For a longer, more intensive bike ride, a syrup waffle is most practical when you can check the weight and carbohydrate content of each waffle you take with you. A box of chocolates is better suited to a break, the finish or a gift: individual chocolates can vary in weight and ingredients. For a short or leisurely ride, neither needs to be a standard part of your cycling plan; choose food and drink to suit your ride.
For a longer, more intensive ride, you want to know in advance how many carbohydrates a portion contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses carbohydrate intake during endurance exercise lasting 1 to 2.5 hours; the portion size on the product label tells you what you’ll actually be taking with you.
You’re after something sweet for the journey, without having to plan your nutrition for every ride. On a short or leisurely ride, taste and how easy a portion is to carry matter more than they do during intensive endurance exercise.
You want to check which allergens are in your chosen syrup waffle or chocolate before buying. With an assorted box, it’s important to read the information for its specific contents, not just the name on the front.
First, consider whether you want to eat a planned portion on your ride. Then choose between a syrup waffle you can count out, chocolate for a break or no extra sweet snack at all. Check the label on every product.
When: If you want to take a set portion on a longer, more intensive ride and check its carbohydrate content.
Consider: The number of waffles alone doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates you’re taking with you; you also need to know their weight and nutritional values.
When: If you’re mainly looking for something to share, give as a gift or enjoy during a cycling break.
Consider: Individual chocolates can vary in weight and filling, so they don’t automatically make up a consistent portion for your ride.
When: For a short or leisurely ride when you’re not planning a separate portion of carbohydrates.
Consider: For a longer, more intensive ride, you’ll need to think again about what to eat and drink. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice takes the duration and intensity of the exercise into account.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates per portion | Check the carbohydrate content for the portion you’ll actually take with you. Jumbo lists 18.3 g of carbohydrates per waffle for its 29 g syrup waffle; don’t assume the same figure applies to other brands or sizes. | On a longer, more intensive ride, I want to know how the snack I take with me fits into my plan. For roughly 40% of consumers, planning carbohydrate intake would be the top priority. |
| Taking it with you and portioning it out | Check the number of pieces, the weight of each one and whether the packaging suits the portion you want to take with you. | If I want a snack on the way, I want to be able to set aside a portion I can easily recognise beforehand. For around 30% of consumers, convenience would come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including for chocolate with different fillings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the requirement to list allergens on labels. | I need to be able to check whether the contents I’ve chosen include ingredients I avoid. For around 20% of consumers, checking the label would be the main concern. |
| Break or gift | Check the contents of the specific box and the nutritional information for your chosen portion if you also plan to eat the chocolate during a ride. | What matters most to me is having something tasty to share or give as a gift, not making sure each piece is the same size for a bike ride. For around 10% of consumers, that would be the main reason for choosing it. |
Individual chocolates can vary in weight and filling. Jumbo lists 18.4 g of carbohydrates for a specific 25 g portion of After Eight Caramel; this figure doesn’t apply to other chocolates or to a whole assorted box.
When planning for a ride, use only the portion weight and nutritional information for the box you’re actually taking with you.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre mainly discusses extra carbohydrates in the context of longer endurance exercise. A leisurely or short ride calls for a different eating plan.
Take the duration and intensity of your ride into account, and remember to think about drinks too; a syrup waffle or chocolate doesn’t replace them.
Ingredients vary by variety. For example, the Daelmans syrup waffles described by PLUS contain wheat, soya and milk; the choco waffles described by PLUS also list egg and lupin, among other ingredients.
Read the allergen information on the current packaging of the exact variety you’re buying, including any warnings about traces.
Packaging, portion sizes and recipes can change. A calculation based on a size you bought before may not apply to the pack in front of you now.
Before setting off, check the weight per piece, nutritional information and ingredients on the product you’ve bought.
These examples show what information you can compare for specific varieties; the figures for one product don’t apply to a brand’s or shop’s entire range.
According to the product information, the bag of ten syrup waffles described by PLUS has a 50% syrup filling.
The AH syrup waffles described have a listed portion size of 39 g.
Jumbo describes both syrup waffles in packs of 8 × 29 g and a separate milk chocolate and caramel variety.
ALDI describes classic syrup waffles in packs of 12, weighing 378 g, as well as separate mini syrup waffles from Heerlijck Banket.
PLUS describes its own syrup waffles and choco waffles, as well as the Daelmans variety mentioned above.
Lidl presents Sondey as a range of different biscuits and snacks.
The syrup waffles below are suited to taking a snack you can count out with you; the chocolate products are best for a gift or a break. If you want to plan your carbohydrate intake during a ride, check the weight and nutritional information per piece for the product you choose.
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A syrup waffle option for anyone who wants to take waffles on a bike ride. The pack contains 10 waffles; check the weight and carbohydrate content per waffle before working out a portion for your ride.
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A syrup waffle option if you want to decide in advance how many to take with you. The pack contains 8 waffles; check the label for the weight and carbohydrate content of each individual waffle.
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A chocolate collection for a gift or to share during a break. The box contains 125 g; if you’re planning what to eat during a ride, use the label for your chosen portion rather than the weight of the whole box.
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An assortment of chocolate truffles for a break or to share. The pack contains 200 g; check the weight, nutritional information and allergens for each truffle you choose.
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Pralines with a milk cream filling, perfect for a gift or a break. The pack contains 110 g; if you also want to eat them on the way, check the nutritional information for your chosen portion.
No, a sweet snack isn’t a requirement for every ride. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre mainly discusses additional carbohydrates for longer endurance exercise; decide what food and drink to take with you based on the duration and intensity of your own ride.
Use the weight and carbohydrate content per waffle shown on the pack you’re taking with you. Jumbo lists 18.3 g of carbohydrates for its 29 g syrup waffle; according to that figure, two of the same waffles contain 36.6 g. Don’t apply this calculation to a different size or brand.
Only if you can check the portion and nutritional information for that specific box. Chocolates can vary in weight and filling; this matters less for a gift or a break than it does when you want to count carbohydrates for a ride in advance.
Read the allergen information on the current packaging of the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the requirement to list allergen information on labels; depending on the product, the varieties described here may contain wheat, milk, soya, egg or lupin, among other allergens.
Check the packaging of the exact product in store. Lidl refers shoppers to the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values of its food products, so the name of a range alone isn’t enough to assess a portion for your ride.
