Families who prepare portions at home
A large pack lets you measure out your own portions and, for example, pack yoghurt or fruit separately. Bear in mind when you’ll prepare lunch and what your child will carry it in.
Which pack works best for you?
School pupils with little time to prepare food
A pre-measured portion saves time, as long as the necessary liquid, a bowl and, if needed, a microwave are available. If you prepare a lunch with dairy products in advance, suitable refrigeration is also important.
People who need gluten-free oats
If you have coeliac disease, don’t assume ordinary porridge oats are suitable. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns of possible gluten contamination, so check that the product is clearly labelled gluten-free and read the allergen information for that specific product.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you’ll prepare lunch at home or whether it will need preparing at school. Then choose a pack that suits that routine and the label checks you need to make.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Stocking up and measuring your own portions | Check the pack weight and whether you can measure out and pack portions at home. | If I can prepare several lunches at home, I want to decide how much goes in each container. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Portions and preparation | Read the preparation instructions for your chosen variety and check whether you need liquid, a bowl or a way to heat it. | With a short lunch break, I don’t want to have to measure out oats first, but the preparation still needs to be practical. Around 33% of consumers say portion convenience comes first. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen label. If you have coeliac disease, look for a clear gluten-free label. | If a pupil needs gluten-free oats, I need to be able to check that the exact pack is suitable. Checking the label comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a family pack is a ready-made lunch
You’ll need to measure out portions from a large pack of ordinary porridge oats. Individual sachets usually need some preparation too.
Decide in advance whether you’ll prepare the oats at home or whether your child will have the necessary facilities at school. Then compare the different pack formats.
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Assuming every pack of oats is gluten-free
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that oats can be contaminated with gluten. Allergen information also varies by product: Quaker Oats Express Naturel lists possible traces of barley and wheat, among other things, while Brinta Oatmeal lists possible traces of wheat and rye.
If you have coeliac disease, choose a product that is clearly labelled gluten-free and check the label again when you buy a new pack. Also check the school’s policy on food brought in from home.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Quaker
The Quaker Oatmeal Family Pack is an option if you want to measure out portions at home. According to the product information, Oats Express Naturel contains twelve individual portions.
- Quaker describes the Family Pack as wholegrain porridge oats. The product information for Oats Express Naturel also says it can be made with cold milk, yoghurt or fromage frais.
- Oats Express Naturel contains oats and may contain barley, gluten, soya and wheat. Check the label for the variety you choose.
Brinta
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Brinta Oatmeal is made from extra-fine oat flakes, rather than individual instant sachets.
- The listed ingredients are 100% oat flakes.
- The product information lists possible traces of wheat and rye. If you have coeliac disease, don’t assume it is suitable without checking the label.
Albert Heijn
AH Gluten-Free Wholegrain Oatmeal is a 450 g pack of oat flakes, not an individual instant sachet.
- Albert Heijn says this product is made in a completely gluten-free environment and labels it gluten-free.
- Check the current pack and think about how you’ll prepare and pack a portion for school.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range includes both large packs of fine oat flakes and individual portions of porridge oats.
- These pack formats let you choose between measuring out portions at home and using a pre-measured portion.
- Check the preparation instructions and allergen information for each variety. The pack format alone won’t tell you whether it’s practical to prepare lunch at school.
Portion packs at Joybuy
These products suit anyone looking for portions that are quick to prepare. If you’d rather measure out portions from a family pack at home, use the preparation and label-checking points above to help you decide.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal, 324 g
If you don’t want to measure out portions at home, the product information says this pack contains twelve individual portions.
The product information says it takes 2 minutes to prepare in a microwave, or that it can be made in a saucepan. Check that these facilities are available or prepare lunch in advance. Don’t assume this variety can be made with cold ingredients without checking the pack.
The product information lists cereals containing gluten and possible traces of soya, wheat and barley. If you have allergies, read the current label and check the school’s policy.
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Quaker Oats Express Protein, 302 g
A portion pack to consider if you have the necessary liquid and equipment available when you’re ready to prepare it.
The product information says it takes 2 minutes to prepare and refers to hot water. Check the full instructions and number of portions on the pack for this Protein variety.
The product information lists cereals containing gluten and soya, and possible traces of wheat and barley. If you have allergies, read the current label and check the school’s policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is instant porridge always more convenient for a school lunch?
No. An individual sachet saves you measuring, but it doesn’t automatically make lunch ready to eat. According to the product information, Quaker Oats Express Naturel needs milk, a bowl and a microwave for hot preparation. For a cold option with milk, yoghurt or fromage frais, you’ll need a suitable lunch pot and a way to keep it chilled.
Can a pupil with coeliac disease take ordinary porridge oats to school?
If you have coeliac disease, don’t assume ordinary porridge oats are suitable: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre warns that oats can be contaminated with gluten. Choose a product that is clearly labelled gluten-free and check the ingredients and allergens on the current pack.
Where can I check the allergens in packaged porridge oats?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack, even if you’ve bought the same product range before. If you need a gluten-free product, also look for the ‘gluten-free’ label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the conditions under which this label can be used.
How should I store an opened large pack of porridge oats?
Store it in a dry place and seal the pack properly if the label instructs you to. Albert Heijn gives this advice for AH Gluten-Free Wholegrain Oatmeal. For other products, follow the storage instructions on the pack.