If your workout is about to start, a small, lower-fat snack is generally a more sensible choice than an almond-filled pastry or chocolate-coated biscuit. Voedingscentrum advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise. If you have more time between eating and training, you could consider a small portion if you know it agrees with you. Check the portion size and allergens on the packaging too; a chocolate-coated biscuit is not automatically an almond-filled pastry.
If you want to eat something but are about to exercise, portion size and how comfortable it feels in your stomach matter more than the chocolate coating. Voedingscentrum advises against large portions and foods high in fat, protein or fibre just before exercise.
An almond-filled pastry may suit your preference for a sweet snack, but that does not automatically make it a sports nutrition product. Compare the carbohydrates, sugars and fat per portion: product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo shows that their butter pastries also contain fat, as well as carbohydrates.
If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, the exact product variant matters. The almond-filled pastries described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo list allergens including cereals containing gluten, milk, egg, soya and almond. Check the current packaging, even if you have bought a product with the same name before.
If your workout is coming up soon, first work out what portion will feel comfortable for you. If you have more time, decide whether you want an almond-filled pastry or a chocolate-coated biscuit, then check the nutritional information for the exact product variant.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Timing and stomach comfort | Check the portion size, fat per portion and time until your workout. Voedingscentrum advises against large or high-fat portions just before exercise. | If I’m about to work out, I want something small to eat without feeling too full. For around 33% of consumers, this need for a lighter option comes first. |
| Sweet flavour and carbohydrates | Compare carbohydrates and sugars per portion, not just per 100 g. Also consider whether you’re choosing an almond-filled pastry or another type of chocolate-coated biscuit. | Those who mainly want a sweet biscuit before exercise look for flavour and also consider how much they eat. Around 42% of consumers put this preference first. |
| Allergens and labelling | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product variant on the current packaging, including any warnings about possible traces. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in this product variant before I buy it. For around 25% of consumers, checking this is the top priority. |
Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe the products mentioned as butter pastries filled with almond paste. Verkade Bites are chocolate-coated biscuit balls. Their shape, composition and portion size are therefore not interchangeable.
If you’re specifically looking for an almond-filled pastry with a chocolate coating, check the product name and ingredients; don’t rely on a search term or image alone.
A pack may contain several portions. Jumbo lists five portions per pack for its almond-filled pastries and Albert Heijn lists six. Eating more biscuits also changes the amount of sugar and fat you consume.
Compare the nutritional values per portion with what you actually plan to eat, especially if your workout is coming up soon.
Albert Heijn notes that product information can change when updates are made. When it comes to allergens, always go by the information on the packaging you have in front of you.
Before buying, read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour and pack size.
A biscuit contains carbohydrates, but that alone doesn’t tell you whether the portion will feel comfortable just before your workout. Voedingscentrum also advises considering the size and composition of what you eat shortly before exercising.
Choose based on the time until your workout and the portion size, rather than just the carbohydrate content.
These products show the difference between a standard almond-filled pastry and a chocolate-coated biscuit. The product details below apply to the specific variants described, not to a brand’s entire range.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Roomboter kano’s are butter pastries containing 41% almond paste.
According to Jumbo, Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter are butter pastries containing 38% almond paste.
Verkade Bites Koekballetjes met Melkchocolade are biscuit balls coated in milk chocolate.
Aviateur Gevulde Kano’s are an example of a filled pastry, not a chocolate-coated one.
These two products are options if you’re looking for a milk chocolate biscuit rather than an almond-filled pastry. Whether one will feel comfortable before exercise also depends on the portion size and how soon your workout starts.
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A milk chocolate biscuit option if you’re not specifically looking for an almond-filled pastry.
Pack size: 150 g. Check the label to see what portion you’re eating and which ingredients and allergens apply to this variant.
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A milk chocolate option if you’re happy to try a different type of biscuit instead of an almond-filled pastry.
Pack size: 150 g. Check the current nutritional information per portion and read the ingredients and allergens before choosing.
An almond-filled pastry is generally not the most sensible first choice just before a workout. Voedingscentrum advises against eating a large portion or foods high in fat at that point, so consider how soon your workout starts and how much you plan to eat.
No. The products described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo are butter pastries filled with almond paste, while Verkade Bites are chocolate-coated biscuit balls. If you’re specifically looking for an almond-filled pastry with a chocolate coating, check the product description and ingredients for the exact variant.
For the almond-filled pastries described, check the information for cereals containing gluten, milk, egg, soya and almond. Warnings about other potential allergens vary by product. Before buying, read the packaging for the exact variant, even if you’ve already viewed an ingredients list online.
According to general information from Voedingscentrum, sports bars and gels are not necessary for exercise lasting less than an hour. Your nutritional needs may differ during prolonged, intensive endurance exercise, but that doesn’t automatically make an almond-filled pastry a suitable choice just before you start.
