People exercising soon
If there’s not much time between your snack and your workout, it’s important to keep the portion small. The Voedingscentrum advises avoiding foods high in fat, protein or fibre at that point.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone comparing spritz biscuits and digestives
You’re not looking for a sports bar, but you want to know which biscuit suits your taste, portion size and training plans. Compare the nutritional information for the specific varieties: Verkade Digestive Original and Verkade Nobo Sprits Original differ in several respects, including their fat and fibre content per 100 g.
Snack shoppers who need to check allergens
If ingredients or possible traces of allergens matter to you, check the current packaging before eating. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly listed on the label.
What should you look for when choosing?
Spritz biscuits
A good fit when: you’re not about to exercise and fancy a small portion of spritz biscuits.
Consider: Verkade lists 28,71 g of fat per 100 g for Nobo Sprits Original, so portion size matters if you’re exercising soon afterwards.
Digestives
A good fit when: you fancy a digestive outside the period immediately before exercise and want to take its nutritional values into account.
Consider: Albert Heijn lists 3,6 g of fibre and 21 g of fat per 100 g for Verkade Digestive Original. Its higher fibre content doesn’t automatically make this biscuit a good choice just before exercise.
Maria biscuits
A good fit when: you want to compare the fat content per 100 g of a small biscuit with that of the spritz biscuit and digestive reviewed here.
Consider: Verkade says Maria contains 10,2 g of fat per 100 g, but your portion size and personal tolerance still matter.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Timing and stomach comfort | Check the fat, fibre and portion size of your chosen biscuit; keep the portion small if you’re exercising soon. | I’m exercising soon and don’t want a large snack that might feel uncomfortable. Around 36% of consumers put stomach comfort first in this situation. |
| Portion size and nutritional value | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and, if provided, per biscuit or portion. | I want to take something small with me and know in advance how many biscuits make up a portion. Portion control is a top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Choosing a snack outside your exercise window | Compare the fibre, sugars and saturated fat in the specific varieties, without treating any one value as a verdict on the whole biscuit. | I eat these biscuits at other times too and want to weigh up their nutritional values. This is the main consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any advisory statement about possible traces on the current packaging. | I need to know whether my chosen variety contains ingredients or possible traces that I avoid. For around 14% of consumers, this check is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming digestives are automatically a light snack
Albert Heijn lists 3,6 g of fibre and 21 g of fat per 100 g for Verkade Digestive Original. Extra fibre isn’t automatically a benefit just before exercise: the Voedingscentrum advises avoiding foods high in fat or fibre at that point.
Don’t choose based on the name alone. Think about how long you have until your workout and compare that with the portion you actually plan to eat.
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Comparing only the values per 100 g
Values per 100 g are useful for comparing products, but they don’t tell you how much you’ll get from one biscuit or a packet.
Where possible, check the nutritional information per biscuit or portion too, and decide how many biscuits you want to take with you.
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Treating an online allergen list as definitive
Ingredients and statements about possible traces can vary between varieties. This is especially important if you need to avoid certain allergens.
Always check the current packaging for the exact variety you’re going to eat; don’t assume a product is suitable for your diet based on its name.
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Letting the Nutri-Score decide what to eat before exercise
A Nutri-Score doesn’t tell you how long you have until your workout, how large your portion is or how you’ll react to a biscuit.
At most, use the score alongside the nutritional information for similar biscuits, and assess your portion and schedule separately.
Brands to compare
Verkade
Nobo Sprits Original, Digestive Original and Maria let you compare different types of biscuit from this manufacturer.
- Verkade lists 28,71 g of fat and 1,1 g of fibre per 100 g for Nobo Sprits Original, and 10,2 g of fat and 1,6 g of fibre per 100 g for Maria. Albert Heijn lists 21 g of fat and 3,6 g of fibre per 100 g for Verkade Digestive Original.
- Compare the portion too: a difference per 100 g alone doesn’t determine what will feel comfortable just before your workout.
Albert Heijn
AH Spritsen are an own-brand option if you want to compare a classic spritz biscuit with another variety.
- Albert Heijn lists 25 g of fat, 28 g of sugars and 1,3 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Spritsen.
- If you have allergies, check the current packaging, including for possible traces of other ingredients.
PLUS
PLUS Spritsen are another spritz biscuit variety to compare for ingredients and nutritional values.
- PLUS lists a Nutri-Score of E and, per 100 g, 29,1 g of fat, 17,2 g of saturated fat and 2,5 g of fibre.
- The Nutri-Score doesn’t tell you whether your chosen portion fits your training schedule; check the current allergen information on the label too.
Biscotto
ALDI lists Biscotto butter spritz biscuits in plain and chocolate varieties.
- The two varieties offer a choice between plain and chocolate.
- Check the packaging for the specific variety to compare its nutritional values and allergens with other biscuits.
Sondey
Sondey is Lidl’s biscuit and snack brand; Lidl also lists butter spritz biscuits as a store item.
- Lidl lists its butter spritz biscuits in a 400 g pack.
- Check the packaging for the product you choose for nutritional values, ingredients and allergens; the brand name alone doesn’t identify a specific spritz biscuit variety.
Biscuits to compare on Joybuy
These products let you compare a Maria biscuit, two digestive varieties and a spritz biscuit with milk chocolate. Choose the specific variety based on your taste, how long you have until your workout and the portion you want to eat.
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Verkade Maria Biscuits, 200 g
A Maria biscuit to compare if you want a small portion when your workout is coming up.
Joybuy lists 10,2 g of fat and 1,6 g of fibre per 100 g for Verkade Maria Biscuits. Use the current packaging to decide how much to eat.
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McVities Digestive Original, 400 g
A digestive to consider if you’re not exercising straight after your snack. Before choosing it as a pre-workout snack, compare the portion size and nutritional information on the packaging.
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Verkade Nobo Spritzed Milk Chocolate, 150 g
This milk chocolate spritz biscuit is an option if you’re choosing by flavour and aren’t about to exercise. It’s a different variety from Verkade Nobo Sprits Original, so don’t use the nutritional values for Original for this pack.
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McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate, 266 g
A milk chocolate digestive for anyone who wants to compare the flavour outside the period immediately before exercise. Assess this variety separately from Digestive Original, and check the packaging for the portion size and nutritional information.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat spritz biscuits just before a workout?
You can if the portion you choose feels comfortable, but spritz biscuits aren’t an obvious choice if you’re exercising almost straight away. The Voedingscentrum recommends a small portion at that point and advises against foods high in fat, protein or fibre; Verkade lists 28,71 g of fat per 100 g for Nobo Sprits Original.
Are digestives a better choice than spritz biscuits before exercise?
Not necessarily: it depends on the specific varieties, your portion and how long you have until your workout. Albert Heijn lists 3,6 g of fibre and 21 g of fat per 100 g for Verkade Digestive Original; Verkade lists 1,1 g of fibre and 28,71 g of fat per 100 g for Nobo Sprits Original. Extra fibre alone isn’t a reason to choose a digestive just before exercise.
Where can I find the allergens in a spritz biscuit or digestive?
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for the exact variety. Spritz biscuits and digestives can differ in their ingredients and possible traces, so don’t rely on the type of biscuit or the label for a different variety.
What can I have before exercise if I don’t want a biscuit?
A small portion of something else may fit your schedule better than a spritz biscuit or digestive. The Voedingscentrum lists bread and fruit among the options; consider how long you have until your workout when choosing the amount, and avoid a large portion just beforehand.