Don’t automatically choose traditional Dutch aniseed sprinkles if your main aim is to cut down on sugar. PLUS lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a figure of 11.9 g of sugar for a 15 g serving. If you’re specifically looking for a lower-sugar option, compare the nutrition information and check what the claim is based on. If you’re simply after a small bite before a regular workout, you could also consider a different type of snack, bearing in mind the timing and what you find comfortable to eat.
If cutting down on sugar is your main priority, a small serving doesn’t necessarily mean the product contains less sugar than regular aniseed sprinkles. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a figure of 11.9 g of sugar for a 15 g serving; according to PLUS, De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g.
If you want to eat something without having a large meal just before your workout, consider the portion size and what you find comfortable to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a regular meal around 2 to 3 hours before exercise.
Carbohydrates can play a different role during a longer endurance session than during a short workout. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses carbohydrate intake for endurance activities lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, but that doesn’t make aniseed sprinkles a sports nutrition product.
If you’re considering aniseed sprinkles around the time you exercise, start with your preference for sugar content before choosing a product. Then think about how long you have until your workout and whether it’s a regular session or a longer endurance activity.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Verifiably lower sugar | Compare sugars per 100 g and check what a claim such as ‘less sugar’ is based on. | I specifically want a product with less sugar, not simply to eat less of the same product. Verifiable sugar reduction comes first for around 50% of these consumers. |
| A small snack shortly before exercise | Consider how long you have until your workout, the portion size and the overall make-up of the snack. | If I’m hungry shortly before a regular workout, I want to choose something small that I find comfortable to eat. A light snack is the top priority for around 33% of these consumers. |
| Carbohydrates for longer endurance activities | Consider how long you’ll be training and, if you want to include carbohydrates, compare the amount per serving. | For a longer endurance activity, I want to know how many carbohydrates my food provides, rather than automatically treating aniseed sprinkles as sports nutrition. This matters most to around 17% of these consumers. |
Eating fewer aniseed sprinkles doesn’t change the amount of sugars per 100 g in the product. So comparing products takes more than simply looking at a different serving size.
Check the nutrition information per 100 g and, if there’s a ‘less sugar’ claim, see which comparable product the manufacturer is using as a reference.
The less time you have until your workout, the more important it is to choose a portion that you find comfortable to eat.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a meal around 2 to 3 hours beforehand. If you want something shortly before exercise, choose a modest portion of something you already know.
What you need for a regular workout isn’t the same as what you need for a longer endurance activity. And sweet aniseed sprinkles aren’t automatically the right choice if you’re looking to cut down on sugar.
Start by considering how long you’ll be training, then decide whether the carbohydrates per serving are relevant to what you’re looking to buy.
De Ruijter makes traditional aniseed sprinkles from sugar-coated aniseed. Check the nutrition information for each variety; details for pink and white aniseed sprinkles don’t necessarily apply to other versions.
If you’re considering a different type of product instead of aniseed sprinkles before exercise, you’ll find a muesli bar below. A muesli bar isn’t a variety of aniseed sprinkles, so check its nutrition information and serving size separately.
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A different type of snack for anyone considering something small before exercise instead of aniseed sprinkles. The pack contains 120 g; check the label for nutrition information per serving, ingredients and allergens. If you’re planning to eat the bar shortly before exercise, also check its polyol content.
Don’t assume they are. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a figure of 11.9 g of sugar for a 15 g serving, and PLUS lists 79 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles. If reducing sugar is your main priority when buying, compare the latest nutrition information.
Check the amount of sugars per 100 g and which comparable product the manufacturer is using as a reference. A smaller serving of regular aniseed sprinkles isn’t the same as a product with a reduced sugar content.
A small serving of aniseed sprinkles could be an option if you find them comfortable to eat shortly before exercise, but they’re not a meal replacement or a specific sports nutrition product. For a regular meal, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating around 2 to 3 hours before exercise; if you have less time, consider the portion size and what you’re used to eating.
Check the label of the exact variety before choosing it. PLUS lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles. Don’t assume the same applies to other varieties without checking their own ingredients and allergen information.
