A plain digestive biscuit can be a small pre-workout snack if it suits you, but don’t automatically opt for a larger portion when your training session is about to start. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises avoiding large portions and foods high in fat or fibre just before exercise. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, check the full allergen information too.
You’re looking for something small to stave off hunger without having a large portion just before exercise. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking the time between eating and exercising into account, so consider the fat and fibre content too, as well as what you personally find comfortable.
You’d like to have a biscuit on days when there’s more time between your snack and training. Compare the nutritional values per 100 g with the amount you actually eat, and check the pack size and storage advice.
For example, you may need to avoid wheat, gluten, milk or soya, or want a variety with a particular composition. A label such as ‘gluten-free’ or ‘0% sugar’ doesn’t tell you which other ingredients and allergens the product contains.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a proper meal around 2 to 3 hours before exercising. If you’re also choosing a digestive biscuit as a snack, first consider how long it is until your training and how much you’ll eat. Then check the ingredients and packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Timing and stomach comfort | Check the fat and fibre per 100 g, then decide how many biscuits you plan to eat. | If I’m training soon after eating, I don’t want a large portion that feels heavy. Around 36% of consumers give the time until training and stomach comfort top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, even for a variety with a specific label. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check what else is in the biscuit besides the ingredient I’m avoiding. For around 21% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Carbohydrates and portion size | Compare the carbohydrates per 100 g with the weight of each biscuit, if this is provided. | I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to have, rather than keep eating from an open pack. Around 29% of consumers put carbohydrates and portion control first. |
| Packaging and keeping a supply | Check the pack weight, the number of biscuits if stated, and the storage advice. | If I’m buying a pack for several training days, I want to know how many portions I can get from it and how to store it. For around 14% of consumers, convenience when keeping a supply is the main consideration. |
The product name isn’t a reason to assume that a biscuit supports your digestion. Judge the product by its ingredients and nutritional information, not its name.
Before buying, read the allergen information and compare the carbohydrates, fat, fibre and portion size shown on the current label.
According to Jumbo’s product information, McVitie’s Digestives Milk Chocolate contains 23.6 g of fat and 28.5 g of sugars per 100 g. These figures matter if you’re exercising soon after your snack; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises avoiding foods high in fat just before exercise.
Compare the nutritional information for the specific variety and take the time until your training into account, rather than looking only at the type of biscuit.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains polyols. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Don’t try a new variety for the first time just before an important training session, and keep an eye on how much you eat.
For Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Milk Chocolate, Jumbo also lists milk, oats and soya as allergens, and warns that it may contain nuts. So ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent.
Check the full, current ingredients and allergen information for the variety you want to buy.
Albert Heijn lists a standard AH Digestive and an AH Digestive 0% sugar, both in a 400 g pack.
Jumbo lists a standard Crunchy Digestive and a separate Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Milk Chocolate.
Product information is available for McVitie's Digestives Original and a milk chocolate variety. Their ingredients differ.
ALDI Netherlands lists Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as classic wheat biscuits in a 400 g pack.
Lidl Netherlands lists a product called Digestives plain.
This classic digestive biscuit is worth considering when weighing up a small portion against the time until your training. Check the current packaging if the ingredients or allergens are important to you.
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A classic digestive biscuit to consider as a small snack when there’s time between eating and training.
Pack size: 400 g. Albert Heijn lists 64 g of carbohydrates, 21 g of fat and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g for McVitie's Digestives Original. The product contains wheat; it may contain milk.
A small portion may be an option if it suits you, but a digestive biscuit isn’t automatically a light choice just before exercise. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a proper meal around 2 to 3 hours before exercising and advises avoiding large portions and foods high in fat or fibre just before exercise. Consider how long it is until your training, and try a new biscuit at a more relaxed time instead.
Yes. According to Albert Heijn, AH Digestive 0% sugar contains 63 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of polyols per 100 g. The product information also warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
The standard digestive biscuits checked from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and McVitie's contain wheat, so they aren’t suitable if you avoid gluten. Look for a variety that is explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the other allergens on the current packaging too: for example, Jumbo’s gluten-free chocolate variety checked here contains milk, oats and soya.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging for your variety. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information recommends storing biscuits in a cool, dark and dry place. For an opened pack, Albert Heijn advises using a sealed tin, while Jumbo recommends closing the packaging securely.
