Pantry planners
You want to keep dry oats in the cupboard and use them to make a hot lunch, yoghurt with oats or overnight oats. This lets you choose your portion and toppings each time.
Who are oats a good lunch staple for?
Lunchers short on preparation time
You don’t want to spend ages measuring or cooking during a short break. Fine flakes or pre-measured portions are practical options to compare.
People who need gluten-free oats
There’s more to check than the ingredients list: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging is important if you have coeliac disease and need oats.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with an ingredients list and pack size that suit your lunches, then consider how much preparation time you have. If your oats need to be gluten-free, checking the current packaging takes priority over choosing a flake type or portion pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients and composition | Read the ingredients list and compare the nutritional information, including sugars per 100 g, if you’re also considering flavoured varieties. | I want to put my lunch together myself, with ingredients such as fruit or yoghurt, without the oats deciding my toppings for me. Around 33% of consumers would make ingredients and choosing their own additions their top priority. |
| Storage and pack size | Choose a size that suits how much you use, and check the best-before date and storage instructions. | A pack for several lunches is only useful if I can seal it properly after opening and use it in time. For around 25% of consumers, storage and pack size would be the main consideration. |
| Preparation and taking it with you | Compare the preparation time, equipment needed and portion size of fine flakes and portion packs. | During a short lunch break, I want to be able to prepare a portion quickly without measuring out the oats first. Quick preparation would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free suitability | If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain symbol and read the current allergen information on the packaging. | If I need gluten-free oats because of coeliac disease, I can’t rely on the words ‘100% oats’ alone. For around 17% of consumers, the gluten-free requirement would be their first condition when buying. |
Common mistakes when buying and storing oats
-
Assuming all oats are suitable for coeliac disease
Oats can come into contact with gluten during processing. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre therefore distinguishes between ordinary oats and oats carrying the official Crossed Grain symbol.
If you have coeliac disease, check the symbol and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
-
Choosing portions without considering how you’ll use them
Pre-measured oats save you a step, but give you less freedom to choose the amount for each lunch.
Think about whether taking oats with you and measuring them quickly matters more than portioning them yourself from a larger pack.
-
Assuming an oats claim on the front tells you everything
A flavoured variety or pre-packed oat product won’t necessarily have the same ingredients as plain oats. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the overall nutritional content of your lunch also depends on how you prepare it and what you add.
Check the ingredients list, nutritional information and portion size for each variety separately.
-
Leaving a large opened pack unsealed
Moisture or poor packaging can affect the quality of dry oats.
Seal the pack well after use, store it somewhere cool, dry and dark, and choose a size that suits how often you eat oats.
Brands to consider
Brinta
Brinta offers 450 g of oats with extra-fine flakes, ideal if you fancy making a warm bowl.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the ingredients are oat flakes; the extra-fine flakes are designed for quick preparation.
- The packaging states that the product may contain traces of wheat and rye. If you need gluten-free oats, check the current packaging.
Quaker
Quaker offers both plain oats in a 600 g pack and Express oats in portion packs.
- Joybuy describes the plain variety as wholegrain oats; Albert Heijn says Quaker Express takes two minutes to prepare.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety: the product information also mentions possible traces of other cereals containing gluten.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-brand range includes fine and jumbo wholegrain oat flakes, including a 1 kg pack of fine flakes.
- Different flake types and pack sizes let you choose according to your preferred texture and how much you use.
- Check the current range and packaging for the exact variety.
AH
As well as regular oats, Albert Heijn offers a separate 450 g pack of gluten-free wholegrain oats.
- Albert Heijn describes the gluten-free variety as being produced in a completely gluten-free environment.
- That description applies to this specific variety, not automatically to other AH oats. Check the current label.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is an ALDI own brand offering fine and jumbo wholegrain oats in 500 g packs.
- You can choose between fine and jumbo flakes within the range mentioned.
- The type of flake doesn’t indicate whether the oats are gluten-free, so check the packaging.
Crownfield
Crownfield is a Lidl brand with products including organic oat flakes.
- Lidl lists these oat flakes as a product available in store.
- Check the packaging in store for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
Oat products at Joybuy
These products include plain oats, a pre-measured Express variety and fine flakes to suit different lunch routines. Compare the pack sizes and, if you need gluten-free oats, always check the current packaging.
Image unavailable
Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
For a lunch where pre-measured portions and quick preparation matter.
324 g pack; Quaker Express product information states that it contains 12 portions and takes two minutes to prepare.
Image unavailable
Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
For anyone who wants to choose how much oats to use for each lunch from a single pack.
600 g pack. Joybuy describes this Quaker variety as wholegrain oats.
Image unavailable
Quaker Oatmeal 375 g
For anyone who wants to portion out plain oats from a smaller pack than the 600 g variety.
375 g pack; check the label for ingredients and allergens.
Image unavailable
Brinta Oatmeal 450 g
For anyone who wants to make a warm lunch with fine oat flakes.
450 g pack. Albert Heijn describes these Brinta oats as extra fine; the allergen information mentions possible traces of wheat and rye.
Image unavailable
Zonnatura Organic Whole Wheat Oatmeal 500 g
For anyone considering a 500 g pack for lunches made from pantry staples.
If the type of grain and preparation time matter to you, check the ingredients and preparation instructions on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How long can you keep an opened pack of oats?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide, opened, dry oats keep for about a year in a kitchen cupboard. Seal the pack well and store it somewhere cool, dry and dark. Also check the product’s smell and appearance.
Are plain oats suitable for a lunch you put together yourself?
Yes, plain oats make a grain-based lunch that you can add your own ingredients to. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre includes oats in its Wheel of Five; the rest of your lunch depends on how you prepare it and what you add.
Are plain oats suitable for coeliac disease?
Not automatically: oats can come into contact with gluten during processing. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for the official Crossed Grain symbol on oats if you have coeliac disease; check the current packaging.
When are portion packs more convenient than a regular pack?
Portion packs are handy if you want to take oats with you or would rather not measure them out yourself. Albert Heijn says Quaker Oats Express Natural takes two minutes to prepare; check the ingredients and preparation instructions for other varieties separately.
Do you need to refrigerate dry oats after opening?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping dry oats in a cool, dry, dark place in a kitchen cupboard, with the packaging sealed well. Prepared, unsweetened porridge made with whole milk is different: the Storage Guide says it keeps for three to five days in the fridge.