For a single snack in your gym bag, a small pack of biscuits or a pre-portioned serving is usually more practical than a box of chocolates. The latter is better suited to a gift or sharing. Decide when you want to eat, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and for the amount you’re taking with you, and check the label on your chosen product if you have allergies.
You want to take a compact snack with you without putting the whole pack in your bag. An inner pack containing a set number of biscuits, such as the Lotus Biscoff variety described by Albert Heijn, with three biscuits per pack, makes it easier to decide how much to take.
You want to know whether your snack is right for the time you’ll be exercising. Voedingscentrum recommends eating a meal around two to three hours before exercising. If you want to eat something closer to your workout, it’s worth considering the portion size too.
You’re mainly looking for a thank-you gift or something to share with a group afterwards. In that case, the assortment and the labels on the products you choose matter more than whether the whole pack will fit in a gym bag.
First decide whether you’re buying a snack for yourself or something to share. Then consider the packaging, when you’ll eat it and the information on the label.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Taking it with you and portioning | Check how many pieces are in each inner pack and whether you can take your chosen amount separately. | If I want to put a single snack in my gym bag, I don’t want to take the whole sharing pack. Around 42% of consumers prioritise a pre-selected portion that’s easy to take with them. |
| When to eat around your workout | Decide when you want to eat and compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the amount you’ll actually have. | If you want to eat something shortly before exercising, the main thing is knowing how much you’re having. For around 33% of consumers, when they’ll eat it is the main consideration. |
| Gifting, sharing and labels | Check what’s in the assortment and read the allergen information on the packaging you choose. | If I’m buying something for a team or as a gift, I want to know what I’m handing out and who it’s suitable for. For around 25% of consumers, sharing is the main reason for their choice. |
An assortment to share calls for a different choice from a single portion to take with you. A mixed pack may also contain products with different ingredients.
Decide who you’re buying for. If it’s for yourself, take a pre-selected amount with you; if you’re sharing, check the product labels.
Portion sizes can be defined differently for each product, so the nutritional information may not be directly comparable.
First compare similar products per 100 g, as Voedingscentrum recommends. Then check what that information means for the amount you’re taking with you.
A treat for afterwards and something you want to eat just before exercising don’t serve the same purpose.
Plan your regular meal around your workout first. Voedingscentrum recommends eating it around two to three hours before exercise. Then decide separately whether you want to take anything else with you, and how much.
If you have a food allergy, it’s important to check the information for the exact product you’re going to eat, especially with an assortment.
Check the physical label before eating. Albert Heijn notes that product information, including ingredients and allergens, may change.
Worth considering if you’re comparing speculoos biscuits in different types of packaging.
A retailer with product information on items including chocolate biscuits.
Useful for seeing the difference between chocolate biscuits and chocolate gifts.
A retailer where you can look for a specific biscuit or chocolate product.
Worth considering if you’re looking for biscuits and chocolate in individually wrapped portions.
These products are biscuits, chocolate wafers and cakes to consider as a sweet snack. They’re not boxes of chocolates for gifting: if you’re taking one with you, choose a suitable amount and check how your chosen variety is packaged.
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A pack of chocolate biscuits to consider if you want to choose an amount to take in your gym bag in advance.
Weight: 150 g. Check the packaging to see how many biscuits you’ll be taking at a time, and read the current label if you have allergies.
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A chocolate wafer for anyone looking for a sweet snack rather than a biscuit or gift box.
The product name states 9 pieces and 104,4 g. Check the current variety, individual wrapping and storage instructions before taking it with you.
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A chocolate cake to consider as an alternative to biscuits. Decide for yourself whether the packaging is suitable for carrying in your bag.
Weight: 150 g. Check the portioning and current label if you want to plan how much to take or need to consider allergens.
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Biscuits for anyone who wants to choose their own portion to take with them instead of buying an assortment of chocolates.
Weight: 97 g. Check the packaging for storage instructions after opening and see whether you can take a portion separately.
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A chocolate wafer for anyone who’d rather choose a number of pieces than take a gift box with them.
The product name states 9 pieces. Check how many pieces are in each inner pack, and refer to the label for the nutritional information for the amount you’ve chosen.
You can’t tell from the type of product alone. Voedingscentrum recommends eating a meal around two to three hours before exercising. If you’re having a snack later, decide how much you want to eat and check the nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen.
First compare similar biscuits or chocolate products per 100 g. Voedingscentrum recommends this as a basis for comparing labels. Then check the nutritional information for the amount you’re actually taking with you.
Read the current label for the exact variety you want to buy or share. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out labelling rules for 14 allergens. If you have an assortment, check the information for each of the products it contains.
A box of chocolates is best suited to giving as a gift or sharing with others afterwards. For a single snack in your gym bag, a pre-selected amount of biscuits or chocolate is easier to take with you. Whichever you choose, check the packaging and storage instructions.
