Choose a small, individually wrapped chocolate biscuit if you want something convenient to take with you just before exercise, and the portion size and ingredients suit you. The wrapper makes it easy to carry, but says nothing about the nutritional value or how comfortable the biscuit will feel during exercise. If you have two to three hours to spare, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a regular meal before exercising.
You want something to take with you in case you get hungry, without eating a large portion just before your workout. Check the weight of each biscuit, the nutritional information and what you personally find comfortable to eat.
An individual wrapper is handy for your gym bag or when you’re out and about. Check the packaging to make sure each biscuit is individually wrapped; this isn’t necessarily the case with every chocolate biscuit.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging matter more than a familiar brand name or product photo.
Start by considering how long it is until your workout and the portion size; then decide whether you need an individual wrapper. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a regular meal around two to three hours before exercise and advises against large portions just before you start.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Timing and how well you tolerate it | Check the weight of each biscuit and compare the fat and fibre content on the label. | If I’m exercising soon after eating, I want a small portion that I find comfortable to eat. Roughly 42% of consumers put this need first. |
| Individual wrapping | Check whether it says ‘individually wrapped’ and how much an individual portion weighs. | When I’m out and about, I want to be able to take a sealed biscuit with me, rather than an opened pack in my bag. For around 33% of consumers, this easy-to-carry portion is the top priority. |
| Label information | Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare similar biscuits by nutritional value per 100 g. | If I have an allergy or want to compare products carefully, I need to be able to see what I’m buying on the current packaging. This information comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
An individual wrapper doesn’t change the portion size or ingredients. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large portions and foods high in fat, protein or fibre may feel less comfortable just before exercise.
First consider when you’ll be exercising and how much you can comfortably eat; then look at the packaging.
A selection may contain chocolate in only some of the biscuits. For example, Jumbo described a Lotus selection containing different types of biscuits.
Check which varieties are included before choosing a mixed pack.
The portion size on one label may weigh a different amount from the portion on another. This means the stated values per portion aren’t always directly comparable.
As the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends, compare similar biscuits per 100 g first, then check the weight of the biscuit you want to take with you.
Ingredients can vary between products and varieties. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the clear labelling of relevant allergens on pre-packed food.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging every time you buy.
A brand to consider if you’re looking for individually wrapped biscuits.
Its range includes chocolate biscuit products.
Its own-brand chocolate biscuits offer a way to compare different products.
Lidl’s biscuit and cookie brand.
This selection includes a chocolate biscuit, a wafer and biscuit sticks. Compare the product type and pack weight, and check the individual wrapping, portion size and current label information before choosing.
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A wafer to consider if you’d like to take a small pack with you instead of a chocolate biscuit. The pack weighs 16.5 g; check the wrapper and the ingredients and allergen information on the current product.
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For anyone looking for a chocolate biscuit to take with them. The pack weighs 150 g; before deciding whether it’s suitable just before your workout, check how many biscuits come in individual wrappers and how much each portion weighs.
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A biscuit stick option for anyone who isn’t looking for a traditional chocolate biscuit. The pack weighs 47 g; check how many sticks are in an individual portion and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
A small chocolate biscuit can be a convenient snack if you’re hungry and find it comfortable to eat, but it won’t suit everyone or every workout. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating a regular meal around two to three hours before exercise and warns against large portions just before you start.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, sports bars and gels are generally unnecessary for exercise lasting less than an hour. A chocolate biscuit isn’t essential either; choose a small snack only if it suits your appetite, timing and tolerance.
Look for a clear statement such as ‘individually wrapped’ on the current packaging, and check how many individual portions the pack contains. With a selection pack, it’s also worth checking which types of biscuits are included in those portions.
Compare similar biscuits per 100 g first, so differences in the stated portion sizes don’t skew the comparison. Then check the nutritional information per portion or the weight of one biscuit to work out how much you’ll actually be taking with you.
