Households that eat porridge often
If several members of your family eat porridge regularly, you can weigh out a portion for each person from one pack. Think in advance about whether you’ll use it all before its best-before date.
Who is a larger pack useful for?
People who keep track of their portions
If you want to include carbohydrates in your own eating plan, you’ll need both the nutrition information per 100 g and the weight of your dry portion. Remember to count anything you add to your porridge too.
People short on time in the morning
Fine oats or portion sachets may suit you if you need to prepare breakfast quickly. Check the ingredients and nutrition information for these options too: convenience doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates are in your bowl.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the nutrition information for the portion you eat. Then choose a pack size that suits how much your household uses and how much time you want to spend making breakfast.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates and ingredients | Check the carbohydrates per 100 g and calculate the amount for your dry portion; also look at the ingredients list. | If I’m planning my breakfast around carbohydrates, I want to know what’s in my bowl before adding milk or fruit. Around 42% of consumers give this portion check top priority. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare the pack weight with how much your household uses, and read the storage instructions. | When we eat porridge often at home, I want a pack we can use up and store properly once opened. For around 33% of consumers, having enough in stock is the main priority. |
| Preparation and portioning | See whether fine oats or portion sachets suit your morning routine, and check the amount in each portion. | On busy mornings, I want to be able to prepare a measured portion quickly. Around 25% of consumers value this convenience most. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ‘no added sugar’ means ‘low in carbohydrates’
A claim about added sugar doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates are in the portion you eat. According to diabetes.nl, carbohydrates are relevant to blood glucose.
Check the nutrition information per 100 g, weigh your dry oats and count any additions separately.
-
Choosing a large pack without considering how much you use
The amount in the pack doesn’t tell you whether your household will use the oats before their best-before date.
Choose a pack size to suit how often you eat porridge, and follow the storage instructions on the pack once it’s open.
-
Thinking portion sachets are a healthier choice
A pre-measured sachet makes it easier to keep track of your portion, but it doesn’t automatically change the product’s nutritional value.
Check the ingredients and calculate the carbohydrates for the number of sachets you actually use.
-
Assuming ordinary oats are gluten-free
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that oat products can be contaminated with gluten. This means an ordinary pack isn’t necessarily suitable for someone who needs to eat gluten-free.
Check the current allergen labelling. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies the official Crossed Grain trademark as a way to recognise gluten-free oat products.
Brands compared
Quaker
Quaker sells plain porridge oats in a Family Pack, as well as portion sachets for quick preparation.
- Quaker describes its Family Pack as wholegrain porridge oats; the preparation instructions on the brand’s website use 40 g.
- The ‘no added sugar’ claim doesn’t replace checking the carbohydrates in the portion you eat.
Brinta
The Brinta Porridge Oats reviewed contain 450 g of extra-fine oats.
- Albert Heijn describes the extra-fine oats as quick to prepare.
- This isn’t a confirmed family-size pack. Also check the label for oats and possible traces of rye and wheat.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers plain wholegrain porridge oats as fine oats in a 1 kg pack and as jumbo oats in a 500 g pack.
- For its 500 g jumbo oats, Jumbo lists 58,7 g of carbohydrates and 10,0 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The product information for these jumbo oats mentions possible traces of barley, rye and wheat; check the label on the pack you choose.
Golden Bridge
ALDI offers Golden Bridge Fine Wholegrain Porridge Oats in a 500 g pack.
- The pack weight and the fine wholegrain oats description make it easy to identify this option.
- Before use, check the ingredients, nutrition information and allergen labelling on the pack.
Crownfield
Lidl sells Crownfield Organic Porridge Oats in a 500 g pack.
- The 500 g size tells you how much porridge oats the pack contains.
- The organic claim doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates are in your portion; check the nutrition information on the label.
Porridge oats and portion packs on Joybuy
These products offer two ways to buy plain porridge oats: a 600 g bag to weigh out your own portions and a smaller pack for portion-based use. With either option, check how many carbohydrates are in the amount you actually eat.
No image available
Quaker Porridge Oats 600 g
A pack for weighing out your own portions of porridge oats at home.
For these Quaker porridge oats, Joybuy lists 60 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fibre per 100 g. Calculate the carbohydrates in your own dry portion and count any additions separately.
No image available
Quaker Express Porridge Oats 324 g
A smaller pack to consider when a measured portion in the morning matters more than having a larger supply.
Check the current pack for the amount in each sachet, the ingredients and the carbohydrates in the portion you prepare.
Frequently asked questions
Is a family-size pack of porridge oats automatically suitable for someone with diabetes?
No. The pack size doesn’t determine how many carbohydrates you eat. Check the carbohydrates per 100 g, work out your own portion and count milk, fruit or other additions too. diabetes.nl explains why carbohydrates are relevant to blood glucose.
How do I calculate the carbohydrates in a portion of porridge oats?
Multiply the carbohydrates per 100 g by the weight of your dry portion, then divide by 100. Joybuy lists 60 g of carbohydrates per 100 g for Quaker Porridge Oats 600 g. That means 40 g of this product contains 24 g of carbohydrates, before any additions.
Are ordinary porridge oats gluten-free?
Not automatically: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products can be contaminated with gluten. If you need to choose gluten-free oats, check the current label and look for the official Crossed Grain trademark mentioned by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for gluten-free oat products.
How should I store a larger pack once it’s open?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen and seal it properly after use. Check the best-before date too when deciding whether your household will use it in time.
Where can I find allergen information for porridge oats?
Check the ingredients list and any warnings about other grains on the label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed in the ingredients of packaged foods; always check the pack of the product you’re buying.