Choose protein oats if you mainly want to get more protein from the oats themselves; choose plain oat flakes if you prefer to decide which ingredients and extras to use. Compare protein and sugars per 100 g, then check your actual portion size. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’, and milk, yoghurt or other additions will change the nutritional value of your prepared bowl.
You want to know how much protein the dry oats themselves provide. So compare the nutritional values per 100 g and work out how much that is for the amount you use. Also check which ingredients provide the extra protein.
You don’t want to mistake a protein claim for information about sugar. Read the ingredients list, the ‘of which sugars’ figure and the exact claim on the packaging.
You’d rather use oat flakes as a base and choose your own extras and portion size. Check the product you buy for any allergen warnings, too.
First compare the dry product per 100 g, then decide on your portion size and finally factor in any extras you add to your breakfast.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Protein from the oats | Compare protein per 100 g and work out the amount in your dry portion. Also check which ingredients provide the protein. | If you want the oats themselves to provide more protein, the figure on the front of the pack isn’t enough. For around 42% of consumers, this is their main purchasing concern. |
| Added sugar | Read the exact claim, the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Don’t treat ‘sugar-free’ as a synonym for ‘no added sugars’. | If you want to avoid added sugar, a protein claim is of little use if the ingredients don’t meet your needs. Around 33% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Choosing your own ingredients | Check whether the product contains only oat flakes, then decide what portion size and extras you want to use. | If I want to choose the flavour and protein source myself, a simple base matters more than the protein content of the dry product. For around 25% of consumers, having that choice is their main purchasing concern. |
A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. Quaker Netherlands lists 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g for Oats Express Protein Naturel.
Read the claim carefully and check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition table as well.
A protein claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains or which ingredients have been used. In 2024, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also warned about misleading claims on the high-protein foods it had examined.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information before choosing.
The nutritional values on a pack of dry oats don’t automatically include the milk, yoghurt or other extras you use.
Use the values per 100 g to compare products, then work out the nutritional value of your own portion and any extras.
The nutritional values given apply to specific products, not every oat product from each brand.
Quaker offers both oats and portion-sized products aimed at people looking for more protein.
Brinta Oats are a good base if you want to choose your own breakfast extras.
AH Wholegrain protein oats combine oats with additional protein ingredients.
Jumbo offers, among other products, fine and coarse wholegrain oat flakes.
Golden Bridge Fine Wholegrain Oats are an option if you’re looking for fine oat flakes.
These oat products are worth considering if you’re weighing up protein, sugars and the ingredients in your breakfast. Compare the current nutritional information for each variety individually.
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An option if the protein content of the oats themselves matters to you. Check the pack for protein and sugars per 100 g, as well as the ingredients and allergen information.
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If you’re looking for an oat base to build your own breakfast around, this could be a good option. Carefully check the latest ingredients and allergen information if gluten is relevant to your choice.
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An oat option if you want to choose your own portion size and extras. Check the nutritional information on this pack to compare protein and sugars, and remember to factor in your extras.
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If you’re considering other oat flake products as well as regular oats, check the full ingredients list and nutritional information before comparing this product with plain oat flakes.
No, they mean different things. Quaker Netherlands says Oats Express Protein Naturel contains no added sugars, but it does contain 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g. So check both the claim and the nutrition table.
First compare the same amount of dry product per 100 g, then work out the figures for your own portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g. Also read the ingredients list and count milk, yoghurt or other extras separately.
Yes, as a base that you can build the rest of your bowl around. Joybuy lists 13 g of protein per 100 g for Brinta Oats, while Quaker Netherlands lists 22 g per 100 g for Oats Express Protein Naturel. The protein content of your whole breakfast also depends on your portion size and extras.
Yes, check the packaging for the specific variety. Albert Heijn’s product information for Brinta Oats warns that traces of wheat and rye may be present. Quaker Oats Express Protein Naturel contains soya and may also contain barley and wheat.
