If you’re buying breakfast for one for several mornings, you can count out the individual portions in a multipack in advance. An porridge cup is a better fit if you only have access to hot water and don’t want to use a bowl. Cold mini packs offer a choice of flavours, but you’ll need milk, yoghurt or an alternative. Also compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the allergens on the packaging.
Want to have portions ready for several mornings without measuring them out each time? Albert Heijn’s product information includes a pack of 12 Quaker porridge sachets and a Kellogg's assortment with eight mini packs. Count the portions against the number of days you actually plan to eat them.
A porridge cup can save you from needing a bowl. According to the product information, the AH Oat & Go cup is made with hot water, while the Fuel10K pot needs boiling water. Before buying, check what facilities you can use to heat water.
A small pack alone won’t tell you much about its sugar, fibre or allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing the nutritional values of similar products per 100 g. Also read the ingredients and the current allergen information.
First decide how many breakfasts you want to plan for and where you’ll prepare them. Then compare portion size, nutritional information and ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Number of individual portions | Count the sachets, cups or mini packs and compare the total with the number of breakfasts you have planned. | When I shop for several mornings at once, I want to know how many individual breakfasts I’m getting. For around 31% of consumers, the number of portions comes first. |
| Preparation with hot water | Check whether you need hot or boiling water, how much to add and whether the pack is microwave-safe. | I don’t have a bowl or milk to hand at work, so I want to be able to make breakfast in the cup. Around 31% of consumers give this ease of preparation the highest priority. |
| Variety | Check how many different types are included in the assortment and how many portions there are of each. | For a run of breakfasts, I want to change flavours without opening several large packs. For around 23% of consumers, variety is their first priority. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Compare sugar and fibre per 100 g; read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | When stocking up for the week, I want to be able to check before buying which ingredients and nutritional values suit my preferences. For around 15% of consumers, checking the label matters most. |
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Oat & Go is one portion, while the Fuel10K multipack contains six pots. Neither is enough on its own for seven individual breakfasts.
Count only the days when you actually want to eat this kind of breakfast, and top up your supply if needed.
A sachet and a cup don’t have to contain the same amount. This means that values per portion don’t provide a like-for-like basis for comparing products.
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Then consider how much you want to use for each breakfast.
A statement such as ‘no added sugar’ doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value or ingredients. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, breakfast cereals can vary in their sugar, fibre, salt and fat content.
As well as the front of the pack, read the nutrition table per 100 g and the ingredients list.
Being familiar with a product is no substitute for reading the packaging you’re buying now. Oats, wheat, barley, milk and nuts may be relevant allergens in the products mentioned.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety every time you buy it.
Quaker offers two different pack formats here: individual Oats Express porridge sachets and a larger bag of Cruesli that you portion out yourself.
The Variety Pack is an assortment of cold breakfast cereals for anyone looking for individual mini packs and a range of flavours.
AH Oat & Go is a porridge cup for breakfast when you’d rather not use a separate bowl.
Fuel10K Porridge Oats Original is available as an individual pot or in a multipack of six pots.
These products suit two ways of buying individual portions for the week: porridge sachets to prepare at home and cold breakfast cereals in mini packs. For both, check that each portion is enough for your breakfast.
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For anyone who wants to have several breakfasts ready at home. Joybuy’s product information lists 12 individual portions in a 324 g pack. For the preparation described, you’ll need milk or water and a pan or microwave; check the current allergen label.
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For anyone who wants individual portions of cold cereal and a range of flavours for several mornings. Joybuy’s product information lists eight mini packs in a 220 g assortment. Check the contents of each mini pack if portion size matters for your breakfast; you’ll need to add milk, yoghurt or an alternative yourself. Check the current allergen information.
Count the mornings when you want to eat this breakfast, rather than automatically assuming you’ll need it for all seven days. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Quaker Oats Express Naturel and Kellogg's Variety Pack contain 12 and eight individual portions respectively. A Fuel10K multipack contains six pots, while a single AH Oat & Go cup is one portion.
No, pack size isn’t an indication of nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing similar products per 100 g and checking information on sugar, fibre, salt and ingredients.
Yes, if the instructions for your chosen cup say to use hot water. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, you add hot water to AH Oat & Go and leave it for four minutes. Fuel10K Porridge Oats Original needs boiling water, and its pot isn’t microwave-safe.
Read the allergen information in the ingredients list on the current packaging for your chosen variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on labels for pre-packed foods. Don’t rely on the product name or a previous purchase alone.
