Choose plain wholegrain oats if you want guests to add their own toppings. Fine flakes work well for warm porridge that you portion out yourself, while instant sachets are handy when guests want to make a quick serving individually. If a guest has coeliac disease, ordinary oats are not automatically suitable: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for the official Crossed Grain trademark. Always check the latest allergen information on the packaging too.
A plain wholegrain base lets guests add their own fruit, yoghurt, nuts or other toppings. Check the ingredients list for flavoured varieties: wholegrain oats don’t automatically mean that no sugar or flavourings have been added.
If you want to serve warm oats without much preparation, compare the instructions and serving sizes for fine flakes and instant sachets. Individual portions call for a different buffet set-up from a bowl of porridge that you serve yourself.
A general wholegrain label isn’t enough for this guest. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products are only suitable for people with coeliac disease if the packaging carries the official Crossed Grain trademark. Take care to avoid cross-contamination when serving, too.
First decide whether guests will make up their own bowls or whether you want to serve warm portions. Then check the preparation instructions for each product and, where necessary, its allergen information.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Plain wholegrain base | Read the ingredients list for your chosen variety and compare the sugar content per 100 g for flavoured varieties. | If guests are adding their own toppings, I want to be able to decide what else goes in their bowl. For around 36% of consumers, having control over the ingredients comes first. |
| Preparation and portions | Check the preparation method, cooking time and number of servings on the packaging. | If I have little time to prepare, I want to know how to serve warm portions one after another. Quick, predictable preparation is the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Flake texture | Choose between fine and coarse flakes, and try your chosen liquid and toppings beforehand. | The texture I want makes a difference when serving a bowl of porridge or bowls with yoghurt. Texture is the first selection criterion for around 21% of consumers. |
| Coeliac disease and allergens | If a guest has coeliac disease, check for the official Crossed Grain trademark and read the latest allergen information. | If a guest has coeliac disease, I first need to find a suitable product and arrange a separate way to serve it. For around 14% of consumers, this check is the main condition when buying. |
A flavoured wholegrain variety may contain other ingredients too. For Oats Express Cinnamon, Quaker Netherlands lists sugar and natural flavourings as well as wholegrain oats.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific varieties you’re planning to serve. With a plain variety, guests can choose their own toppings.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ordinary oats are not automatically suitable for someone with coeliac disease because of the risk of gluten contamination. Possible traces of gluten-containing cereals are also listed for standard oat products.
For this guest, choose only packaging with the official Crossed Grain trademark. Read the latest allergen information and use separate bowls and serving spoons to prevent cross-contamination at the buffet.
Opening hours around the holidays can vary from shop to shop. Albert Heijn says that holiday opening hours are updated for each individual shop.
Check the opening hours and availability of your chosen product at your selected shop before planning your buffet shopping.
Quaker offers both standard wholegrain oats and individual Oats Express varieties.
Brinta Havermout is an option if you want to use fine flakes from a standard pack.
Jumbo’s range includes fine and coarse wholegrain oat flakes, as well as other pack formats.
Golden Bridge offers fine wholegrain oats in a standard pack.
Lidl lists coarse oat flakes as a possible base for breakfast bowls.
These products give you an Express pack and two pack sizes of Quaker oats to compare for your buffet. Check the preparation instructions and allergen information on each pack. If you need instant preparation or a product suitable for someone with coeliac disease, don’t rely on the product name alone.
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An option if you’re considering an Express pack for your buffet. The pack contains 324 g. Check the serving sizes, preparation instructions and allergens on the label before planning how to serve it.
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This 600 g pack is a good option if you want to portion out servings for several buffet guests. Check the preparation instructions and flake texture if you want to serve warm porridge at a specific time. If you need to cater for allergens, read the label.
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This 375 g pack is a handy size for a smaller buffet or an extra bowl. Match the quantity to the servings you’re planning, and check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the pack.
It depends on the variety. For Oats Express Cinnamon, Quaker Netherlands lists sugar and natural flavourings as well as wholegrain oats. So compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific products you’re considering.
Fine flakes are a good option if you want to portion out warm porridge yourself: Jumbo describes Brinta Havermout’s extra-fine flakes as quick to prepare. If you want guests to make their own portions, check the preparation instructions for instant sachets. Albert Heijn lists a preparation time of 2 minutes for Quaker Oats Express Plain.
Not without checking the packaging. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oat products are only suitable for people with coeliac disease if the packaging carries the official Crossed Grain trademark, due to the risk of gluten contamination. Also read the latest allergen information and take care to avoid cross-contamination when serving.
Check your chosen shop’s opening hours shortly before you go shopping. Albert Heijn says that opening hours around the holidays are updated for each individual shop, so don’t assume the usual opening hours will apply.
