Parents who want to limit added sugar
With plain oats, you can decide for yourself what to add to a lunch pot. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends breakfast cereals with no added salt and no or little added sugar for school meals.
Who is this relevant for?
Carers who prepare a lunch pot in advance
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can prepare overnight oats in the fridge overnight in a covered container. If you add milk, yoghurt or other perishable ingredients, the pot must stay chilled afterwards too.
Carers who need to check for allergens
If you have coeliac disease, you need to check for the official Crossed Grain trademark on oat products. Also read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on every pack.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the ingredients and nutritional information. Then consider whether you can prepare the oats before school and, if the dish contains perishable ingredients, keep it chilled on the way.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who does this matter most to? |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Read the ingredients list and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per serving. ‘No added sugars’ does not mean sugar-free. | If I want to add fruit to the oats myself, I look for a plain base without a sweetened mix. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Preparation and keeping chilled | Check the preparation instructions and plan to use a sealed container and a way to keep it chilled if you add milk or yoghurt. | Being able to prepare a pot the night before helps on a busy school morning, provided it can stay chilled until lunchtime. For around 29% of consumers, this practical consideration matters most. |
| Allergens | Read the label, including warnings about the possible presence of allergens. If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain trademark and ask about the arrangements at school. | If I need to take coeliac disease or an allergy into account, a suitable product comes before portioning convenience. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Compare the amount per pack and per serving with how often you make a lunch pot. | If I only pack oats occasionally, I want to choose a pack size that suits how much I use. For around 14% of consumers, this is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all oats are suitable for people with coeliac disease
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but ordinary oat products can become contaminated with gluten. So the product category alone doesn’t tell you enough.
If you have coeliac disease, check that the exact pack displays the official Crossed Grain trademark, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
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Relying only on a sugar claim on the front of the pack
‘No added sugars’ doesn’t rule out naturally occurring sugars, and it doesn’t tell you about all the other ingredients.
Also read the ingredients list and check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per serving.
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Treating a prepared lunch pot like dry oats
Milk, yoghurt and other perishable additions affect how the dish needs to be stored. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, food that spoils quickly should not be left out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Prepare overnight oats in the fridge and, before packing them, work out how to keep the pot chilled until lunchtime.
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Choosing a protein variety without checking the allergens again
Its ingredients may differ from those of plain rolled oats. For example, the product information for Quaker Express Proteïne lists soya protein and soya lecithin.
Compare the ingredients and allergens of the exact variety with the arrangements in place for the pupil.
Brands and retailers to consider
Brinta
Brinta Oats are an option if you want to put together a plain lunch pot at home.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety is made from 100% rolled oats.
- The packaging warns that wheat and rye may be present; check the label if you have allergies.
Quaker
Quaker offers both ordinary oats and Oats Express Naturel in individual portions.
- Quaker says that Oats Express Naturel is made with wholegrain oats and contains no added sugars.
- Check the allergens for your chosen variety: Oats Express Naturel may contain soya, barley and wheat.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells its own oat products and also publishes product information for branded products such as Brinta.
- The product page for Brinta lists the ingredients and warns of the possible presence of allergens.
- Check the information on the packaging of the product you choose before using it.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells its own wholegrain oats in fine and coarse varieties.
- For its 1 kg pack of fine oats, Jumbo lists wholegrain rolled oats and 0.3 g of sugars per 40 g serving.
- The fine and coarse varieties reviewed list oats and warn that other cereals may be present.
Lidl
At Lidl, you may find Crownfield Organic Rolled Oats, among other options.
- The product name makes it clear that these are rolled oats.
- In store, check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging before choosing this variety for a lunch pot.
Aldi
Aldi lists Golden Bridge Fine Wholegrain Oats in a 500 g pack.
- The product name clearly states that these are fine oats and gives the pack size.
- Check the packaging itself for the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens that matter for your choice.
Oats at Joybuy
These plain oats are a good option if you want to put together a portion for a school lunch at home. Before packing them, make sure the preparation method and refrigeration fit in with your lunch plans.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An option if you want to prepare oats at home and choose what to add yourself.
Check the label for the ingredients, ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and per serving, and the allergens. Also check the instructions for cold preparation; a lunch made with milk or yoghurt needs to stay chilled.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean sugar-free?
No. An oat product with no added sugars can still contain naturally occurring sugars. As well as checking the claim, read the ingredients and the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information.
Can a child with coeliac disease eat ordinary oats?
Ordinary oats are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten, so only choose a product whose packaging displays the official Crossed Grain trademark.
Where can I check the allergens in packaged oats?
Check the label on the exact pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be clearly distinguished in the ingredients list and that the type of cereal must be named for gluten-containing cereals; also read any ‘may contain’ warnings.
Can I take overnight oats made with milk or yoghurt to school?
Yes, if you prepare the dish chilled and can keep it cold until it’s time to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends leaving overnight oats covered in the fridge overnight and advises not leaving highly perishable food out of the fridge for more than two hours. So before packing it, check what refrigeration is available at school.