Breakfast fans who like to add their own sweetness
With plain rolled oats, you decide how much fruit, cinnamon or yoghurt to add. A larger pack is a good choice if you prefer measuring out your own portions rather than using individual sachets.
Who are the different options suitable for?
Breakfast fans who want a set portion
Individual sachets mean less measuring. Check how many grams are in each sachet and follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
Breakfast fans with specific dietary requirements
For a protein option, the ingredients and nutritional values are what matter. If you need gluten-free oats because you have coeliac disease, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for the official Crossed Grain certification mark.
What should you look for when choosing?
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Adding your own sweetness | Read the ingredients list and choose an option that lets you decide what to add. | If I want to put together my breakfast with my own fruit or cinnamon, I prefer to start with plain rolled oats. Making it sweet yourself is the top priority for around 38% of consumers. |
| Preparation and portion size | Check the number of portions, the weight per portion and the preparation instructions. | On a busy morning, I don’t want to keep measuring out oats, and preparation needs to fit into my routine. A set portion is the main priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Nutritional content | Compare protein and other nutritional values per 100 g of dry product; check the ingredients and allergens too. | If I’m specifically keeping an eye on protein, I want to know what else is in the product besides oats. This is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free oats | If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain certification mark and the latest allergen information on the packaging. | If I need gluten-free oats because I have coeliac disease, I can’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone. This requirement is the deciding factor for around 8% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at sugars
The sugars figure in the nutrition table doesn’t tell you which ingredients have been added to a product. Flavoured and protein options may also have a different recipe from plain rolled oats.
Read the ingredients list alongside the nutritional information. Compare values on a per-100 g basis, then choose which ingredients to add to your breakfast.
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Assuming plain oats are gluten-free
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten. That means the word ‘oats’ on its own isn’t enough for someone with coeliac disease.
If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain certification mark and read the allergen information on the packaging.
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Comparing a prepared bowl with dry oats
Milk, yoghurt and toppings change the nutritional value of your breakfast. Nutritional information for prepared porridge is therefore based on something different from values per 100 g of dry product.
First compare the dry products on the same basis, then take your chosen liquid and toppings into account separately.
Brands compared
Quaker
Quaker offers Oats Express portion packs, including plain and protein options.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product page, Oats Express Naturel contains twelve portion sachets and takes two minutes to prepare.
- Quaker lists soya protein as an ingredient in Oats Express Protein Naturel. Check the full ingredients and allergen information for this option.
Brinta
Brinta Havermout is a base of fine rolled oats that you can add your own ingredients to.
- Albert Heijn lists 100% rolled oats as the ingredient in Brinta Havermout.
- The product page warns that it may contain traces of wheat and rye. If you need a strictly gluten-free product, don’t rely on the ingredients list alone.
Albert Heijn
The supermarket’s own brand offers, among other products, a wholegrain protein porridge with a different recipe from plain rolled oats.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists oats, soya protein, linseed and sunflower seeds as ingredients in AH Volkoren havermout proteïne.
- Check these ingredients if you’re looking for a simple oat base or need to take allergens into account.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers fine wholegrain rolled oats and individual portion products.
- The product information lists a 1 kg pack of fine wholegrain oats.
- For a gluten-free option, check the certification mark on the packaging; ordinary rolled oats aren’t automatically suitable.
Golden Bridge (ALDI)
Golden Bridge offers fine and coarse wholegrain oats for those who want to choose their own portions and toppings.
- ALDI lists fine wholegrain oats in a 500 g pack, as well as fine or coarse options in 1 kg packs.
- Check each pack to see whether you’re choosing fine or coarse oats; these options aren’t confirmation of individual instant portions.
Lidl
Lidl offers coarse rolled oats as an option for a breakfast you can make your own.
- Lidl’s product page identifies the option as coarse rolled oats.
- Check whether coarse oats suit the preparation method and texture you’re looking for.
Oat products on Joybuy
These products suit the choice between a protein option and a pack of Quaker Express oats. For a sweet breakfast, compare the ingredients, portion size and preparation instructions on the pack you choose.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein, 302 g
Worth considering if the protein content of your breakfast matters to you. The pack contains 302 g; check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens for this option before comparing it with plain rolled oats.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for Quaker Express oats for a sweet breakfast. The pack contains 324 g; check how many portions it contains and follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make sweet porridge without choosing a flavoured option?
Yes. You can add your own ingredients, such as fruit or cinnamon, to plain porridge oats. If you’re choosing a flavoured option, read the ingredients list to see what’s already in the product.
Are all oats suitable for people with coeliac disease?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten. For people with coeliac disease, the official Crossed Grain certification mark on the packaging is what matters. Check the product’s latest ingredients and allergen information too.
How should I store oats after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal it properly after use. Albert Heijn’s product information advises storing Brinta Havermout in a dry place, and AH Volkoren havermout proteïne in a cool, dark and dry place.