Choose individual portions of wholegrain porridge oats if quick measuring and minimal washing-up are your priorities. A larger bag is a better fit if you’re packing for several mornings and can measure out portions and prepare the oats yourself. In either case, check the preparation instructions and allergen information on the pack. Milk and yoghurt also need to be kept chilled at the campsite.
You want to make breakfast quickly and keep washing-up to a minimum. Before you go, think about whether you’ll only have hot water or whether you’ll also have a pan or another way to prepare your breakfast.
You want to take enough oats with you, measure out your own portions and keep any remaining flakes dry and in a well-sealed container.
For you, the word wholegrain isn’t enough. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats are only suitable for people with coeliac disease when the official Crossed Grain symbol is on the packaging. You should also read the allergen information for the specific product.
Start with what you can prepare at the campsite. Then compare the ingredients, how much you’ll need for your stay, and any allergen and chilled-storage requirements.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and washing-up | Check whether the product needs a pan or microwave, and whether the portions are pre-measured. | With limited cooking facilities, I don’t want to spend the morning measuring out oats and doing lots of washing-up; ease of preparation is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Wholegrain oat base | Check the ingredients list and compare the nutritional information per 100 g, including fibre and sugars. | I want to know whether I’m actually buying wholegrain oats and what’s in a flavoured variety; an estimated 29% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Quantity and storage | Match the net weight to the number of mornings you’ll be away, and check how to seal an opened pack to keep it dry. | For several days at a festival, I want to take enough without opening a new pack every morning; around 21% of consumers prioritise planning their supplies. |
| Allergens and chilled additions | If you have coeliac disease, check for the Crossed Grain symbol and read the allergen information. Make sure you have a way to keep any milk or yoghurt chilled. | If I have coeliac disease, I need to check the pack carefully, and any yoghurt I bring needs to stay chilled; an estimated 14% of consumers put these safety checks first. |
Wholegrain describes the grain, not whether it may have been contaminated with gluten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says oats are only suitable for people with coeliac disease when they carry the official Crossed Grain symbol.
Look for the symbol on the pack, and also check the latest allergen information and any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
Dry oats and chilled additions need to be stored differently. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s camping advice is to keep perishable foods in a good cool box with ice packs for no more than one day.
Take milk or yoghurt in small quantities and make sure you have suitable cooling before you set off.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Brinta Wholegrain Cereal Breakfast is made with wholemeal wheat flour and salt. It contains wheat and is not an oat product.
Check the main ingredient if you’re specifically looking for oats. Choose a wheat-based cereal breakfast only if oats aren’t essential for you.
These examples show a range of product types. Always check the preparation instructions, ingredients and allergen information on your own pack.
Quaker’s range includes Oats Express Naturel, with pre-measured portions.
An option if you want to measure out your own portions of fine wholegrain porridge oats.
Jumbo lists fine and coarse wholegrain porridge oats, including a 1 kg bag of fine flakes for those packing for several mornings.
Lidl lists coarse oat flakes in a 500 g pack as one of its own-label products.
ALDI lists 500 g packs of Golden Bridge Fine Wholegrain Porridge Oats, as well as larger packs of wholegrain porridge oats.
An alternative for a warm cereal breakfast if you’re not specifically looking for oats.
This Joybuy pick is a pack of Quaker Express Oatmeal. Before you set off, check that you can prepare it with the cooking equipment available at your festival campsite.
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Worth considering if you want to make a quick oat-based breakfast at the campsite. The pack contains 324 g; before you set off, check whether you’ll need a pan or microwave to prepare it. If you have coeliac disease, check the current label and look for the official Crossed Grain symbol.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, oats can be contaminated with gluten during processing. They’re only suitable for people with coeliac disease when the pack carries the official Crossed Grain symbol. Also check the allergen information on the pack you’re buying.
Yes, if you’re happy to measure them out yourself and can prepare the oats according to the instructions. Albert Heijn recommends 40 g of its fine wholegrain oat flakes with 250 ml of water or milk, then simmering gently for one minute. So check that you’ll be able to use a pan at the campsite.
Keep perishable milk or yoghurt properly chilled. If you don’t have a fridge, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using a good cool box with ice packs or an electric cool box, and keeping perishable foods in the cool box for no more than one day.
Only if you’re not specifically looking for oats. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Brinta Wholegrain Cereal Breakfast is made with wholemeal wheat flour and contains wheat and cereals containing gluten. It’s a different type of product from porridge oats.
