Who is this choice relevant to?

Runners with a regular training breakfast

You’re looking for a breakfast you can repeat on training days. It matters whether you buy porridge oats as a breakfast food or chocolate flakes as a bread topping for another meal.

Runners who eat shortly before setting off

You can adjust the timing, portion size and contents of your whole meal to suit what feels comfortable when you run. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large meal just before exercise.

Runners looking for something to eat on the go

For a long, intensive run, you’ll want fuel you can carry and use while running. Chocolate flakes as a bread topping and porridge oats as a breakfast food are different choices for this purpose from a sports gel or bar.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’re looking for flakes for an everyday breakfast, a meal shortly before a run or fuel to take with you. Each occasion brings different practical considerations.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Everyday breakfast Check whether you’re buying porridge oats as a breakfast food or chocolate flakes as a bread topping. Look at the portion size and nutritional information for the variety you choose. For my regular training breakfast, I’m looking for a breakfast food, not just a sweet bread topping. That basic meal is a priority for around 44% of consumers.
Eating before a run Consider the timing, portion size and fat, protein and fibre content of the whole meal. Try the combination on a training day first. If I eat shortly before a run, I want to know which meal and portion size I can tolerate well. For around 33% of consumers, how well a meal sits comes first.
Fuel on the go For a long, intensive run, consider whether you can carry the food and eat it while running. Try your chosen sports gel or bar beforehand, too. On a long run, I want to be able to carry and use something without stopping. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this practical need.

Common mistakes

  • Treating chocolate flakes and porridge oats as the same product

    The fact that both are called flakes tells you little about how they’re used: chocolate flakes are sold as a bread topping, while porridge oats are a breakfast food.

    First decide what you want to use the flakes for, then compare varieties within that product type.

  • Having an untested meal just before a run

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a large meal just before exercise can cause stomach problems. The portion size and contents of the whole meal matter too, not just the topping or flakes you choose.

    Have a regular meal earlier, and try any meal you plan to eat around a long run during a training session first.

  • Assuming the range or label will stay the same

    Product information and ranges can change. Lidl lists the chocolate flakes covered in this article as available in store only.

    Check the current packaging, ingredients and local availability if a particular variety is important to your choice.

Brands and supermarket ranges at a glance

Jumbo

Jumbo stocks both chocolate flakes and wholegrain porridge oats. This lets you choose between a bread topping and a breakfast food within the same range.

  • The range includes Jumbo Dark Chocolate Flakes, 300 g, as well as coarse and fine porridge oats.
  • Check the nutritional information for the specific variety you want to buy.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn stocks chocolate flakes and its own-brand wholegrain porridge oats, including AH Wholegrain Coarse Porridge Oats, 500 g.

  • You can choose between a bread topping and porridge oats for breakfast.
  • Check the current label when you buy: Albert Heijn notes that product information can change.

PLUS

PLUS provides nutritional information and a Nutri-Score of E for its 300 g dark chocolate flakes. This score doesn’t describe the product as a complete training meal.

  • The product information lets you check the stated nutritional values per 100 g.
  • Consider the portion size and the rest of the meal, too, and check the current label.

ALDI / Kiekeboe

ALDI stocks Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in milk and dark varieties, both in 300 g packs.

  • The varieties are clearly labelled as chocolate flakes for bread.
  • Check in-store availability before counting on a specific variety.

Lidl

Lidl lists 300 g packs of milk chocolate flakes as an in-store product.

  • The product type and pack size are stated.
  • Lidl says this item is available in store only; check the label on the variety there.

De Ruijter

De Ruijter is an option if you’re specifically looking for chocolate flakes as a bread topping.

  • Jumbo states that De Ruijter Royaal Chocolate Flakes, 240 g, contain at least 40% cocoa solids.
  • That product specification doesn’t say whether they’re suitable as fuel while running.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can chocolate flakes replace sports nutrition during a marathon?

Chocolate flakes are a bread topping, not a practical all-purpose substitute for fuel on the go. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists sports gels and bars as possible options during prolonged, intensive exercise. Try a product during a training session first to see whether it works for you.

When should I eat a meal with flakes before training?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises eating a regular meal around two to three hours before exercise. Avoid a large portion just before running, and consider the fat, protein and fibre content of the whole meal.

What should I check on the label if allergens are important?

Check the allergen information on the current packaging of the pre-packed product. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must appear on the label. Check the ingredients for the specific variety, too.

Can dark chocolate flakes carry a milk warning?

Yes. PLUS states that its dark chocolate flakes may contain milk and lactose. Don’t rely on the word ‘dark’ alone; check the allergen information on the pack you buy.