If you want to choose the flavour of your winter porridge
You’re looking for a simple oat base and want to compare ingredients and total sugars per 100 g before adding your own toppings and flavourings.
Who might this choice be right for?
If you want warm porridge on busy mornings
Quick-cook oats or individual portions can be handy, but it’s still worth checking the label, even on a plain product.
If you’re looking for oats for a strict gluten-free diet
Seeing ‘oats’ on the front of the pack isn’t enough. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises looking for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain trademark.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether a simple ingredient list, quick preparation or gluten-free suitability matters most to you. Then check the packaging of the product you’re considering.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugars | Read the ingredients list and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ does not mean sugar-free. | If I want to choose the flavour of my porridge, I look for a simple oat base with no added sweeteners. An estimated 56% of consumers put this first. |
| Convenience | Check the preparation time, portion size and amount of water or milk needed; also check the ingredients in your chosen variety. | On a busy morning, I don’t want to spend ages measuring ingredients or waiting for a warm bowl of porridge. Quick preparation is the main priority for an estimated 33% of consumers. |
| Gluten-free suitability | If you follow a strict gluten-free diet, check for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain trademark, and read the allergen information. | If avoiding gluten is essential for me, I can’t rely on the product name alone. An estimated 11% of consumers consider this check their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’
Oat products can contain naturally occurring sugars. So the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure don’t mean the same thing.
Use the claim as a first indication, but also read the ingredients list and the nutrition information per 100 g.
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Choosing individual portions without weighing up the convenience
An individual sachet saves you measuring, but it may not cost the same per kilogram as regular oats.
Before choosing individual portions, compare the current packs for preparation time, ingredients and quantity.
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Assuming regular oats are suitable for a gluten-free diet
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, oats can come into contact with wheat, barley or rye during growing and processing. Regular packs may also list other cereals containing gluten.
If you follow a strict gluten-free diet, check the label on the specific pack, along with the allergen information.
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Comparing Brinta with porridge oats
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt is made from wholemeal wheat flour and salt. It’s a different type of cereal breakfast from porridge oats.
Only consider it if wheat porridge is an acceptable alternative for you.
Brands to consider
Products from these brands vary in flake type, packaging and ingredients. So compare the specific variety, not just the brand name.
Albert Heijn
AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken is a base for making your own winter porridge.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient and 0 g of added sugars per 100 g.
- The allergen information lists oats and the possible presence of other cereals containing gluten; don’t treat this regular variety as gluten-free.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers fine wholegrain oat flakes, among other options, if you’re looking for a plain oat base.
- Jumbo Havermout Fijne Vlokken Volkoren lists wholegrain oat flakes as an ingredient.
- The allergen information for this regular variety lists oats and the possible presence of barley, rye and wheat.
Quaker
Quaker offers regular oats and plain Express portions: two options to consider if preparation time matters.
- The product information for regular Quaker Havermout lists 100% wholegrain oats; Albert Heijn states that Quaker Oats Express Naturel takes two minutes to prepare.
- A short preparation time doesn’t tell you about the ingredients in other varieties. Check the ingredients and nutrition information on each pack.
ALDI / Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge offers fine or coarse wholegrain oats in a 1 kg pack.
- With this product, you can choose between fine and coarse flakes.
- If you’re choosing based on sugar content or gluten-free suitability, check the ingredients, nutrition information and allergen details on the specific pack.
Lidl / Healthy Fit
Healthy Fit Proteïne havermout is another type of oat product to assess by its ingredients.
- The product name makes it easy to identify the variety to look for on the label.
- Don’t infer the sugar content, a nutrition claim or gluten-free suitability from the name; check the packaging for those details.
Brinta
Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt is an option for warm wheat porridge, not a variety of porridge oats.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists wholemeal wheat flour and salt as ingredients.
- Because it’s wheat-based, this product isn’t suitable if you’re specifically looking for oats or need to avoid wheat.
Oat products on Joybuy
These two Quaker products suit different ways of making winter porridge: an Express pack if convenience matters, and a regular pack of oats that you can measure out yourself. For both, check the current packaging if gluten-free suitability is essential.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g
Worth considering if you’d rather use individual portions than measure out oats yourself for warm porridge.
Pack size: 324 g. Check the current ingredients, nutrition information and allergen information; if you follow a strict gluten-free diet, don’t assume it’s suitable unless it carries a gluten-free label.
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Quaker Oatmeal, 600 g
A regular pack of oats for anyone who wants to measure out their own amount for warm porridge.
Pack size: 600 g. To check the sugar content and allergens, read the ingredients and nutrition information on the current pack; the name alone doesn’t mean it’s suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean that oats contain no sugars?
No. Under EU rules for this claim, no sugars or other ingredients used for their sweetening properties may have been added, but sugars can be naturally present. So check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition table too.
How do I compare regular oats with a flavoured variety?
First compare the nutrition information per 100 g, then read the ingredients lists for both varieties. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises comparing products on an equal-quantity basis; this prevents differences in portion size from distorting the sugar figures.
Can I choose regular oats if I have coeliac disease?
Don’t assume they’re suitable without checking the specific pack. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, oats can come into contact with cereals containing gluten; if you follow a strict gluten-free diet, look for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain trademark. If you’re unsure about eating oats, speak to your healthcare professional or a specialist dietitian.
How should I store oats after opening?
Seal the pack tightly after use and store the oats in a cool, dry place, as advised in the product information for Albert Heijn and Jumbo oats. Follow any instructions on your own pack.