A larger pack of chocolate biscuits is most practical when you’re sharing with others well before exercise and decide in advance how many everyone will have. If you’re eating shortly before your workout, don’t let the pack size determine your portion: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a meal around two to three hours before exercise. If you’re sharing, also compare the number of biscuits or portions, the nutritional information and the allergens listed on the pack you choose.
You’re looking for a small amount and want to take into account how long there is between eating and exercising. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to eat a meal two to three hours before exercise is a helpful reminder that a biscuit shouldn’t replace that meal.
You want to be able to share something out before a group workout, based on the number of biscuits, stated portions or individual packs. You should be able to store any leftovers according to the instructions on the pack.
You need to know whether the exact variety is suitable for you. So check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging, even if you already know the brand.
First, think about when you’re exercising and how much everyone wants. Then check whether the pack is easy to share and what information on the label you need to make your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who will find this most useful? |
|---|---|---|
| Timing and portion size | Check the portion information and nutritional details per portion and per 100 g; decide for yourself how long there is until your workout. | If I’m exercising soon after eating, I want to be able to choose a small amount in advance rather than keep eating from a large pack. For around 34% of consumers, timing and portion size are the top priorities. |
| Sharing and storage | Compare the number of biscuits or stated portions, and read how to store the pack once opened. | For our group, I want to know how much everyone can have and what to do with the leftovers. Around 33% of consumers say that sharing is their main concern. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens on the exact pack. | If someone in the group needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check the variety we’ve chosen before we share it. Checking ingredients is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Choosing the right pack size | Compare the net weight with the number of people eating, and check the storage advice for any leftovers. | For a small group, I don’t want to open more than we can use and store. For around 13% of consumers, choosing a practical pack size is the first consideration. |
A pack for several people doesn’t tell you how much one person wants to eat shortly before a workout. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a meal around two to three hours before exercise, so don’t let a large bag determine how much you eat without thinking.
Before opening the pack, decide how many biscuits you want to share out, then seal the rest according to the instructions on the packaging.
Ingredients and allergens vary between varieties. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on food labels; a familiar product name is no substitute for checking the label.
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g and, if provided, per portion on the exact pack.
The weight doesn’t tell you how many individual biscuits or stated portions you can share out. You may have some left over after sharing a larger pack.
As well as the net weight, compare the number of biscuits or portions and read the storage advice for once the pack is open.
If a pack is left open after sharing, you’ll also need to take care when storing the remaining biscuits.
Verkade’s range includes a variety of biscuits and cookies, including chocolate varieties.
Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists speculoos biscuits with dark chocolate in a pack of 7 × 3 biscuits.
Albert Heijn lists AH Soft Chocolate Cookies as weighing 210 g and containing eight portions.
Jumbo lists its Chocolate Cookies with dark chocolate chips in a 225 g pack containing twelve portions.
Lidl lists Sondey Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookies in a 200 g pack.
ALDI Nederland describes a 250 g Biscotto pack containing twenty chocolate biscuits, individually wrapped in pairs.
These Joybuy products are biscuits and chocolate wafers whose pack size or number of pieces you can take into account when sharing. A wafer isn’t the same as a chocolate biscuit, so choose the product type carefully and check the portions and label before opening a pack for the group.
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A chocolate biscuit for sharing, with the amount per person up to you.
Pack size: 150 g. Check the packaging to see how many biscuits you can share out.
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A chocolate wafer if you’d prefer wafers to chocolate biscuits for sharing.
Pack size: 180 g. Check the packaging to see how many wafers the group can share and how to store any leftovers.
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A chocolate wafer for a group that wants to share it out by the number of pieces.
The product name states that the pack contains 9 pieces and weighs 104,4 g in total. Check the nutritional information and allergens on the pack you choose.
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A chocolate wafer for anyone who likes to use the number of pieces as a guide when sharing.
The product name states that the pack contains 9 pieces. Check how they’re packed and the total weight if these details matter for sharing.
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A chocolate and oat biscuit for sharing, with the amount up to you.
Pack size: 150 g. Check the current packaging for the number of biscuits and the ingredients; don’t assume it’s suitable for a particular diet based on the product name alone.
You can share biscuits, but decide in advance how many everyone will have instead of treating the whole bag as one portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a meal around two to three hours before exercise. If you’re eating shortly before your workout, consider the timing and what feels right for you.
Compare the net weight with the number of biscuits or stated portions, and think about how much you actually want to open. For example, Jumbo lists twelve portions in its 225 g Chocolate Cookies, Albert Heijn lists eight portions in its 210 g AH Soft Chocolate Cookies, and ALDI Nederland lists twenty biscuits in a 250 g Biscotto pack. These figures don’t mean the products have the same portion size.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on food labels. Also check for any warnings about the possible presence of allergens rather than relying on the brand name.
Follow the storage advice on the pack you’ve chosen and seal it after opening as instructed. Jumbo advises resealing its Chocolate Cookies carefully and eating the remaining biscuits within a few days; don’t assume the same advice applies to other products.
