Organisers of a cycling breakfast
You’re laying out bread, yoghurt or porridge for several cyclists. The key thing is whether the pack contains enough topping for the number of people you’re expecting and is easy to use at the table.
Who is this relevant to?
Endurance cyclists with a nutrition plan
You don’t want to confuse a breakfast topping with food for your ride. World Athletics discusses carbohydrate intake for endurance exercise per hour; the role of chocolate flakes depends on the portion you use and the rest of your food and drink.
Shoppers checking for allergens
If you’re buying for other people, milk, lactose or soya may affect your choice of variety. Check the allergen information on the pack you’re actually using, even if you’ve bought a different variety from the same brand before.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether the flakes will be eaten at the table or whether you’re looking for food to take on your ride. For breakfast, choose an appropriate quantity and check the allergens for the exact variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Place in your nutrition plan | Decide when you’ll eat them and count a portion alongside your other food and drink; don’t treat the contents of the pack as an on-the-go portion. | If I’m planning a longer ride, I want to know what I’ll eat and drink along the way, rather than treating a breakfast topping as a substitute. Around 46% of consumers put this nutrition plan first. |
| Quantity for your group | Compare the pack size with the number of people eating and check that the pack you want is available through your preferred retailer. | For a shared breakfast, I want to put out enough flakes without relying on the pack name alone. Around 36% of consumers put the quantity for the group first. |
| Allergens and preferences | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact flavour, including any warning that the product may contain allergens. | When I’m serving food to other people, I need to check whether a variety is suitable for any dietary restrictions they’ve mentioned. This is the main concern for around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a large pack is food for your bike ride
The contents of a box don’t tell you how much you’ll use during a ride from all your food and drink sources combined. World Athletics gives guidelines for endurance exercise per hour, not per pack of chocolate flakes.
Decide separately what you want to take with you, and use flakes as a topping at a planned mealtime if that suits your needs.
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Confusing a vegan label with being allergen-free
PLUS labels its 300 g dark chocolate flakes as vegan, but also says they may contain milk and lactose. So the vegan label doesn’t automatically answer the question for someone who needs to avoid milk.
Check the current allergen information for the exact variety, and discuss any relevant warning with the person you’re buying for.
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Assuming every variety is available in the same way
A product listing at a supermarket doesn’t mean that every flavour and pack size can be ordered through the same channel. Lidl lists its 300 g milk chocolate flakes as an in-store product.
Before planning a group meal, check where you can buy the variety you want and have another suitable pack as a back-up.
Brands to consider
Compare the specific variety and pack size; a brand name alone won’t tell you which allergen information or pack size applies.
De Ruijter
De Ruijter offers several types of chocolate flakes, including a 300 g dark variety and 200 g milk chocolate flakes. The difference in pack size is worth bearing in mind when you’re choosing for a group.
- The 200 g milk variety is a specific option if you want milk chocolate flakes as a topping.
- The milk variety lists milk and soya; always check the allergens for the variety you’re buying.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers 300 g packs of dark chocolate flakes to use as a bread topping.
- The 300 g pack gives you a clear starting point for working out how much you need for a shared breakfast.
- Jumbo says its dark variety may contain milk.
PLUS
PLUS offers 300 g packs of dark and milk chocolate flakes. The difference between these varieties matters when you’re choosing for several people.
- PLUS labels its dark variety as vegan and vegetarian.
- For the same dark variety, PLUS says milk and lactose may be present; check the label if someone needs to avoid them.
Kiekeboe
ALDI offers Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in 300 g milk and dark varieties for in-store purchase.
- Both of the listed flavours come in 300 g packs.
- Before buying for a group, check in store that the variety you want is available and read the label.
Chocolate flakes and similar toppings at Joybuy
These products are intended as bread toppings or additions to a shared meal around a bike ride. Alongside chocolate flakes, the list includes chocolate sprinkles; compare the product type and pack size if you’re specifically looking for flakes or a larger pack.
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g'woon milk chocolate flakes 300 g
For a shared breakfast where you want to serve milk chocolate flakes as a topping. The pack contains 300 g; check the allergen information when buying for a group.
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g'woon milk chocolate sprinkles with smiley faces 600 g
For a shared meal when you’re specifically looking for sprinkles with smiley faces. This pack contains 600 g and is made up of sprinkles, not chocolate flakes; check the allergen information for this variety.
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De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles 390 g
For anyone wanting to serve dark chocolate sprinkles instead of flakes at a shared breakfast. The pack contains 390 g; check the allergen information for this variety on the pack.
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De Ruijter Flake Feast 200 g
For a smaller shared meal with a mix of flakes as a topping. The pack contains 200 g; check that this is enough and read the allergen information.
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De Ruijter milk chocolate flakes 200 g
For breakfast or a meal after your ride when 200 g of milk chocolate flakes is enough. The information for this variety lists milk and soya; check the current packaging before buying for other people.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use chocolate flakes as food while cycling?
Don’t treat chocolate flakes as a substitute for a plan for food and drink during your ride. For endurance exercise lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, World Athletics recommends 30–60 g of carbohydrates per hour, and for exercise lasting more than 2.5 hours, up to 90 g per hour; a pack of flakes won’t tell you how much you’re getting from other sources. Flakes are better suited as a topping at a planned meal before or after your ride.
Is a 300 g pack of chocolate flakes an on-the-go portion for a bike ride?
No. The 300 g packs discussed here are standard packs or boxes of bread toppings, not specially designed portions for taking on a ride. For a shared breakfast, work out how many people will be eating them; for use during your ride, choose a format that suits what you actually want to take with you.
Are dark flakes labelled vegan suitable for someone who needs to avoid milk?
Not without checking the exact variety. PLUS labels its 300 g dark chocolate flakes as vegan, but also says they may contain milk and lactose. So read the current allergen information rather than relying on the vegan label alone.
What should you consider when keeping flakes for several cyclists?
Follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the pack you choose. PLUS also says to store its dark flakes in a cool, dark place. When serving them, consider the conditions in which the chocolate flakes are kept so you can serve them as planned.