If you want a quick breakfast on a day when you’re having pea soup, choose wholegrain porridge oats based on the ingredients and preparation method that suit your morning. Regular or extra-fine flakes let you choose your own portion and toppings, while a plain portion pack saves you measuring. If you have an allergy or coeliac disease, always check the current label: wholegrain doesn’t automatically mean a product is suitable for you.
If you want to make a warm bowl quickly before getting on with the rest of your day, the preparation instructions matter more than the word ‘instant’ alone. A portion sachet saves you measuring; extra-fine flakes are an alternative without individual sachets.
With plain wholegrain oat flakes, you choose how much to use and what to add. For prepared products, compare the ingredients list and nutritional information for the specific variety.
The word ‘wholegrain’ tells you nothing about the possible presence of other cereals or soya. Check the current label; according to the Voedingscentrum, oats must carry the official Crossed Grain symbol to be suitable for people with coeliac disease.
First decide whether you’d rather measure your own portion or have a fixed one. Then compare the ingredients, preparation instructions and allergens for the variety you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholegrain ingredients | Check whether wholegrain oats are listed among the ingredients and what else has been added. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g. | If I want to decide for myself what goes into my breakfast, I look for a plain oat base rather than a pre-mixed flavoured variety. Around 36% of consumers say this is their top priority. |
| Ease of preparation | Check the preparation time, the method required and whether the product comes in individual portions. | On a busy morning, I don’t want to measure out oats first but still want to make a warm bowl. For around 29% of consumers, convenience comes first. |
| Portion and packaging | Compare the pack weight and number of portions. Decide whether fixed sachets or measuring your own portions suits the way you use the product. | If I eat porridge regularly, I want packaging that lets me choose the amount for each breakfast. This matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ statements on the current label. If you have coeliac disease, check that the pack carries the official Crossed Grain symbol. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check whether this particular variety is suitable before buying it. Around 14% of consumers put this check first. |
Plain porridge oats and prepared oat products can have different ingredients and nutritional values. The name of the grain doesn’t tell you what else is in the product.
Compare the ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g. Consider anything you add separately from the base product.
Regular oat products may be unsuitable for people with coeliac disease because of contact with cereals containing gluten. Some products also state that other cereals may be present.
Check the current label every time you buy. According to the Voedingscentrum, oats must carry the official Crossed Grain symbol on the pack to be suitable for people with coeliac disease.
Quaker offers both regular wholegrain porridge oats and Oats Express Naturel in portion packs.
The Brinta Havermout described here contains extra-fine oat flakes for quick, hot preparation.
The own-label fine wholegrain oat flakes make a good base for portioning yourself.
Jumbo’s fine wholegrain oat flakes are designed for you to measure out and prepare yourself.
These two Quaker Express products are worth considering if you’re looking for a quick oat-based breakfast. Compare the ingredients for each variety separately: the Express name doesn’t mean they have the same ingredients.
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An option if you’re after a quick, warm bowl. The product information for Quaker Express Havermout, 324 g, gives a preparation time of two minutes; follow the instructions on the pack for your chosen preparation method.
If you have an allergy or coeliac disease, check the current label and, where needed, look for the official Crossed Grain symbol.
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A variety to compare if you’re looking for a quick oat-based breakfast, but don’t assume it contains oats alone.
Before buying, check the ingredients and the proportion of wholegrain oats on the current pack. If you need to avoid soya or cereals containing gluten, read the allergen information too.
According to the Voedingscentrum, porridge oats are made from cut and rolled oat grains and are a wholegrain cereal product. For a prepared instant product, check the other ingredients too: they also affect what you’re buying.
No. Don’t rely on the word ‘plain’ alone: check the specific ingredients list. Quaker says Oats Express Naturel contains no added sugar, but this doesn’t apply to other varieties or types of oat product.
Not necessarily. According to the Voedingscentrum, oats are only suitable for people with coeliac disease if the pack carries the official Crossed Grain symbol. Check the current allergen information as well.
No, you don’t have to use milk. Check the pack for the preparation methods recommended for your product, and bear in mind the ingredients and allergens in anything you add.
