Office luncher looking to cut down on sugar
You want to take oats with you and avoid sweetened flavour mixes. Compare the ingredients and sugars per 100 g before you decide.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Employee with a short lunch break
You want to be able to prepare a portion quickly. Check whether you have the right bowl, liquid and facilities at the office.
Luncher looking for extra protein
As well as sugars, you’re comparing protein per 100 g. With a protein option, the ingredients and allergens matter too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide what matters most for your office lunch: less sugar, quick preparation or extra protein. Then compare the nutritional information on the same basis and check what you’ll need at the office.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g of dry product and check whether sugar is listed in the ingredients. | If I want less sugar, I don’t want a flavour mix to influence my choice without me realising. For around 42% of consumers, less sugar would be the main priority. |
| Preparing it at the office | Check the preparation instructions and whether you have a suitable bowl, liquid and heat source. | With a short break, I want to be able to make lunch using the facilities available. Speed would be the most important factor for around 33% of consumers. |
| Protein and allergens | Compare protein per 100 g and read the ingredients and allergen information for the option you choose. | I’m looking for extra protein, but I also want to know which ingredients I’m choosing. For around 25% of consumers, extra protein would come first. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a flavoured option is the same as plain oats
Quaker Cinnamon Oatmeal lists sugar as an ingredient and contains 19 g of sugars per 100 g; Brinta oatmeal lists 100% oat flakes and 0.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
Read the ingredients for each option and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g of dry product.
-
Going by ‘Protein’ in the product name alone
Quaker Oats Express Protein lists 22 g of protein per 100 g, but contains soya and may contain barley and wheat.
Compare the protein value if it matters for your lunch, and check the current ingredients and allergen information too.
-
Forgetting where you’ll prepare it
A stated preparation time of two minutes is only helpful if you also have the necessary liquid, bowl and facilities at the office.
Check the pack instructions or plan a lunch you can prepare at home instead.
-
Guessing allergens from the product name
Brinta oatmeal may contain rye and wheat. Quaker Oats Express Protein contains soya and may contain barley and wheat.
If these ingredients are relevant to you, read the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack before buying.
Brands compared
Brinta
Brinta oatmeal is an example of plain oat flakes that you can portion yourself for an office lunch.
- The product information lists 100% oat flakes and 0.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The allergen information lists oats and possible traces of rye and wheat.
Quaker
Quaker’s range includes plain, protein and flavoured options, so you’ll need to compare the ingredients and nutritional information for each one.
- Oats Express Protein lists no added sugars, 1.2 g of sugars and 22 g of protein per 100 g.
- Quaker Cinnamon Oatmeal lists sugar as an ingredient and contains 19 g of sugars per 100 g; the protein option’s figures do not apply to this flavour.
Jumbo huismerk
Jumbo lists, among other options, fine wholegrain oats in 500 g and 1 kg packs.
- The different pack sizes let you choose how much oatmeal to take with you or store at a time.
- If you’re looking to cut down on sugar, check the ingredients and sugars per 100 g on the pack for the specific option.
Golden Bridge
ALDI lists Golden Bridge as its own brand, with fine and coarse wholegrain oats.
- Both of the options mentioned come in 500 g packs.
- Check the ingredients, sugars per 100 g and allergen information on the pack for the option you choose.
Oats for different lunch plans
These Joybuy products suit two ways of putting together an office lunch: a quick-to-prepare protein option and oats you can portion yourself. Check the current pack information for both to make the right choice for your sugar and allergen requirements.
No image available
Quaker Oats Express Protein 302 g
An option if you have a short office break and want to compare extra-protein choices. Check that you can prepare it as directed at the office.
The product information lists a two-minute preparation time, 1.2 g of sugars and 22 g of protein per 100 g, with no added sugars. The product contains soya and may contain barley and wheat.
No image available
Leev Dutch Oatmeal 450 g
An option if you want to put together your own portion of oats for the office. Compare the sugars per 100 g on the pack with other options.
Check the current allergen information carefully if you need to avoid gluten.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugars’ also mean the lowest sugar content?
No. To compare sugar content, look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Quaker Oats Express Protein lists no added sugars and 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g; Brinta oatmeal lists 0.8 g per 100 g. Also read the ingredients for the option you choose.
Which oats are suitable for a lunch break of just a few minutes?
Quaker Oats Express Protein lists a preparation time of two minutes and could be suitable if you can prepare it as directed at the office. Check the pack instructions beforehand and make sure you have a suitable bowl, liquid and facilities.
What should I look for on the label if allergens matter?
Read both the ingredients and the allergen information on the current pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses that allergens must be clearly listed. Brinta oatmeal may contain rye and wheat; Quaker Oats Express Protein contains soya and may contain barley and wheat.