For chocolate sprinkles on a bike ride, individual portions are most practical if you want to take some along for a planned stop; a shaker pack isn’t a squeezy bottle. If you want to eat during a long, intensive ride, choose something you can open and portion easily on the go, and plan your drinks separately.
You want to take a measured amount for a rest stop or a snack prepared in advance, without loose sprinkles in your bag or pocket. Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter Kleintjes as individual portions.
You want to decide in advance what will be practical to eat on the go and when you’ll have a chance to stop. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses everyday foods alongside sports drinks, bars and gels for different types of exercise.
You want to read the current ingredients and allergen information before buying. Ingredients vary between chocolate sprinkle varieties; product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists milk and soya, among other things, in certain products.
First decide whether you’ll have your chocolate sprinkles before setting off, take them along for a stop or eat them during the ride. That will determine whether a shaker pack, an individual portion or another type of food is practical.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Taking it along and portioning it | Check whether the pack contains individual portions and how to open them. A shaker pack doesn’t work like a squeezy bottle. | If I take chocolate sprinkles for a rest stop, I want to be able to grab a portion without getting loose sprinkles in my bag. Around 33% of consumers prioritise mess-free carrying. |
| Eating during a long ride | Check the nutritional information per portion and decide whether you can eat the product at a suitable time; plan your drinks separately. | On a long, intensive ride, I want to know in advance what I can eat on the go, even if stopping isn’t convenient. Predictable intake is the main concern for around 42% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and portions | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and compare the stated portion size with the amount you want to take. | If I need to avoid an ingredient or measure out an amount in advance, I need information about the exact variety. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Chocolate sprinkles in a shaker pack or individual portion don’t automatically have an opening that lets you portion them without making a mess on the go.
Before buying, check the pack type, opening and closure if you want to use the product away from home. It’s best to save loose chocolate sprinkles for a planned stop or prepare them before you set off.
The value per 100 g isn’t the amount you’ll actually eat. Other foods and drinks also form part of what you take with you on a ride.
Use the nutritional information for the portion you plan to eat, and decide separately what to take to drink. Don’t automatically treat chocolate sprinkles as a sports gel.
Ingredients can vary between varieties. Milk and soya, among other things, are listed for the products described here; other ingredients may be relevant in different varieties.
Check the current label on the specific pack every time you buy it if you need to watch out for certain ingredients or allergens.
Chocolate sprinkles and other sprinkle-on bread toppings, including Kleintjes and an intensely dark variety.
Chocolate sprinkles, including a 400 g dark variety that Jumbo sells as a bread topping.
Own-brand chocolate sprinkles in a range of pack sizes.
Chocolate sprinkles that ALDI Netherlands describes as a milk or dark chocolate variety in a 300 g pack.
No. A shaker pack or portion pack doesn’t have the same opening or dispensing mechanism as a squeezy bottle. If a product is sold as a squeezy bottle, check the actual packaging, closure and instructions before choosing it for a bike ride.
Chocolate sprinkles are easier to use when you prepare a meal or snack before setting off, or can sprinkle them on during a stop. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a meal around two to three hours before exercising; what you choose to eat on the go also depends on the length of your ride and whether you’ll have a chance to eat.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who exercise don’t need a sports drink, sports bar or sports gel. These products can be practical during prolonged, intensive exercise when it’s difficult to eat ordinary food on the go; if you do choose one, check the portion size and how to use it.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack of the exact variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared have to be clearly listed in the ingredients; don’t rely on the brand name or a flavour you’ve bought before.
