For a study break, choose a biscuit that you can portion out in advance. It shouldn’t replace a meal or be treated as a study aid. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for a plain digestive, wholemeal biscuit or speculoos, and if you need a gluten-free option, always check the label and allergen information on the current packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating regularly during exam weeks, drinking enough and avoiding constant snacking.
You want something crunchy to eat during a study break without repeatedly reaching into the packet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating regularly during test and exam weeks and avoiding constant snacking.
You’re checking the fibre per 100 g, while also taking sugars, saturated fat and salt into account. Biscuits don’t replace other sources of fibre, such as wholemeal bread, vegetables and fruit.
You need a biscuit whose current ingredient and allergen information suits your needs. Even with a product labelled gluten-free, check for any other allergens that are relevant to you.
First, work out which ingredients and allergens matter to you. Then compare the portion sizes and nutritional information of biscuits you can actually eat.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and break-time routine | Check the weight of each biscuit or portion, and decide in advance how many to take from the packet. | If I fancy something crunchy during a study break, I’d rather set aside a small amount beforehand than keep eating from the packet. Portion control is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Fibre and nutritional value | Compare fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt per 100 g. | When choosing between biscuits, I want to know how much fibre they contain without using that alone to judge the whole product. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this comparison. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the current label; if you need a gluten-free option, look for a clear gluten-free label. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label determines which biscuits are suitable for me. This check is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Flavour and availability | Choose a flavour, such as digestive or speculoos, and check where the variety you want is available. | If several biscuits meet my other requirements, I’ll choose one I enjoy during a short break and can buy easily. This matters most to around 10% of consumers. |
The product name doesn’t prove that a biscuit improves digestion or concentration.
Choose based on the ingredients, nutritional information and portion size, not on an assumed benefit while studying.
More fibre doesn’t tell you everything about a product’s nutritional value. For example, the Wholemeal Biscuits listed by Jumbo contain 6.1 g of fibre and 18.2 g of sugars per 100 g.
For similar biscuits, compare the fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt per 100 g side by side.
The regular digestives described here contain wheat. A gluten-free chocolate variety may also contain other allergens, such as milk and soya.
Before buying, check the current packaging for a gluten-free label and for any allergens that are relevant to you.
Digestives Original is a regular wheat biscuit sold in a 400 g packet.
Jumbo lists both wholemeal biscuits and a gluten-free digestive with milk chocolate.
AH Digestive is a regular digestive sold in a 400 g packet.
Lotus Biscoff Speculoos is a spiced biscuit, not a digestive or wholemeal biscuit.
Biscotto Digestive Biscuits are classic wheat biscuits that ALDI describes as coming in a 400 g packet.
These products offer a choice of regular digestives, speculaas and speculoos. First, choose a variety that suits your ingredient and allergen requirements; then consider portion size and nutritional information.
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A regular digestive for anyone who can eat wheat biscuits and wants to set aside a portion for their break in advance. According to the product information on Jumbo, each biscuit weighs 14.7 g; this variety contains 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g and may contain milk.
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A speculaas option if you’re looking for something different from a digestive. The product name lists 8 pieces and 200 g; check the packet for the weight per piece and any allergens that are relevant to you.
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Speculoos for anyone who prefers the flavour of a small biscuit to a fibre-focused option. Albert Heijn’s product information lists around 32 biscuits per packet, 1.3 g of fibre and 38 g of sugars per 100 g; check the label if you have a wheat or soya allergy.
The name ‘digestive’ doesn’t prove that the biscuit has any effect on digestion or concentration. During exam weeks, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating regularly and avoiding constant snacking; don’t choose a biscuit as a study aid.
Compare the values per 100 g so that differences in portion size don’t skew the comparison. Check fibre, sugars, saturated fat and salt, and also read the ingredients list.
Don’t assume that a regular digestive is gluten-free: the regular varieties described here contain wheat. Look for a product clearly labelled gluten-free, and check the current label for any other allergens that are relevant to you.
Read the current label on the packaging before eating the product, even if you’ve already checked the product information online. Albert Heijn warns that the ingredients and allergen information for its AH Digestive may change.
Take a small amount from the packet in advance instead of repeatedly reaching for it while you study. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against constant snacking during exam weeks and also suggests options such as fruit, a sandwich with a filling, and water or tea.
