Who is this choice relevant to?

Quick-breakfast eaters watching their salt

You want a quick breakfast before heading out, and you’re looking at more than just the salt in the oats: you also want to know what the liquid and toppings add to your bowl.

Morning commuters short on preparation time

You want to take a portion with you without having to measure it out. A plain portion sachet could suit you; loose fine oats are an alternative if you can prepare them at home.

Anyone who likes to put together a simple breakfast

You’d rather start with plain oats and choose your own portion, liquid and toppings, such as fruit or unsalted nuts.

What should you look for in oats?

Start by checking the nutritional information for the exact variant, then decide whether measuring your own portion or choosing a fixed serving better suits your morning.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Salt in your breakfast Compare the salt per 100 g of dry oats. For a prepared serving, check which liquid is included in the nutritional information. If I’m watching my salt, I want to know what ends up in my bowl, not just what the packet says about dry oats. Around 42% of consumers would choose salt levels as their main consideration.
Preparation and portion size Check the preparation instructions, equipment needed and whether you have to measure out a portion or can use a portion sachet. Before heading out, I don’t want to measure anything, but I do want to know whether I can make breakfast with the equipment I have. A quick, fixed portion would be the priority for around 33% of consumers.
Making it your own Read the ingredients list and decide whether you want to choose the flavour, liquid and portion size yourself. I’d rather choose a simple oat base so I can decide what to add, though that takes more steps than using an individual sachet. For around 25% of consumers, this freedom of choice would be their main priority.

Common mistakes

  • Reading only the front of the packet

    The salt content of dry oats isn’t the same as that of a prepared bowl. This means nutritional values for a serving made with milk can’t be directly compared with values per 100 g of dry oats.

    Check what the nutritional information refers to, and factor in your liquid and toppings when assessing your breakfast.

  • Treating plain and flavoured varieties as the same

    Quaker lists wholegrain oats as an ingredient in Oats Express Naturel, while the ingredients list for Oats Express Kaneel also includes sugar.

    Check the ingredients and nutritional information for each flavour separately. The brand name or portion packaging doesn’t tell you everything about what’s inside.

  • Assuming all oats are gluten-free

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority includes oats among gluten-containing cereals in its allergen information. Product labels may also mention other cereals as possible traces.

    If you have an allergy, coeliac disease or a medical requirement to avoid gluten, check the label of the exact product and follow your healthcare professional’s advice.

Brands compared

Compare the specific variants listed here: flake size, packaging and the basis for the nutritional information vary by product.

Albert Heijn

AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken is a pack of 500 g of loose oats that makes a simple base.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.03 g of salt per 100 g and a serving size of 40 g for this variant.
  • Check the current packaging if the ingredients or nutritional values are important to your choice.

Jumbo

The wholegrain jumbo oats discussed here are a loose base that you can prepare and customise yourself.

  • Jumbo lists wholegrain oats as the ingredient and 0.02 g of salt per 100 g for its jumbo variety.
  • Choose between jumbo and fine oats according to how you want to prepare them. Don’t assume the nutritional values for the jumbo variety apply to a different pack.

Quaker

Quaker offers both loose Original oats and Oats Express Naturel in portion sachets.

  • Quaker lists 0.01 g of salt per 100 g for Original and 0 g of salt per portion for Oats Express Naturel.
  • Don’t compare these values without checking the portion size; the Oats Express Kaneel discussed here also contains sugar.

Brinta

Brinta offers extra-fine oats for preparing with hot water or milk.

  • The product information at Albert Heijn describes preparation in a microwave or pan.
  • Nutritional information for a serving made with semi-skimmed milk doesn’t reflect the dry oats alone.

A Joybuy product for a quick breakfast

This product suits you if you want to take a fixed portion of oats with you without having to measure it out. Before buying, compare the nutritional information on the packet with that for loose oats.

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g

For anyone who wants to take a fixed portion with them without measuring out the oats. The pack contains 324 g. Read the preparation instructions and, when comparing salt levels, check whether the nutritional information is per portion or per 100 g.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are oats naturally low in salt?

It varies by product and preparation method: Quaker lists 0.01 g of salt per 100 g for Original, Jumbo lists 0.02 g for the jumbo oats discussed here, and Albert Heijn lists 0.03 g for the fine oats discussed here. Also consider your liquid and toppings if you want to assess the salt in your whole breakfast.

Should I choose loose oats or a portion sachet for eating on the go?

A portion sachet is a good choice if you want to take a fixed amount with you without measuring it out, and you can prepare it wherever you’re going. Loose oats give you more freedom to choose your own portion if you can prepare them at home or in advance.

Can I choose ordinary oats if I have coeliac disease?

Don’t rely on the product name alone to decide whether a pack is suitable for a medical diet. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority includes oats among gluten-containing cereals in its allergen information. Check the label of the exact product and follow your healthcare professional’s advice.

How should I store an opened pack of oats?

Store oats in a dry place and seal the pack well after use. Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve bought.