Who is this choice for?

Cyclists looking for an everyday snack

You want to have something from the supermarket during or around a gentle bike ride, without buying a sports bar or gel. The Voedingscentrum says specialist sports products are not needed for every bike ride.

Cyclists who think about when they eat

You’re planning a longer or more intense ride and want to avoid a biscuit feeling heavy just before you set off. The Voedingscentrum advises against large portions and foods high in fat, protein or fibre at that point.

Cyclists with dietary or allergen requirements

You need to check ingredients carefully. The plain digestives and kano pastries described here contain wheat; a digestive labelled gluten-free may still contain other allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide when you want to eat the biscuit. A digestive and a kano are different types of biscuit; the nutritional information and portion size of the product you choose will show you what you’ll actually be taking with you.

Plain digestive

When: if you fancy a plain biscuit and have plenty of time between your snack and an intense ride.

Consider: the plain digestives described here contain carbohydrates, but also fat and wheat. Their carbohydrate content alone doesn’t make them suitable to eat just before setting off.

Kano pastry with almond paste

When: if you fancy a larger, filled pastry as a treat when you’re not in a hurry.

Consider: a kano isn’t a digestive. The kano pastries described here are butter pastries filled with almond paste, so check the nutritional information for the full portion and check the allergens.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Carbohydrates during a long ride Compare carbohydrates per 100 g and per portion; work out how much you’ll actually take with you. On a long, intense ride, I want to know how many carbohydrates the portion I’m taking will provide. For around 40% of consumers, carbohydrate intake is the most important factor in their choice.
Stomach comfort and timing Check portion size, fat and fibre; don’t try a new biscuit for the first time just before an important ride. If I’m going cycling intensely soon after eating, I don’t want to choose a large portion that could feel heavy; for around 30% of consumers, how well a food sits is the priority.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current label for wheat and any other allergens that matter to you; don’t rely on the product name alone. If I need to avoid an ingredient, the biscuit I choose must suit my dietary restriction. Checking ingredients is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.
Everyday snack Compare the portion size and nutritional information of a plain biscuit with those of a filled kano pastry. For a gentle ride, I’m mainly looking for a biscuit I enjoy eating, without thinking of it as sports nutrition; for around 10% of consumers, that everyday snack choice is the deciding factor.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a kano for a digestive

    The kano pastries described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo are filled butter pastries with almond paste, not plain digestive biscuits. So you’re not comparing like with like.

    Choose a kano as a filled snack, and check the nutritional information for the whole portion before eating one around a ride.

  • Having a large portion just before setting off

    The Voedingscentrum says that large portions and foods high in fat, protein or fibre may feel less comfortable just before exercise.

    Leave enough time between eating and cycling intensely, keep a late snack small, and try a new choice during an ordinary training ride.

  • Assuming ‘0% sugar’ means it’s a good choice for cycling

    The sugar-free digestive described here contains polyols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The Voedingscentrum notes that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.

    Check the nutritional information and don’t try a large amount for the first time during a long ride.

  • Relying only on ‘gluten-free’ or the product name

    The plain digestives and kano pastries described here contain wheat. According to the product information, Schär’s chocolate digestive labelled gluten-free contains milk and soya.

    If you have a food allergy or another diagnosed dietary restriction, always check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you choose.

Brands compared

These examples show why you can’t compare a plain digestive, a filled kano and a specialist variety by name alone. The nutritional values given apply to the products described, not to the whole brand.

Verkade

Verkade Digestive Original is a plain digestive made with wheat.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety contains 63 g of carbohydrates and 3.6 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The variety described contains wheat and 21 g of fat per 100 g; if you have a milk allergy, check the information on the current packaging too.

McVitie’s

The McVitie’s Digestives Original multipack described here comes as two 400 g rolls.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information lists 64 g of carbohydrates and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The biscuits described contain wheat and 21 g of fat per 100 g. A larger pack doesn’t change the considerations around when you eat them.

Albert Heijn

The range described includes plain digestives, a sugar-free variety and butter kano pastries: different products with different labels.

  • The plain AH Digestive lists 66 g of carbohydrates per 100 g; the AH butter kano is a filled pastry.
  • The sugar-free digestive described contains 14 g of polyols per 100 g and warns of a laxative effect if consumed in excess. Check the allergens for the kano separately.

Schär

According to PLUS’s product information, Schär Digestive Chocolate is labelled gluten-free and wheat-free.

  • This product label is relevant if you’re specifically looking for a gluten-free digestive.
  • The chocolate variety described contains milk and soya. The gluten-free label doesn’t mean it’s suitable for people with those allergies, or say whether it’s a good choice around a ride.

Joybuy products to consider

When browsing Joybuy, compare plain digestive biscuits with filled pastries and gluten-free alternatives. Check each product’s portion size, nutritional information and allergen details to find an option that suits your ride and dietary needs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I have a digestive while cycling instead of a sports bar?

A digestive can make an everyday snack, but it isn’t automatically a substitute for sports nutrition on a long, intense ride. The Voedingscentrum says specialist sports products aren’t needed for every ride; during prolonged exercise, you should also consider your desired carbohydrate intake, staying hydrated and how well the biscuit you choose sits.

Is a kano the same as a digestive?

No. The kano pastries described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo are filled butter pastries with almond paste, while the plain digestives described here are wheat biscuits. So compare the portion size, ingredients and nutritional information of each individual product.

Is a digestive labelled ‘0% sugar’ a better choice for a bike ride?

Not necessarily: the sugar-free digestive described here contains polyols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The Voedingscentrum points out that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems, so check the label and don’t try a new snack for the first time during an important ride.

What should I check on the label if I have a food allergy?

Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact biscuit you want to eat. The plain digestives and kano pastries described here contain wheat, while a variety labelled gluten-free may still contain other allergens, such as milk or soya.

Do I need a gluten-free digestive if I don’t have to avoid gluten?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, people without coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or diagnosed gluten sensitivity don’t need to eat gluten-free. If you do need to avoid gluten, check the label on the specific product and read the information about other allergens too.