Anyone putting together a salt-conscious picnic meal
With plain oats, you can choose the ingredients for your picnic portion yourself. Check not only the salt in the porridge, but also what you add to it.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone heading out without cooking equipment
A pre-measured portion saves you weighing anything out. Check whether your chosen oats can be prepared cold, or make up your portion at home.
Anyone with coeliac disease who wants to take oats along
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ordinary oats are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease. Check the packaging for the official Crossed Grain trademark and read the allergen information.
What should you look for?
Before your picnic, decide what matters most to you: knowing what’s in your oats and how much salt they contain, taking them along easily, or making sure the oats are suitable for you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Salt content | Compare salt per 100 g of dry product and check the ingredients for added salt. | I want to assess the oats and my toppings separately. Around 36% of consumers put checking salt first. |
| Preparing food while out | Check whether your chosen portion can be mixed cold, or prepare it at home and take it in a lidded container. | If I can’t cook in the park, I don’t want to have to measure out a portion there. For around 29% of consumers, convenience when taking food along is their main priority. |
| Putting your own meal together | Read the ingredients and compare the nutritional information, including fibre per 100 g, for similar oats. | I want to decide for myself what goes into my picnic portion alongside the oats. Around 21% of consumers put this control over the ingredients first. |
| Suitability for coeliac disease | Look for the official Crossed Grain trademark and check the latest allergen information. | If I have coeliac disease, I can’t simply use ordinary oats, even if they’re low in salt. For around 14% of consumers, suitable oats are a must. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing salt per prepared portion with salt per 100 g of dry oats
Albert Heijn lists 0.25 g of salt for a prepared portion of Brinta Havermout made with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk. That’s a different basis for comparison from the dry values per 100 g shown on product pages for plain oats.
First compare dry products on the same basis, then assess milk, yoghurt and other additions separately.
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Assuming ordinary oats are suitable for coeliac disease
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten during processing. A low salt content says nothing about whether they’re suitable.
If you have coeliac disease, check the packaging for the official Crossed Grain trademark and read the allergen information.
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Assuming a low salt content tells you about the whole meal
What you add to your porridge changes the make-up of your picnic portion. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the nutritional profile of porridge dishes also depends on how they’re prepared and what’s added.
So, as well as checking the porridge label, look at the ingredients and nutritional information for your additions.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Offers both plain wholegrain porridge oats and Oats Express sachets, making it relevant if you’re choosing between measuring your own portion and using a pre-measured one.
- Albert Heijn lists Quaker Havermout as 100% wholegrain oats, with 0.01 g of salt per 100 g.
- Check each variety separately: Jumbo lists 0 g of salt per 100 g for Quaker Oats Express Naturel, but 0.2 g per 100 g for the Protein variety reviewed.
Albert Heijn
AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken are a loose-oat option for preparing your picnic portion at home.
- The product page lists wholegrain oats, no added salt and 0.03 g of salt per 100 g.
- You’ll need to measure out the oats yourself and prepare your picnic portion in advance, or take the other ingredients with you.
Jumbo
Jumbo Havermout Fijne Vlokken Volkoren are fine, loose wholegrain oats for anyone who wants to put together their own portion.
- The product page lists 0.02 g of salt and 10 g of fibre per 100 g; Jumbo says the salt occurs naturally.
- A loose bag doesn’t provide pre-measured portions for when you’re out and about.
Brinta
Brinta Havermout is an extra-fine oat product which, according to the product information, can be prepared hot.
- The product information at Albert Heijn describes it as 100% oats.
- The stated 0.25 g of salt is for a prepared portion made with 250 ml of semi-skimmed milk, not 100 g of dry oats.
Portion packs at Joybuy
This portion-packed porridge is a good fit if you want to take a measured portion with you. For a salt-conscious choice, check the label and work out how you’ll prepare it before you set off.
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Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
A pre-measured portion is handy to take along on a picnic. The stated preparation method requires a microwave or saucepan; otherwise, make the porridge before you leave. To compare salt levels, check the label per 100 g. If you have coeliac disease, look for the official Crossed Grain trademark.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose loose oats or sachets for a picnic?
Loose oats are a good choice if you can measure out and prepare a portion at home; sachets save you measuring anything while you’re out. For a portion product, check whether you can mix it cold or need to prepare it before you leave.
Does ordinary porridge always contain the same amount of salt?
No, the stated salt content varies by product. Albert Heijn lists 0.01 g of salt per 100 g for Quaker Havermout, Jumbo lists 0.02 g for Jumbo Havermout Fijne Vlokken Volkoren, and Albert Heijn lists 0.03 g for AH Volkoren havermout fijne vlokken. Check the current label and compare the same quantity of dry product.
What should I look for in oats if I have coeliac disease?
Don’t choose ordinary oats without checking: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, they can be contaminated with gluten during processing. If you have coeliac disease, check that the packaging carries the official Crossed Grain trademark and read the allergen information.
How should I store an opened pack of porridge oats?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal the pack well after use. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo product pages recommend storing the porridge products mentioned in a dry place.