A chocolate digestive is better suited to an everyday snack away from your training than as an obvious choice just before or during a long run. Carbohydrates and fluids matter when you’re training for a marathon, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, foods high in fat or fibre can stay in your stomach for longer if you eat them shortly before exercising. Compare the portion size and the label, and try a snack during training before relying on it for a long run.
If you’re eating a snack shortly before a run, portion size and how well you tolerate it both matter. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that foods high in fat or fibre can stay in your stomach for longer if you eat them shortly before exercising.
For a long, intense run, a tasty biscuit on its own isn’t a plan for getting enough carbohydrates and fluids. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses both as part of nutrition for endurance sports.
A chocolate digestive may contain ingredients that don’t suit your diet. A gluten-free variety may contain other allergens too, so check the exact packaging.
First, decide when you want to eat the biscuit: away from your training, shortly beforehand or during a long run. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, so the figures on the label reflect the amount you’re actually considering.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Timing and stomach comfort | Check the fat, fibre and portion size; try your chosen snack and timing during a training session. | If I’m going running shortly after a snack, I want to know whether the portion sits comfortably. For around 36% of consumers, timing and stomach comfort are the most important considerations. |
| Carbohydrates and fluids | Compare the carbohydrates per portion with your plan for the long run, and remember to think about drinks separately. | For a long, intense session, I want to be able to eat and drink on the go without relying on a single biscuit. Around 29% of consumers put this planning first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warnings on the exact packaging. | If I need to avoid gluten or another allergen, the specific variety I buy must suit my needs. This check is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability and pack size | Check where the variety is available and how many biscuits are in the pack. | If I want to take a snack with me regularly, I look for a suitable pack size and want to be able to find the same variety again. This is the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
The product name doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit is suitable as fuel while running. Jumbo also says that a McVitie's product’s biscuit ingredients contain no substances that aid digestion.
Check the label, when you plan to eat it and how well you tolerate the portion during training.
According to their product information, the chocolate varieties from Albert Heijn and McVitie's examined here each contain 24 g of fat per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating foods high in fat shortly before exercising, as they can stay in your stomach for longer.
If you still want to eat something shortly before or during a run, try different portions and timings during a training session first to find what works for you.
For its gluten-free Digestives Milk Chocolate, Jumbo lists milk, oats and soya as allergens and warns that the product may contain nuts.
Check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging every time you buy it; don’t rely on the words ‘gluten-free’ alone.
A listing for a specific digestive doesn’t tell you whether that variety is available in your shop or online when you’re ready to buy it.
Check current availability before relying on a particular variety, and read the label on the packaging when you buy it.
These examples show why ‘biscuit’, ‘speculoos’ and ‘digestive’ aren’t necessarily interchangeable. Always compare the nutritional information and allergens for the exact variety.
Verkade Maria is a biscuit without a chocolate coating, so it’s a different kind of biscuit from a chocolate digestive.
Lotus Speculoos with Chocolate is a speculoos product, not a digestive.
AH Digestive Dark Chocolate is an own-brand variety covered in dark chocolate.
Jumbo describes both a plain digestive and a separate gluten-free milk chocolate variety.
Sondey Dark Chocolate Digestives are a chocolate digestive in a 300 g pack, as described by Lidl Netherlands.
ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as crunchy wheat biscuits. They’re a plain alternative, not a chocolate variety.
This selection includes two chocolate digestives for anyone looking for an everyday snack, plus a plain digestive as a chocolate-free alternative. Before eating them around a training session, consider the portion size, timing and information on the packaging.
Image unavailable
A milk chocolate digestive for a snack away from your run. Compare the nutritional information per portion with your planned snack time, and check the allergens on the packaging.
Image unavailable
A dark chocolate digestive for anyone who wants this variety as an everyday snack. If you’re having one around a run, check the portion size and the latest nutritional and allergen information on the packaging.
Image unavailable
A plain digestive if you’re looking for a biscuit without chocolate. As with any snack, the portion size and timing will determine whether you want to try it around a training session; check the latest ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging.
Not as an obvious substitute for a plan covering food and drink during the run. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of carbohydrates and fluids during prolonged exercise. If you want to try a portion of biscuit, do so during training first and see how practical and comfortable it is for you.
Eating a biscuit well before your run is different from having one just before you set off. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a meal around two to three hours before exercising and advises against foods high in fat or fibre shortly beforehand. Try out the timing and portion size during a training session.
No, you can’t assume that from the product name. Jumbo says that the biscuit ingredients in a McVitie's digestive contain no substances that aid digestion.
No. For its gluten-free Digestives Milk Chocolate, Jumbo lists milk, oats and soya, and warns that the product may contain nuts. Always check the current packaging for any allergens that matter to you.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your variety. For the products described, Albert Heijn and McVitie's recommend storing them in a cool, dark, dry place and resealing the pack securely after opening.
