Choose a pack whose contents you’ll actually use: if it contains four currant buns, that’s two; if it contains six, that’s three. If you’re eating shortly before a workout, also check the weight of each bun and keep your portion small. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises that a large or high-fibre portion is less suitable just before exercise. Mini raisin buns offer smaller individual portions, but they’re a different product from currant buns.
If you want to eat something small shortly before exercising, the weight of each bun and the time until your workout matter more than the number of buns in the pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large portion just before exercise.
If you’re shopping for one or two people, the number of buns determines whether half a pack is a practical amount. For its pack of eight, PLUS also explains how to freeze some of the buns.
Portion weight, fibre and ingredients vary between products. So compare the nutritional information and allergen details for the product you want to buy, rather than relying on the name on the front of the pack.
First decide how many buns you want to eat at a time and how much of the pack you’ll use. Then compare the portion weight and the label for the exact product.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion just before exercise | Check the weight of each bun and how long it is until your workout. | If I eat shortly before exercising, I don’t want to have a larger portion than suits me at that moment. Portion size is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Using half a pack | Work out how many buns are in half a pack and read the storage instructions. | In a small household, I want to know whether we’ll eat the remaining buns in time or whether they can be frozen. Minimising food waste is the biggest consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Nutritional value per portion | Compare the weight of each bun with the carbohydrate and fibre content per portion or per 100 g. | If I’m comparing smaller and larger buns, I don’t want to treat their nutritional value as the same. Around 21% of consumers give this comparison top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the product you’ve chosen. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label determines whether a pack is suitable for me. This is the first consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
The Albert Heijn wholemeal currant bun described here weighs 75 g and contains 6.1 g of fibre per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against having a large portion or a high-fibre product just before exercise.
Choose an amount and mealtime that work for you. It may be better to save a larger portion for when you have more time before exercising.
The packs reviewed contain four, six or eight currant buns; Albert Heijn’s mini raisin buns come in a pack of nine. The weight of each bun also varies.
Check both the number of buns and the portion weight. Half a pack of nine minis is four or five buns, not a fixed portion of four and a half.
A pack of eight only suits your needs if you eat the buns in time or store them as instructed. For its pack of eight, PLUS advises freezing the buns at home on the day of purchase and using them within one month.
Before buying, decide how much you’ll use straight away and check the pack’s storage instructions for the rest.
The Jumbo currant buns described here and PLUS’s pack of six list ingredients including wheat and milk derivatives. Similar product names don’t mean the ingredients and allergens are the same.
Check the current ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack before eating the product.
The differences below apply to the products mentioned, not to each brand’s entire range.
For the wholemeal variety described here, Albert Heijn lists four currant buns weighing 75 g each. Its other variety comes in a pack of nine mini raisin buns weighing 40 g each.
The Jumbo Raisin Currant Buns pack described here contains six buns weighing 65 g each.
PLUS describes both a pack of six currant buns and a pack of eight with instructions for freezing.
ALDI describes its raisin and currant buns as coming in a pack of six.
Start with the weight of one bun and how long it is until your workout, rather than automatically eating half a pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against having a large portion or a product high in fat, protein or fibre just before exercise. Try your chosen amount during a regular training session.
Two buns from a pack of four, three from a pack of six and four from a pack of eight. The pack of nine mini raisin buns described here is a different product; half of it is four or five buns.
Follow the instructions on the exact pack. For its pack of eight currant buns, PLUS says you can freeze them at home on the day of purchase and use them within one month.
Read the ingredients list for the exact variety. The Albert Heijn varieties described here list iodised salt, but that doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in other currant buns.
