After exercising, choose a chocolate biscuit with verifiable Fairtrade cocoa if you fancy a small treat, not as a meal replacement. Check the packaging to see which ingredients the Fairtrade claim applies to, and compare the portion size, ingredients and nutritional information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a regular main meal after exercise.
You fancy something sweet after the gym and want to know that the cocoa or chocolate carries a clear Fairtrade label. If a biscuit contains several ingredients, check the packaging to see exactly what the claim applies to. Fairtrade International advises checking the information on the back when a Fairtrade logo with an arrow is shown.
You’re looking for a small treat and want to decide in advance how much to have. Albert Heijn’s product information lists a portion of around 30 g for two Verkade Lange Nekken biscuits and around 16,7 g for one Verkade Chocorondje.
You’re wondering whether a biscuit after training fits with what you want to eat at that time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a regular main meal after exercise, so choose a chocolate biscuit as an extra treat, not as a meal replacement.
First decide whether you want a meal or a small treat. If you choose a biscuit, check the Fairtrade information on the packaging, then compare the portion size and ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for the Fairtrade mark or an explicit reference to Fairtrade cocoa. For a product with several ingredients, check which ones the claim covers; Fairtrade International advises looking at the packaging text. | I want a chocolate biscuit where I can check whether the cocoa was sourced under Fairtrade terms. For around 46% of consumers, this verifiable claim would be their main concern when buying. |
| When to eat after exercise | Decide whether it’s time for your regular meal or whether you’re just after a treat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a regular main meal after exercise. | After training, I don’t want to mistake a biscuit for a meal. Whether the snack suits the occasion would be the main consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Portion size and ingredients | Compare the stated portion with the nutritional information per 100 g, and read the current allergen information on the packaging. | I want to decide in advance how much biscuit to have and know exactly what it contains. For around 18% of consumers, this would be their first consideration. |
Words such as ‘sustainable’ or ‘fair’ don’t automatically tell you which ingredients are certified. Fairtrade International explains that when a product carries a Fairtrade logo with an arrow, you should read the back of the packaging to find out about its ingredients and sourcing.
Look for a specific Fairtrade mark or a reference to Fairtrade cocoa, and check the information on the packaging.
A Fairtrade claim tells you about the sourcing of ingredients, not the role of the biscuit in your diet. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a regular main meal after exercise.
Decide first whether you want a meal; only choose a chocolate biscuit as a small treat on the side.
Comparing products per 100 g gives you a like-for-like basis, but it may not reflect how much you actually eat. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the stated portion sizes also differ for Verkade Lange Nekken and Chocorondjes.
Check both the nutritional information per 100 g and the portion size, then decide how much you want to have.
A name such as milk chocolate doesn’t tell you which other ingredients or possible traces are listed on the packaging. Ingredients and allergen information vary between biscuit varieties.
Before buying, check the current packaging for the exact variety you’ve chosen.
Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade cocoa for the Verkade chocolate biscuits reviewed, including Lange Nekken and Choco s'mores.
Albert Heijn provides product information for the Verkade biscuits mentioned and also explains its own cocoa sourcing policy for own-brand products.
ALDI describes the certification of cocoa in its products and lists Fairtrade for a Moser Roth chocolate bar.
Lidl explains how cocoa in its own-brand products is certified as part of its sourcing policy.
Not automatically. Fairtrade International advises checking the back of a product with several ingredients when it carries a Fairtrade logo with an arrow. This will tell you what the claim says about the ingredients and sourcing.
No. Don’t choose a chocolate biscuit as a replacement for a regular main meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a regular meal after exercise; you can have a biscuit as a small treat alongside it.
Your overall diet deserves extra attention during prolonged or intensive endurance training. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses carbohydrates in this context, but that doesn’t automatically make a chocolate biscuit a suitable meal replacement.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for the exact variety. The Verkade biscuits on Albert Heijn’s product pages have different ingredients, so don’t rely on the brand name or type of chocolate alone.
