Choose a biscuit based on what the packaging tells you about the chocolate, as well as the portion you want to take with you: the amount of dark chocolate in a biscuit is not the same as the cocoa percentage of that chocolate. A pre-portioned pack or a portion you seal yourself is practical for your gym bag. Also check the allergens and nutritional information on the current label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having a normal main meal after exercise, so don’t treat a biscuit as a replacement for one.
You want to know exactly what the packaging says about the chocolate. Albert Heijn describes its AH Zaans huisje dark chocolate biscuits as ‘With 63% dark chocolate’; that proportion in the biscuit is not automatically the cocoa percentage of the chocolate.
You want to avoid biscuits rattling around loose in your bag. According to Jumbo’s product information, LU Scholiertje Puur comes in packs of two. If you’re taking biscuits from a multipack, you’ll need to pack a portion separately yourself.
You want to check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information before buying. The EU’s Your Europe portal explains what information should appear on prepacked foods; always check the current packaging before making your choice.
First decide whether information about the dark chocolate or the convenience of taking a portion with you matters most. Then compare the label on the exact pack you’re buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Dark flavour | Check whether the pack gives a cocoa percentage or only states the proportion of dark chocolate in the biscuit. | If you’re mainly looking for a bold dark flavour, don’t rely on the product name alone. For around 42% of consumers, being able to verify information about the chocolate would be the top priority. |
| Portion size and packaging | Check whether the biscuits are individually portioned, how much a portion weighs and how to store an opened pack. | If I’m putting a biscuit in my gym bag, I want to know in advance how much I’m taking with me. For around 33% of consumers, a practical portion would come first. |
| Allergens and nutritional information | Read the allergens on the current label and compare sugars, saturated fat and fibre per 100 g or per portion. | If you need to avoid certain ingredients or want to compare biscuits as part of your usual diet, you’ll need clear label information. This would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn, Jumbo and the other product pages mentioned give different proportions of dark chocolate or chocolate pieces. Those percentages don’t necessarily tell you how much cocoa the chocolate itself contains.
If the cocoa percentage is important to your choice of flavour, look for it explicitly on the current packaging.
Once a pack is open, you’ll need to decide how many biscuits to take with you and how to store the rest. For example, Jumbo advises resealing its Chocolate Cookies securely after opening.
Pack your chosen portion in a resealable container, or choose a product that is clearly portion-packed.
The biscuits described have different ingredients and allergen information. A description such as ‘dark chocolate’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy.
For every new pack, read the full ingredients list, allergen information and any warning about the possible presence of other allergens.
A biscuit to eat on the go and food after exercise don’t necessarily serve the same purpose. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having a normal main meal after exercise.
Choose a biscuit for its flavour and plan the rest of what you eat separately.
AH Zaans huisje dark chocolate biscuits are worth considering if you want to compare products with a specific claim about their dark chocolate.
Jumbo Chocolate Cookies are an option if you’re looking for cookies with pieces of dark chocolate.
LU Scholiertje Puur combines a biscuit with dark chocolate in a pre-portioned pack.
McVitie's Digestives Dark Chocolate is a wheat biscuit with a layer of dark chocolate, not a chocolate chip cookie.
These biscuits are options to consider when choosing a chocolate biscuit for your gym bag. A flavour description in a product name doesn’t confirm the cocoa percentage, so also check the packaging for portion size and ingredients.
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If you want to take Scholiertje Chocolate with you, this is the 150 g variety. For this Joybuy product, check the type of chocolate, portion packaging and allergens on the pack.
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A 70 g pack for anyone who wants to take biscuits with a dark chocolate flavour with them. Check the pack to see how many biscuits are individually wrapped and exactly what it says about the chocolate and nutritional information.
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A 115 g variety for anyone looking for a dark chocolate flavour. Before buying, compare the cocoa percentage, portion sizes and sugars shown in the nutritional information on the current pack.
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A 72 g variety with a dark chocolate flavour in the product name. Check whether the pack contains an individual portion and what it says about the chocolate and allergens.
No, a biscuit isn’t a replacement for a normal main meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having breakfast, lunch or dinner after exercise. If you like, choose a biscuit for its flavour separately from that meal.
No, ‘dark’ doesn’t give an exact cocoa percentage by itself. For example, Albert Heijn states that AH Zaans huisje contains 63% dark chocolate, while Jumbo states that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate pieces. These are proportions in the biscuit, not necessarily the cocoa percentages of the chocolate.
Check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and any storage instructions on the current pack. The EU’s Your Europe portal lists this information as part of the labelling requirements for prepacked foods. Compare nutritional values per 100 g or per portion if you’re choosing between biscuits.
Pack your chosen portion in a securely sealed container, or choose a variety that is portion-packed. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging, especially if you’ve already opened a multipack.
