If you’re keeping an eye on fat and saturated fat
You want to put together a wholegrain breakfast and choose the milk, yoghurt and toppings yourself. The nutritional information for dry oats alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the prepared bowl.
Who are these choices relevant to?
If you’re short on time in the morning
You’re looking for fine flakes or a convenient portion, but you also want to check the ingredients and nutritional information for the variant you choose.
If you need to check which grain is used
You don’t want to confuse oats with wheat. Brinta wholegrain cereal breakfast contains wheat; if you need to check for gluten, read the allergen information on the packaging of each oat product separately.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want oats or wheat, then compare the ingredients, nutritional information and what you add to your porridge.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fat in the whole bowl | Compare fat and saturated fat for the same serving size, including milk, yoghurt and toppings. | If I’m watching my fat intake, I want to know what’s in my complete breakfast, not just the dry flakes. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| A simple wholegrain base | Check which grains and any other ingredients are listed on the packaging. | I want to choose what to add to my porridge, so I’m looking for a straightforward wholegrain base. Around 33% of consumers give this need top priority. |
| Preparation and portion size | Check the preparation instructions and portion size for fine flakes or a pre-portioned pack. | On a busy morning, I want to be able to prepare a measured portion quickly. This convenience matters most to around 17% of consumers. |
| Grain type and allergens | Check the ingredients, allergen information and, if needed, for an explicit gluten-free label. | If I need to avoid wheat or gluten, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. For around 8% of consumers, checking the grain type is their first concern. |
Common mistakes
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Judging dry oats alone
According to the Voedingscentrum, a 250 g bowl of unsweetened porridge made with whole milk contains 9.3 g of fat, of which 5.2 g is saturated fat. So how you prepare it matters when assessing a bowl of porridge.
Compare the whole prepared portion and take into account the milk, yoghurt and toppings you use.
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Assuming an oat bar or biscuit is the same as oatmeal
The mention of oats alone doesn’t tell you what other ingredients a prepared product contains.
Don’t compare these products as if they were the same type: check the ingredients list and nutritional information separately.
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Assuming Brinta contains oats
According to Jumbo’s product information, Brinta wholegrain cereal breakfast contains wholemeal wheat flour and salt. It’s not oatmeal and contains wheat and gluten.
If you have an allergy or need to check for gluten, always read the current packaging for the specific product.
Relevant brands to consider
Quaker
Quaker offers products including Havermout Original and Oats Express Naturel.
- According to Quaker Nederland, Havermout Original is made from 100% wholegrain oats.
- Quaker says this Original variant may contain barley and wheat; if you need to check for gluten, read the packaging of the variant you choose.
Brinta
Brinta wholegrain cereal breakfast is a wheat-based porridge rather than an oat-based one.
- The ingredients listed by Jumbo are wholemeal wheat flour and salt.
- This product contains wheat and gluten, so it isn’t interchangeable with oatmeal.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn stocks wholegrain oats, including fine flakes.
- Fine flakes are one specific variant you can compare for ingredients and portion size.
- Albert Heijn advises checking the packaging, as ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers loose wholegrain oat flakes as well as pre-portioned packs.
- According to Jumbo’s product information, its organic wholegrain oatmeal contains wholegrain oats.
- If you have a specific allergy concern, check the information for the exact variant.
Golden Bridge
Golden Bridge is an ALDI own-brand range of fine and coarse wholegrain oats.
- You can choose between fine and coarse flakes in this range.
- If you’re choosing based on fat or allergens, read the nutritional information and allergen details on the packaging.
Products for the breakfast choices discussed
These products suit three different choices: wheat porridge as an alternative to oats, express oatmeal and an organic oat base. For a low-fat breakfast, compare the nutritional information on the exact pack and the ingredients in your prepared bowl.
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Brinta wholegrain cereal breakfast 500 g
For anyone wanting to compare wholemeal wheat porridge with oatmeal; this isn’t an oat product. Assess the nutritional information for the prepared portion, and check the packaging if wheat or gluten is a concern for you.
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Quaker Express oatmeal 324 g
An express oat option for anyone looking for convenience. Compare fat and saturated fat for the same quantity, taking your chosen preparation method into account; if you need to check for gluten, read the packaging.
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Zonnatura organic oatmeal 500 g
An oat base for anyone who wants to put the rest of their breakfast together themselves. Check the packaging for the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per comparable quantity.
Frequently asked questions
Is plain oatmeal automatically a low-fat breakfast?
Not necessarily: how you prepare it and what you add both affect what’s in the whole bowl. According to the Voedingscentrum, a 40 g portion of plain oats contains 2.5 g of fat, of which 0.4 g is saturated fat. Also compare the milk, yoghurt and toppings you use.
Should I choose fine or coarse oat flakes?
Choose the texture and preparation method that suit your breakfast, but don’t assume the fat content based on the size of the flakes. Compare the ingredients and nutritional values of the specific products on the same basis.
Is Brinta the same as oatmeal?
No. According to Jumbo, Brinta wholegrain cereal breakfast contains wholemeal wheat flour and salt. It’s a wheat product, not an oat product, and contains wheat and gluten.
What should I look for in oats if I need to avoid gluten?
Check the current packaging of the specific oat product for an explicit gluten-free label, and read the allergen information. Don’t rely on the word ‘oats’ alone; Brinta wholegrain cereal breakfast contains wheat and gluten.