Plain wholegrain porridge oats are a good fit for an office lunch if you want to choose your own portion size. Sachets are more convenient if you have a microwave and want a quick option. Bear in mind that ‘no added sugar’ and ‘sugar-free’ are not the same: according to Albert Heijn’s product information, the varieties discussed here contain 0.7 to 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g. If you need a strictly sugar-free product, don’t rely on a ‘no added sugar’ claim alone.
You’ll want to take naturally occurring sugars into account too. As well as checking the claim on the front, read the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and check whether the packaging actually says ‘sugar-free’.
You’re looking for something that fits the time and facilities available. A sachet saves you measuring out a portion, while a larger pack lets you decide how much porridge to take with you.
You’re considering a protein-enriched option for your lunch plans. Compare protein and fibre per 100 g, and check the ingredients: the Quaker Protein variety discussed here contains soya.
Start with your requirements for the sugar claim. Then check whether the preparation method, ingredients and packaging suit your office lunch.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Compare ‘no added sugar’ with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. If you have a strict requirement, also check for a ‘sugar-free’ claim. | If I’m looking for a strictly sugar-free product, ‘no added sugar’ on the packaging isn’t enough. This sugar claim is a priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Preparing it at the office | Check whether the product can be prepared hot or cold, and what facilities you’ll need. | During a short lunch break, I want to be able to make my porridge with whatever is available at the office. Ease of preparation is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Compare protein and fibre per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen information. | When planning my lunches, I want to know how a protein variety differs from plain porridge oats. Around 20% of consumers prioritise comparing the ingredients and nutritional composition. |
| Portions and storage | Choose between pre-measured portions and a larger pack that you can portion out yourself. | If I’m preparing several lunches in advance, I want to be able to take portions with me easily and store the rest. For around 10% of consumers, convenient storage matters most. |
These are two different claims. Albert Heijn’s product information lists 0.7 to 1.2 g of sugars per 100 g for the plain and quick-cooking porridge oats discussed here.
If you need a strictly sugar-free product, check the total sugars in the nutritional information and look carefully at the exact claim on the packaging.
What you add to plain porridge oats changes the nutritional content of your lunch. Voedingscentrum points out that preparation and additions also matter.
Decide which milk, yoghurt or toppings you’ll use, and check their nutritional information separately.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Quaker Oats Express Protein contains soya and 7.2 g of fibre per 100 g. The plain Quaker porridge oats discussed here contain 9 g of fibre per 100 g.
Compare both protein and fibre per 100 g, and check the allergen information before choosing this variety for your lunch.
The product ranges discussed include plain wholegrain porridge oats and quick-cooking Oats Express varieties, offering different ways to prepare your porridge.
The fine wholegrain oat flakes are an option for preparing your porridge cold, in advance or hot.
ALDI lists fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats from Golden Bridge as separate 500 g varieties.
No. The claims don’t mean the same thing: a product with no added sugar may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information, and if you have a strict requirement, check whether the packaging says ‘sugar-free’.
Choose porridge oats whose packaging says they can be prepared cold, provided you can store them at the office as directed. The fine AH Biologisch oat flakes discussed here can be prepared cold or made into overnight oats in advance.
Voedingscentrum advises against replacing bread entirely with porridge oats, because iodine is added to bread but not to porridge oats. Bear this difference in mind if you often take the same lunch with you.
According to Voedingscentrum, plain porridge oats aren’t automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease, as oats may come into contact with gluten during processing. For suitable oats, Voedingscentrum advises looking for the official Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
