For a walk, choose biscuits in small individual packs if you want to take a portion without repacking them. A larger pack of digestives is a good option if you prefer to portion them yourself and compare the nutritional information. Check the chocolate content and allergens on the packaging in either case. For a longer walk, take water and something more substantial to eat too, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
If you want a biscuit with dark rather than milk chocolate, look beyond the front of the pack. The proportion of chocolate in the biscuit and the cocoa percentage of that chocolate are two different things. Lotus Bakeries Netherlands and Jumbo list products with dark chocolate, but not every product gives both percentages.
An individual pack can be handy if you don’t want to open a whole pack for a break. Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists Lotus Biscoff with dark chocolate in a pack of 7 × 3 biscuits. With a larger pack, you can set aside a portion yourself beforehand.
If sugars, fibre, saturated fat or allergens affect your choice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the label on the pack you buy. This is especially important if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.
Start with the type of packaging you want to take with you. Then compare the chocolate content and nutritional information, and always check the latest label if you have an allergy.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions for your walk | Check how many biscuits are in each individual pack and whether you can reseal an opened pack. | If I don’t want to take the whole pack for a short break, I want to be able to grab a small portion. For around 40% of consumers, portion size is the deciding factor. |
| Dark chocolate flavour | Check what proportion of the biscuit is made up of dark chocolate and whether a cocoa percentage is given for the chocolate. | I’m mainly looking for the taste of dark chocolate and want to know how much chocolate is in the biscuit. For around 30% of consumers, this combination of flavour and ingredients comes first. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Compare sugars, fibre and saturated fat per 100 g, and check the allergen information on the pack. | If I’m comparing nutritional values or need to avoid an allergen, the label needs to suit my needs. These details matter most to around 30% of consumers. |
The word ‘dark’ describes the chocolate, not the cocoa content of the whole biscuit. Jumbo lists 30% dark chocolate in its McVitie's and Jumbo digestives.
Check the ingredients and the chocolate content. If you’re looking for a particular cocoa percentage, check whether it’s listed separately for the chocolate.
A biscuit can make a handy snack, but it won’t replace a drink or something more substantial to eat on a longer walk. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests taking a packed lunch, for example, as well as water to drink.
Think about what else you’d like to eat alongside your biscuit, and take plenty of water.
The name ‘digestive’ or ‘biscuit with dark chocolate’ doesn’t tell you which allergens the product contains. The Lotus Biscoff, McVitie's and Jumbo varieties discussed here contain wheat, milk and soya.
If you have an allergy, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the latest packaging, even if you’ve bought the product before.
A pack of digestives takes a little more preparation than individually wrapped biscuits: you’ll need to take the whole pack or set aside a portion beforehand.
Put the portion you want in a resealable container and store the rest according to the instructions on the pack.
Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists The Original Speculoos with dark chocolate in a pack of 7 × 3 biscuits. This format is a good option if you want to take a small portion with you.
The Digestives Dark Chocolate described by Jumbo combine a wheat biscuit with a layer of dark chocolate. The 266 g pack means you’ll need to portion them yourself if you don’t want to take the whole pack.
Jumbo lists both a 300 g Digestive Biscuit Dark Chocolate and Chocolate Cookies with dark chocolate pieces. A chocolate coating and chocolate pieces give you two different types of biscuit to compare.
This digestive is a good fit for walkers who want to take a portion from a larger pack and are looking for a biscuit with a layer of dark chocolate. Compare the nutritional information and check the packaging before choosing your portion.
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A digestive for anyone who wants to take a portion from a 266 g pack for a walk.
Jumbo’s product information lists 30% dark chocolate, 26,6 g of sugars and 4,3 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
Contains wheat, milk and soya. If you have an allergy, check the latest label and seal the pack securely after opening.
No. It describes the chocolate used, not how much cocoa the whole biscuit contains. Jumbo lists 30% dark chocolate for the McVitie's and Jumbo digestives discussed here. If a specific cocoa percentage matters to you, check whether it’s listed separately.
No. Treat it as a snack, and remember to take a drink and something more substantial to eat. For a day out, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests taking a packed lunch, for example, and recommends water as a drink.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the latest packaging. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, the 14 designated allergens must be clearly identified on the labels of prepacked foods. If you have an allergy, don’t rely on the product name alone.
Set aside the amount you want to take beforehand and put it in a resealable container. Seal the rest of the pack securely and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Use online information to compare products, but also read the label on the pack you receive. Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change.
