allergen information; if you have coeliac disease, check for an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol. | If gluten or other allergens limit my choice, the specific pack must meet my requirements. For an estimated 20% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
A mixed-grain breakfast cereal may contain other grains and added ingredients. Brinta lists rice, barley, wheat and sugar among the ingredients in Wake Up! Naturel; this is not the same product as Brinta Havermout, which is made from 100% oat flakes.
Read the full ingredients list if you’re looking for plain oats as a staple for your cupboard.
According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can be contaminated with gluten. Regular products may also warn that they could contain traces of gluten-containing cereals.
If you have coeliac disease, check the specific pack for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol. If you have other allergies, also read the ingredients and warnings about possible traces.
Nutritional information per 100 g of dry oats and information per prepared portion aren’t measured on the same basis. Adding milk, yoghurt or toppings changes the nutritional value of the bowl.
Compare products on the same basis first, preferably per 100 g of dry product, then assess what you add separately.
Offers both plain wholegrain oats and an Express Naturel option with pre-measured portions.
The Brinta Havermout product reviewed here offers fine oat flakes as a base for making your own portions.
Its range gives you the opportunity to compare fine and coarse oats, as well as individual product options.
The online oats range includes fine and coarse flakes, as well as portion packs.
These Joybuy products include an express option with pre-measured portions and loose oats that you can portion yourself. Compare the pack and the latest ingredients and allergen information with the occasion that matters to you.
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For a pre-measured portion when you’re short on preparation time. This Express option contains 12 portions of 27 g and, according to the product information, takes around two minutes to prepare in a microwave or pan.
Before use, check the latest warnings about possible traces of soya, barley and wheat; if you have coeliac disease, don’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone.
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A 500 g pack for anyone who wants to measure out their own portions for different occasions.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack, especially if gluten or other allergens affect your choice.
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For anyone who wants to make their own portions using fine oat flakes. Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredients in this Brinta Havermout.
The pack may warn that it contains traces of wheat and rye. Before comparing fibre content with other products, check the basis used in the nutritional information table.
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For anyone who wants to keep loose oats in stock and measure out their own portions. Quaker lists 9 g of fibre per 100 g for these wholegrain oats.
Check the latest pack for possible traces of barley and wheat; ordinary oats aren’t automatically suitable if you have coeliac disease.
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A 375 g pack for anyone who prefers to measure out their own oats rather than use pre-measured sachets.
Check the nutritional information table if you want to compare fibre per 100 g. Also check the latest information about possible traces of wheat and barley.
According to the Voedingscentrum, an average 40 g portion of oats contains 4.4 g of fibre. For a specific product, check the nutritional information on the pack and compare values per 100 g on the same basis.
Not automatically: according to the Voedingscentrum, oats can be contaminated with gluten. So check the specific pack for an explicit gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that the use of the ‘gluten-free’ label must meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 828/2014.
Portion sachets are useful when you want a pre-measured amount and have little time to prepare something. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Quaker Express Naturel takes around two minutes to prepare in a microwave or saucepan; with loose oats, you decide the portion size yourself.
Check the current range at the chemist you plan to buy from, as this determines which oat options are available. Then check the ingredients, fibre per 100 g and allergen information for each product, so you don’t mistake another type of oat product for plain oats.
