Choose a dark chocolate spritz biscuit for its flavour, as a snack well before or after a training session—not as regular fuel during a long run. According to the product information, AH Choco spritsen contain 56 g of carbohydrate and 32 g of fat per 100 g; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating high-fat products shortly before exercise. If you want to plan your carbohydrate intake during prolonged, intense exercise, you could consider sports gels or bars and try your chosen approach during training first.
You’re looking for a dark chocolate spritz biscuit to enjoy as a snack outside your running routine. Albert Heijn describes AH Choco spritsen as butter spritz biscuits with 15% dark chocolate; this percentage doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the chocolate contains.
You don’t want to eat a snack right before a long run if it might feel heavy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises avoiding large portions and foods high in fat, protein or fibre shortly before exercise.
You want to know how many carbohydrates you’ll get per portion during a long, intense training session. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists sports gels and bars as possible aids during prolonged, intense exercise; try your choice during training first.
First decide whether you want a spritz biscuit for its flavour as a snack outside your run, or as a source of carbohydrates during a long run.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Digestion and timing | Check the portion size and the amount of fat per portion; try eating it at different times during a training session. | If I eat something shortly before a run, I want to bear in mind what my stomach can tolerate. This is the top priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Carbohydrates per portion | Compare the carbohydrates per portion and how much you’d need to take with you on a run. | For a long run, I want to be able to plan the carbohydrates in each portion I take with me. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Dark chocolate flavour | Look for dark chocolate in the ingredients list; check whether a cocoa percentage is stated if that matters to your choice. | I’m mainly looking for a dark chocolate spritz biscuit to enjoy as a snack, not as fuel on the go. This flavour is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn states that AH Choco spritsen contain 15% dark chocolate. This is the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit, not the cocoa percentage of that chocolate.
If a particular cocoa content is essential, check whether the packaging states the percentage.
According to the product information, AH Choco spritsen contain 56 g of carbohydrate and 32 g of fat per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating high-fat products shortly before exercise.
So check both figures for the portion you plan to eat, rather than judging the biscuit on its carbohydrate content alone.
How a product, portion and timing work for you while running varies from person to person.
Try your chosen combination of food and drink during a longer training session first, as Science2Move also advises when planning your marathon nutrition strategy.
Albert Heijn describes AH Choco spritsen as butter spritz biscuits made with 15% dark chocolate.
Verkade NoboSprits Melk is a milk chocolate version; Verkade states that it contains 15% milk chocolate.
Jumbo Roomboter Spritsen provide a point of comparison with a plain spritz biscuit without a chocolate coating.
PLUS lists both plain spritz biscuits and Chocolade sprits Fairtrade.
Don’t use a dark chocolate spritz biscuit as your regular fuel on the go without trying it first. According to the product information, AH Choco spritsen contain 56 g of carbohydrate and 32 g of fat per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating high-fat products shortly before exercise and lists sports gels and bars as possible aids during prolonged, intense exercise.
A spritz biscuit is better suited to an ordinary snack well before or after a training session than to trying a new product just before you set off. If you want to eat one closer to your run, try the portion and timing during a training session first.
Read the ingredients list, nutritional information and allergen information on the packaging. To choose between dark and milk chocolate, check which type of chocolate is listed. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that allergens must be clearly shown on the label.
No, the product name alone doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage. Check the percentage on the packaging if a high cocoa content is essential; also look at the difference between a layer of dark chocolate and milk chocolate.
