An egg cake can make a handy snack before or during a bike ride. For a longer, more intense ride, though, match the carbohydrates in the portion you eat to your ride plan, and plan your drinks separately. If you want Fairtrade cocoa, check the packaging of the variant you choose to see whether it contains cocoa and what the Fairtrade mark specifically applies to. According to the product information, the standard egg cakes examined from Albert Heijn and Jumbo do not contain cocoa or chocolate.
You want to take an egg cake with you on a longer or more intense ride, and compare the portion size with the carbohydrates per serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends planning what you eat and drink around exercise.
You want to know whether any cocoa or chocolate is actually covered by a Fairtrade mark. Fairtrade International and Milieu Centraal explain that the information accompanying the mark can clarify which ingredient it applies to.
You check the ingredients in the variant you choose and consider when you plan to eat it. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje lists allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also notes that a large meal shortly before exercise can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
First, decide when you want to eat the egg cake and how much you’ll take with you. Then check the nutritional information, any Fairtrade mark and the practicality of the packaging for that specific variant.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates and portion size | Compare the carbohydrates per 100 g with the weight of the portion you’ll actually eat. Plan your drinks separately. | For a longer ride, I want to know how many carbohydrates the portion I take with me provides and how it fits into my ride plan. This planning is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Fairtrade cocoa | Check whether the ingredients include cocoa or chocolate, and read the Fairtrade logo and the accompanying ingredient information. | If Fairtrade cocoa is a deciding factor for me, I want to be able to tell whether the mark applies specifically to that ingredient. This check matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and how well it agrees with you | Read the allergen information for the variant you choose and consider when you’ll eat it before your ride. | I don’t want to discover on the road that a variant doesn’t suit my allergies or usual eating habits. For around 20% of consumers, how well it agrees with them is the main concern. |
| Taking it with you and storing it | Check the packaging and storage instructions, especially if you’re adding chocolate or want to eat the snack on the go. | I want to be able to carry and store a snack in my bike bag in a way that suits its packaging. Practicality comes first for around 10% of consumers. |
A shop that sells Fairtrade products doesn’t automatically sell Fairtrade-certified egg cakes. Milieu Centraal also explains that an ingredient mark may apply only to the ingredient named.
Check the packaging of the specific variant for the mark, the information accompanying it and whether the ingredients include cocoa or chocolate.
An egg cake provides carbohydrates, but it doesn’t replace a plan for drinking. For prolonged, intense exercise, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says it’s also important to match your intake to the length of your ride and when you eat.
Work out the carbohydrates in the portion you’ll take with you, plan your drinks separately and try the combination during a training ride first.
The egg cakes examined from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje list allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also warns that a large meal shortly before exercise can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
Read the current packaging before you buy, and don’t try a new variant for the first time on an important ride.
These product examples can help you compare labels. Information about one variant doesn’t tell you anything about the Fairtrade status of other products from the same brand.
AH Eierkoeken are a useful example of a label showing portion size, carbohydrates and ingredients.
Jumbo Eierkoeken 4 Stuks provide another product example for comparing nutritional information and allergens.
Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek is a separate variant to check for ingredients and allergens.
Yes, as long as the portion and timing fit your ride plan. For intense endurance exercise lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 30–60 g of easily absorbed carbohydrates per hour. So check the carbohydrates in the portion you’ll eat, and try it during a training ride first to see how it suits you.
Don’t assume they are based on the shop name. The product information examined for AH Eierkoeken and Jumbo Eierkoeken 4 Stuks doesn’t mention cocoa or chocolate, or list Fairtrade certification for these variants. Check the current packaging of the product you’re buying.
Read both the Fairtrade logo and the information on the packaging. Fairtrade International advises checking the ingredient information for composite products. According to Milieu Centraal, a white ingredient mark may mean that only the named ingredient, such as cocoa, is Fairtrade-certified.
No. Choose a portion that suits when you’re eating and what you’re used to. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a meal around 2 to 3 hours before exercise and notes that a large meal shortly before activity can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
