Households that make their own portions
You regularly prepare a packed lunch and don’t mind weighing out oat flakes at home or getting lunch ready in advance.
Which pack is right for you?
Households short on time in the morning
Pre-portioned servings save you the measuring. Just check that you can prepare them at home or at school when it’s time for lunch: Quaker says Oats Express needs to be prepared hot.
Households that need to check allergens
You check the latest ingredients and allergen information before packing anything. For coeliac disease, the Voedingscentrum says the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging is important; also ask the school about its rules.
What should you look for in a packed lunch?
First decide whether you’ll prepare the oats at home or need to make them at lunchtime. Then choose between measuring your own portions and using pre-portioned servings, and check the packaging if you have dietary restrictions.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Making your own portions | Check the pack size and consider whether you can weigh out portions at home and take them with you. | If I often prepare a packed lunch, I want to choose how much oat flakes to pack. Around 46% of consumers prioritise making their own portions. |
| Preparation and convenience | Check the number of portions and the preparation instructions; according to the product information, Quaker Oats Express needs a microwave or saucepan. | On busy mornings, I don’t want to measure out oats every time, but preparing them hot still needs to be practical. Pre-portioned servings and easy preparation are priorities for around 36% of consumers. |
| Allergens and school rules | Read the latest label, look for the Crossed Grain symbol if you have coeliac disease, and ask the school about its rules for food brought from home. | If ingredients or cross-contamination matter to the person eating the food, I want to be able to check this before packing it. Around 18% of consumers prioritise checking allergens. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘instant’ means ‘ready to eat cold’
Joybuy says Quaker Express takes two minutes to prepare in a microwave or saucepan. That doesn’t automatically make a sachet a lunch you can eat without preparing it first.
Before buying, decide whether you’ll prepare lunch at home or later, and check that you’ll have the equipment you need.
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Assuming all oats are suitable for people with coeliac disease
According to the Voedingscentrum, ordinary oats may be contaminated with gluten, so they are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease.
If you have coeliac disease, check whether the current packaging carries the official Crossed Grain symbol. Also read the allergen information for any other relevant ingredients.
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Assuming every school has the same rules for packed lunches
Rules for food brought from home, allergens and heating lunch can vary between schools and after-school clubs.
Ask in advance about the rules at your child’s school or club, especially if the food needs preparing or there are dietary restrictions.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo offers, among other products, fine wholegrain oat flakes in a 1 kg pack.
- Loose flakes let you weigh out your own portions at home.
- You’ll need to portion them out and arrange how to prepare them for a packed lunch.
Golden Bridge (ALDI)
Golden Bridge is an ALDI own-brand range that includes fine wholegrain oats.
- An option if you want to use loose oat flakes to make your own portions.
- Check the preparation instructions; fine flakes are not automatically a ready-to-eat cold lunch.
Quaker
Quaker offers regular porridge oats as well as Oats Express in individual portions.
- Albert Heijn lists a 12-portion pack of Oats Express Natural.
- According to the product information, Oats Express is prepared hot; check the allergens on the current packaging too.
Brinta
Brinta Oatmeal is made from extra-fine oat flakes that you portion yourself.
- Albert Heijn lists a 450 g pack.
- The product information mentions possible traces of wheat and rye; if you have dietary restrictions, check the current packaging.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers wholegrain oats with fine flakes under its own brand, among other products.
- Fine, loose flakes are useful if you want to make your own portions at home.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions for each variety.
Crownfield (Lidl)
Lidl lists organic Crownfield oats.
- A brand to consider if you’re looking for loose oats at Lidl.
- Before packing them for school, check the packaging for portion size, preparation instructions and allergens.
Express oats at Joybuy
These products are worth considering if you’re looking for Express oats and a quick hot preparation fits into your lunch plans. Check the instructions and allergens for each variety before packing a portion.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An option if you want to take pre-portioned servings with you and can arrange to prepare them hot at home or at school.
Albert Heijn lists 12 portions in the equivalent Quaker Oats Express Natural pack. According to Joybuy’s product information, Quaker Express takes two minutes to prepare in a microwave or saucepan, so a sachet isn’t automatically a cold, ready-to-eat lunch.
If you have dietary restrictions, read the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g
Only consider this Express variety if its preparation method suits the packed lunch you want to take with you.
The pack contains 302 g. Before buying, check how to prepare the product, how many individual portions the pack contains, and which ingredients and allergens are relevant to the person eating it.
Frequently asked questions
Are regular oats automatically gluten-free?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, oats can become contaminated with gluten during processing. For someone with coeliac disease, the Voedingscentrum says only oat products bearing the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging are suitable.
Can you pack a sachet of instant oats for school without preparing it?
Don’t assume so. Joybuy says Quaker Express needs to be prepared in a microwave or saucepan, so check the instructions for the variety you’ve chosen. If you want to pack lunch cold, consider whether you can prepare it at home in advance.
What allergen information should I ask about if the school provides food?
According to the Voedingscentrum, schools that handle food and drink themselves must work safely with food and provide information about allergens. This doesn’t tell you what rules your school has for a packed lunch from home, so ask the school directly.