Those looking for a wholegrain base
You want to pair porridge oats or another wholegrain cereal with, for example, fruit or yoghurt. According to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, wholegrain cereal products contain more fibre than refined cereal products.
Who are these options for?
People short on time in the morning
You want to fit preparation in before work or studying. Check both the preparation time and the equipment needed for your chosen product; Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g states a preparation time of 2 minutes.
Fans of a crunchy breakfast
You like choosing muesli or cruesli for its texture. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for each product: according to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, breakfast cereals can vary in their sugar, fibre, salt and fat content.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a cereal base to prepare yourself, a quick portion or a crunchy option. Then read the label of the product you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain and fibre | Check which wholegrain cereal is listed in the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g. | I want a simple cereal base that I can add to myself. For around 36% of consumers, wholegrain and fibre come first. |
| Preparation time | Check the preparation time and whether you’ll need a microwave, saucepan or hot liquid. | I have little time to make porridge in the morning. Quick preparation is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare the total sugars per 100 g and per serving with the full ingredients list. | I want to know what’s in my breakfast, even if the front of the pack mentions added sugars. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Texture and variety | For crunchy options, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the exact flavour. | I prefer something crunchy to porridge and like to switch between options. Texture matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming all wholegrain breakfast cereals have the same nutritional value
Wholegrain doesn’t tell you how much sugar, fibre, salt or fat a particular product contains. Crunchy muesli may also contain different ingredients from plain porridge oats.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact products per 100 g before choosing based on taste or brand.
-
Reading only the front of the pack
A statement about added sugars doesn’t tell you the total amount of sugars. What you add to your breakfast cereal also changes the composition of your serving.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, as well as the serving size and full ingredients list.
-
Guessing allergens from the type of product
Oat, wheat and nut products don’t all contain the same ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked foods.
Check the allergen information for the specific flavour and pack, even if you’ve bought a different product from the same brand before.
Brands to consider
Quaker
Offers plain porridge oats, an express option and crunchy Cruesli varieties to suit different morning routines.
- According to Quaker, Havermout Original is made from 100% wholegrain oats and contains no added sugars. The product information for Express Havermout 324 g states that it takes 2 minutes to prepare.
- Ingredients and allergens vary between products; don’t assume a statement on one pack applies to another.
Brinta
An option if you want warm wholegrain wheat porridge rather than cold breakfast cereal.
- Hoogvliet’s product listing describes Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt as 100% wholegrain wheat, with 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
- It isn’t a ready-to-eat cold option and contains wheat; check the preparation instructions and allergens on the pack you choose.
Kellogg's
Offers flakes and crunchy oat products, among other options, with ingredients that vary by product.
- Kellogg's lists wholegrain wheat as an ingredient in Special K Original; the product listing for Oaties Original Crunch names wholegrain oats.
- The product information lists 15 g and 20 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. So compare the exact products rather than judging the brand as a whole.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket own-label brand to consider if you’re looking for wholegrain muesli or crunchy muesli with nuts.
- For AH Biologisch Volkoren krokante muesli vier noten, Albert Heijn lists wholegrain cereals, nuts and 6,6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The same product lists 8,4 g of added sugars per 100 g and contains nuts. Check the current label when you buy it.
Nestlé
A brand where you’ll need to check which cereals and other ingredients are used in each breakfast cereal.
- According to Nestlé, wholegrain is the main ingredient across the range described on the brand’s Belgian Dutch-language page.
- That brand description doesn’t tell you what’s in a specific Dutch pack; check the ingredients and nutritional information for that product instead.
Breakfast cereals at Joybuy
This selection includes porridge oats for a breakfast you put together yourself, an express option, warm wheat porridge and crunchy Cruesli. Choose a size that suits your morning, then compare the packaging of the product you want.
Image unavailable
Quaker Express Oatmeal 324 g
An option to consider if preparation time is a priority on weekdays. The product information for this express porridge oats states that it’s 100% wholegrain and takes 2 minutes to prepare in a microwave or saucepan. Check the allergens on the current packaging.
Image unavailable
Quaker Cruesli Nuts Zero Sugar 400 g
For anyone who’d rather choose crunchy Cruesli with nuts than porridge. Compare the total sugars in this product with the statement on the front, and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
Image unavailable
Quaker Oatmeal 600 g
A porridge oats base for a breakfast you want to put together yourself. The product information for Quaker Oatmeal 600 g states that it contains 100% wholegrain oats, 9 g of fibre and 1,1 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the pack for preparation instructions and allergens.
Image unavailable
Brinta wholegrain wheat breakfast 500 g
For anyone who wants warm wheat-based porridge rather than ready-to-eat cold cereal. A Dutch product listing for Brinta Volkoren graanontbijt states that it contains 100% wholegrain wheat and 10 g of fibre per 100 g. Check the preparation instructions on this pack to see if it suits your morning routine.
Image unavailable
Zonnatura organic wholegrain porridge oats 500 g
Another porridge oats option to consider if you want to put breakfast together yourself. Check the preparation method to see if it suits your morning routine, and read the nutritional information and allergens on the pack you choose.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose wholegrain breakfast cereals for a weekday morning?
First choose an option you’ll want to prepare and eat on weekdays: plain porridge oats or wheat porridge, an express option or crunchy muesli. Then compare the ingredients, fibre, sugars, salt and fat in the exact product; according to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, breakfast cereals can vary in these respects.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean a breakfast cereal is low in sugars?
No, that statement doesn’t tell you the total amount of sugars. For that, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information per 100 g, and consider the serving size you use too.
Where can I check allergens when buying breakfast cereals online?
Check the allergen information for the specific pack and product before use. Oats, wheat, nuts or soya may be relevant depending on the product; don’t assume you know what it contains based only on the type of product or brand name.
Are porridge oats naturally gluten-free?
No. Don’t assume they’re gluten-free unless the label says so. The product information for Quaker Oatmeal 600 g mentions oats and the possible presence of wheat and barley; always check the current packaging of the porridge oats you choose.