Choose fine organic oat flakes if you want to mix up a smooth lunch pot without cooking; coarse flakes are a better choice if you prefer more bite. Other grain flakes add variety, but check the ingredients, organic certification and allergen information for each product. Keep a prepared lunch with perishable ingredients chilled when you take it with you.
If you want to make lunch the night before, look for flakes that are labelled as suitable for cold preparation or overnight oats. Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe these preparation methods for their organic oat products.
If you prefer more bite in your yoghurt or lunch pot, coarse oat flakes are worth comparing. For other grain flakes, check the label to see which grains they contain and which allergens are listed.
If you need to avoid certain grains or allergens, the words ‘organic’ and ‘oats’ alone aren’t enough to tell you whether a product is suitable. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises that, for people with coeliac disease, only oats bearing the official Crossed Grain symbol are suitable.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cold preparation | Check whether the packaging mentions cold preparation or overnight oats, and follow the preparation and storage instructions provided. | If I make my lunch in a pot in advance, I want to be able to mix the flakes in without cooking them. This ease of preparation is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Organic certification | Check the EU organic logo and inspection code on the packaging; don’t rely on its appearance alone. | I want to be able to check whether the flakes I buy are certified organic. This is the most important buying requirement for around 30% of consumers. |
| Texture and type of grain | Compare fine and coarse flakes; if you’re buying a mix, check which grains it contains. | In my lunch pot, I want to choose between a softer texture and more bite, or try a different type of grain. This preference matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the allergen and may-contain information. If you have coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain symbol on oat products. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know before buying whether this particular pack is suitable. This check is the top priority for around 10% of consumers. |
Organic certification doesn’t mean a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between ordinary oats and oats bearing the official Crossed Grain symbol for people with coeliac disease.
Read the current label and, if you have coeliac disease, check that the oat product bears the symbol.
Smaakt describes its coarse oat flakes as having more bite. They may disappoint if you’re looking for a smoother texture.
Compare the preparation instructions and choose the texture you want in your lunch pot.
According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo may only appear on products certified as organic by an authorised control body. A brand name or packaging colour doesn’t provide that assurance.
Look for the EU organic logo and inspection code on the pack you choose.
Albert Heijn lists 500 g packs of fine and coarse organic wholegrain oat flakes, both with information on cold preparation.
Jumbo describes its 500 g pack of organic wholegrain oat flakes as suitable for making overnight oats, among other uses.
Smaakt offers coarse organic oat flakes as well as flakes made from other grains.
De Halm describes its porridge oats and oat flakes as products made from organic grain grown in the Netherlands.
Look for the EU organic logo and inspection code on the packaging. The European Commission states that the logo may only be used on products certified as organic by an authorised control body.
No. Organic doesn’t automatically mean gluten-free. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, for people with coeliac disease only oats bearing the official Crossed Grain symbol are suitable. So check the packaging of the product you choose.
At home, mix the flakes in a sealable pot with an ingredient of your choice, following the preparation instructions on the packaging. Jumbo recommends soaking its organic oat flakes overnight in the fridge. Keep a prepared lunch with perishable ingredients chilled when you take it with you.
Choose fine flakes for a smoother texture and coarse flakes if you prefer more bite. Smaakt describes its coarse oat flakes as coarser than porridge oats. Check the preparation instructions on the pack for both types.
