Which snack is right for you?

If you want one soft snack

An egg cake could be a good choice if you want a soft snack during a gaming session and aren’t specifically looking for a crunchy biscuit. Albert Heijn lists a 30 g portion for its classic egg cake.

If you want to compare fibre

With wholemeal egg cakes and digestives, you can compare the fibre content alongside other nutritional values. Voedingscentrum recommends comparing products per 100 g, then checking the weight of one biscuit; a higher fibre content alone says nothing about the sugars or fat in that portion.

If you prefer a crunchy biscuit

A digestive has a different texture from a soft egg cake. The Albert Heijn products in this comparison weigh 15 g per digestive portion and 30 g per egg cake portion, so check the nutritional information per biscuit too.

What should you look for when choosing?

Classic egg cake

Choose it when: you want a soft texture and like the idea of one egg cake as a portion.

The trade-off: Albert Heijn’s classic egg cake contains 1.4 g of fibre and 31 g of sugars per 100 g.

Wholemeal egg cake

Choose it when: you want a soft egg cake and are also comparing fibre content.

The trade-off: the Albert Heijn and Jumbo options in this comparison contain 3.5 g and 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g respectively, but they also contain sugars.

Classic digestive

Choose it when: a crunchy biscuit matters more to you than the soft texture of an egg cake.

The trade-off: Albert Heijn’s classic digestive contains 485 kcal and 21 g of fat per 100 g; check the portion size per biscuit too.

Wholemeal digestive

Choose it when: you want a crunchy biscuit and take fibre content into account.

The trade-off: Albert Heijn’s wholemeal digestive contains 6 g of fibre, but also 460 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 g.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Texture and size Check whether the snack is soft or crunchy, and look at the weight per biscuit. If I want one soft snack while gaming, its texture determines my choice. For around 31% of consumers, having one soft snack is the top priority.
Fibre and nutritional value Compare fibre, energy, sugars and fat per 100 g, then check the values per portion. When I’m considering a wholemeal option, I want to look beyond fibre alone. For around 31% of consumers, comparing nutritional values is the main consideration.
Crunchiness and portion size Check the product type and portion weight, especially for biscuits or snacks with a coating. I’d rather have a smaller, crunchy piece than a soft egg cake. For around 23% of consumers, crunchiness is the main reason for choosing.
Allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact option you choose. If certain ingredients are a deciding factor for me, I need to be able to check the label before choosing a snack. For around 15% of consumers, allergen information is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘wholemeal’ means low in sugars or fat

    Albert Heijn’s wholemeal digestive contains 6 g of fibre per 100 g, but also 460 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 g. So the word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you how the other nutritional values compare.

    Compare the fibre, energy, sugars, fat and salt per 100 g for the products you’re considering.

  • Looking only at the nutritional values per biscuit

    A smaller biscuit isn’t a like-for-like comparison. The individually wrapped Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek met Melklaagje weighs around 15.5 g per biscuit; Jumbo lists 42 g of sugars and 9.2 g of saturated fat per 100 g for this product.

    Use the values per biscuit to understand your portion, and the values per 100 g to compare different snacks.

  • Guessing allergens from the product name

    Ingredients vary between options: Albert Heijn’s classic egg cake lists egg, milk, soya and cereals containing gluten, among other ingredients, while the wholemeal digestive in this comparison contains wheat.

    Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you’re buying, even if you’re familiar with another product from the same brand.

Brands and own-label products compared

Albert Heijn

In this comparison, the own-label range includes classic and wholemeal egg cakes and digestives.

  • Albert Heijn lists 1.4 g of fibre per 100 g for its classic egg cake and 3.5 g for its wholemeal egg cake.
  • According to Albert Heijn, its wholemeal digestive contains 6 g of fibre, 460 kcal and 18 g of fat per 100 g. Check the current packaging before comparing products.

Jumbo

The own-label range includes a wholemeal egg cake and a wholemeal digestive: two different types of product.

  • Jumbo lists 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g for its wholemeal egg cake and 5.8 g for its wholemeal digestive.
  • The stated fat and energy values also differ. Compare these specific products per 100 g rather than drawing conclusions about the brand as a whole.

Bolletje

The Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje in this comparison are crisp snacks with a coating, not the same type of product as a standard soft egg cake.

  • Jumbo says this Bolletje option is individually wrapped; each biscuit weighs around 15.5 g.
  • The product information lists 42 g of sugars and 9.2 g of saturated fat per 100 g, and names egg, milk, soya and wheat among the allergens.

Verkade

The products in this comparison are crunchy biscuits, including Digestive Original and San Francisco Volkoren.

  • You can compare the individual nutritional tables for these two products rather than treating all Verkade biscuits as one option.
  • Albert Heijn lists 481 kcal, 21 g of fat and 1.3 g of salt per 100 g for Verkade Digestive Original; Verkade lists 6.4 g of fibre, 14.7 g of fat and 1.41 g of salt per 100 g for San Francisco Volkoren.

ALDI / Heerlijck Banket

ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken in a pack of 12, weighing 360 g.

  • The number of biscuits and the pack weight help you assess the size of each one.
  • If ingredients, allergens or nutritional values affect your choice, check the information on the packaging.

Lidl

The Lidl egg cakes described here come in a pack of 12, weighing 360 g.

  • The pack details make the number of egg cakes and the total weight clear.
  • To compare fibre, sugars or allergens, check the nutritional information and ingredients on the packaging.

Egg cakes and digestives at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a wholemeal digestive automatically a better snack choice than an egg cake?

No, it depends on the texture and nutritional values you want to compare. Per 100 g, the Albert Heijn wholemeal digestive in this comparison contains more fibre, but also more energy and fat than the Albert Heijn wholemeal egg cake. Check the weight and nutritional information per portion too.

How should I store egg cakes and digestives between gaming sessions?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you choose. For the products in this comparison, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a cool, dry place away from light. For the digestives, it also says to reseal the pack securely after opening or keep the biscuits in an airtight tin.

Is the information on the front of the pack enough to compare snacks?

No. Voedingscentrum recommends checking the nutritional table and ingredients list too, and comparing nutritional values per 100 g. Then consider the portion you’ll actually eat.

Where can I find allergen information for a packaged snack?

Check the ingredients list on the packaging of the option you’ve chosen. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, any relevant allergens must be clearly listed there; the name ‘egg cake’ or ‘digestive’ is no substitute for checking.