People who want to put together a meal
You eat well before your training and are looking for flakes to add to a bowl with, for example, yoghurt, milk or quark. The timing of your meal and the fibre content are both worth considering when you choose.
Who are these flakes suitable for?
People who want to add a chocolate flavour
You’re looking for a topping for bread, yoghurt or porridge. In that case, it makes more sense to compare chocolate flakes with similar toppings than with cereal flakes intended as a meal base.
People who need to check ingredients
You’re keeping an eye on allergens or other ingredients. The products reviewed differ in their declarations of milk, soya and gluten-containing cereals, among other things, so check the exact variant.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want flakes as a meal base or to add flavour. Then consider when you’ll eat them, the type of product and the label.
Cereal flakes as a meal base
When: You want to make a bowl with, for example, yoghurt, milk or quark a few hours before training.
Consider: Some cereal flakes are high in fibre, so a large portion just before exercise may feel less comfortable.
Chocolate flakes as a topping
When: You mainly want to add a chocolate flavour to bread, yoghurt or porridge.
Consider: The variants reviewed are high in sugars per 100 g and aren’t a meal before exercise on their own.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Meal and timing | Decide whether you’re looking for a meal base and check the fibre per 100 g. Adjust your portion to fit the time of your training session. | If I’m eating a few hours before training, I want to put together a meal that feels right at that time. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this combination of a meal base and timing. |
| Type of topping | Check whether you’re choosing chocolate flakes, cocoa flakes or chocolate sprinkles, and how much the pack contains. | When I want to add a little flavour to my usual snack, I look for the specific type of topping I want to use. For around 30% of consumers, choosing a topping is the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variant. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the brand name alone. For around 30% of consumers, checking the label is the first selection criterion. |
Common mistakes
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Treating chocolate flakes and cereal flakes as the same product
Cereal flakes can form the base of a bowl; chocolate flakes are a bread topping or garnish. Because they serve different purposes, comparing how suitable they are before exercise isn’t very useful.
First decide whether you want to put together a meal or simply add flavour. Then choose from the right type of product.
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Relying on a familiar brand name when checking allergens
Ingredients vary between products and variants. The Choca flakes reviewed contain wheat and soya, while De Ruijter White Flakes contain milk, lactose and soya.
Read the ingredients list and the ‘may contain’ statement on the packaging you’re actually buying.
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Having a large portion just before you leave
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, foods high in fat, protein or fibre can cause digestive discomfort around exercise. So, when it comes to cereal flakes, timing still matters.
Plan to eat a larger meal around 2 to 3 hours before exercise. If you’re eating later, think about your portion and what you personally find comfortable.
Brands compared
These brands offer different types of flakes. The features listed apply to the variants reviewed and not necessarily to every product from each brand.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s plain chocolate flakes reviewed come in a 300 g pack and are intended as a chocolate topping for bread or other foods.
- According to Jumbo, the plain variant contains at least 35% cocoa solids.
- According to Jumbo, this variant contains 63,7 g of sugars per 100 g and may contain milk.
PLUS
PLUS sells plain chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack.
- PLUS labels the variant reviewed as vegan.
- PLUS states that this variant contains 63,8 g of sugars per 100 g and warns that it may contain milk and lactose. Check the label if you avoid these ingredients.
Kiekeboe
Kiekeboe is the brand name of the chocolate flakes listed by ALDI, available in milk and plain variants in 300 g packs.
- ALDI lists the product as a store-brand item.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information for your chosen variant on the packaging.
De Ruijter
De Ruijter sells, among other products, plain and white flakes for use as a bread topping or garnish.
- The variants offer a choice of different flavours and ingredient combinations.
- The white flakes listed by PLUS contain milk, lactose and soya. The plain variant reviewed at Albert Heijn may contain milk; check the exact packaging.
Smaakt
Smaakt Seven-Grain Flakes are cereal flakes for adding to foods such as yoghurt, milk or quark, not a chocolate topping for bread.
- For the variant reviewed, PLUS lists 67 g of carbohydrates and 10,4 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The mix contains gluten-containing cereals and may contain traces of peanuts, milk, nuts and sesame. If you eat it before exercise, take the fibre content and portion size into account.
Products on Joybuy
These products are chocolate toppings for anyone looking to add flavour to a snack. For a meal based on cereal flakes, you’ll need a different type of product. Check the product names carefully: chocolate flakes, cocoa flakes and chocolate sprinkles aren’t necessarily the same thing.
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g'woon milk chocolate flakes, 300 g
For anyone who wants to use chocolate flakes as a topping, not as a meal on their own before exercise.
300 g pack. If you have an allergy, check the packaging for ingredients and declarations relating to milk and wheat.
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Sprinkles Choca Flakes, 200 g
A flake topping for anyone looking to add a chocolate flavour to an existing snack.
200 g pack. Check the label on the exact pack for wheat, soya and possible traces of milk.
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De Ruijter Pure Chocolate Sprinkles, 390 g
For anyone looking for plain chocolate sprinkles to add flavour, rather than cereal flakes as a meal base.
390 g pack. If you have an allergy, check the declarations for milk and soya on this variant; information for other pack sizes may not apply.
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g'woon milk chocolate sprinkles with smileys, 600 g
Chocolate sprinkles for anyone looking for a chocolate topping; don’t choose these expecting cereal flakes for a meal.
600 g pack. Read the ingredients and declarations for milk and wheat on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate flakes a meal before exercise on their own?
No. Use chocolate flakes as a bread topping or small garnish rather than as a complete meal. The variants reviewed are high in sugars per 100 g; also consider your portion and when you’re going to exercise.
When should I choose cereal flakes instead of chocolate flakes?
Choose cereal flakes if you want to put together a meal with, for example, yoghurt, milk or quark. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a proper meal around 2 to 3 hours before exercise; if you’re eating just before a workout, pay extra attention to your portion and the fibre content.
Should I check the allergen label again, even if I know the brand?
Yes, check the packaging of the exact variant you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on food labels, and the flakes reviewed vary in their ingredients and warnings.
Do I need sports bars or sports gels as well as an everyday snack?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who exercise don’t need specialist sports products. Choose food and drink to suit your training rather than assuming that a product with ‘sport’ in its name is essential.