People with coeliac disease who exercise
If you need to follow a strict gluten-free diet, checking the current packaging comes before choosing based on taste or brand. Look for the gluten-free label, any warnings and details of other allergens.
Who are these options relevant to?
People who exercise soon after eating
If you want a small snack before you head out, portion size and timing matter. The Voedingscentrum advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise.
Planners who bake their own
Baking your own lets you choose the ingredients and portion size, provided you check that every ingredient is gluten-free and prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, check that the specific speculaas is suitable for your gluten-free diet. Then consider how soon you’ll be training, the portion size and how much effort buying or preparing it will take.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status | Read the gluten-free label and any warnings on the current packaging; check the ingredients and other allergens too. | If I have coeliac disease, I need to establish that this particular speculaas fits my strict gluten-free diet. For around 50% of consumers, this is the most important thing to check when buying. |
| Portion size and timing | Compare the fat content per 100 g and consider how large your portion will be and how soon you’ll be exercising. | When my training is about to start, I’d rather have a small snack than a large portion of biscuits. This is the top consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Convenience and preparation | Check current availability; if you’re baking your own, allow time and prevent cross-contamination. | If I don’t want to find there’s none available at the last minute, I choose between a pre-packaged product and baking ahead. Around 20% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming regular speculaas is gluten-free
Joybuy’s product information lists wheat flour and wheat as an allergen for regular Lotus Biscoff biscuits. This means those biscuits don’t meet the gluten-free requirement for people with coeliac disease.
Don’t rely on a biscuit’s name or taste. Check the gluten-free label and the packaging for the specific product.
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Having a large portion just before training
The Voedingscentrum advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise. According to their product information, Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas and AH Glutenvrij Speculaas contain 18,6 g and 19 g of fat per 100 g respectively.
Choose a portion that suits the time until your training starts and what you find comfortable to eat beforehand.
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Overlooking other allergens
A gluten-free label doesn’t mean speculaas is free from egg, nuts or other allergens. Jumbo and Albert Heijn also provide information about other allergens for their gluten-free speculaas.
Read the full allergen information on the packaging every time you buy, even if you’ve bought the same product before.
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Relying on an old product listing
Jumbo says that Consenza Glutenvrije Speculaasjes is no longer part of its online range. So an existing product page doesn’t mean you can still order the biscuits.
Check availability before you count on it, and only choose an alternative after checking its current label too.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Jumbo Lekker Vrij
Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas in a 125 g pack, with a gluten-free label and a crossed-grain symbol on the product page.
- The specific product listing gives you details to look for on the current packaging.
- Jumbo says this speculaas contains egg and carries warnings about other allergens. The stated fat content is 18,6 g per 100 g.
AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn lists AH Glutenvrij Speculaas in a 125 g pack and states that it is made in a fully gluten-free environment.
- The product information mentions both the gluten-free label and the production environment.
- Albert Heijn says the product contains egg, may contain nuts and sesame, and has 19 g of fat per 100 g. Check the current packaging, as product information can change.
Consenza
Jumbo has product information for Consenza Glutenvrije Speculaasjes in a 100 g pack, but says it is no longer part of its online range.
- The product listing identifies a specific gluten-free speculaas option.
- Don’t assume it’s available just because it’s listed; if you find a pack, check its ingredients and allergens again.
Lotus Biscoff
Regular Lotus Biscoff biscuits are included here as an example of what not to consider gluten-free speculaas.
- Joybuy’s product information lists wheat flour and wheat as an allergen. These regular biscuits aren’t suitable for a strict gluten-free diet.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on packaging?
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a product can be called gluten-free if it contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product. If you have coeliac disease, check the label and any warnings on the pack you’re actually buying.
Are regular Lotus Biscoff biscuits a gluten-free option?
No. Joybuy’s product information for regular Lotus Biscoff biscuits lists wheat flour and wheat as an allergen. If you follow a strict gluten-free diet, only choose a specific product after checking its current gluten-free label and any warnings.
How much speculaas should you eat just before exercise?
Just before exercising, it’s better to have a small portion than a large amount of biscuits. The Voedingscentrum advises against large portions and high-fat foods just before exercise; consider when you’re starting and what you find comfortable to eat.
What should you look out for when baking your own gluten-free speculaas?
Check that every ingredient is gluten-free and make sure crumbs from products containing gluten don’t get into the dough. Use a clean work surface and clean utensils. Plan to bake in advance rather than counting on it as a quick snack just before you leave.
Is gluten-free speculaas also free from other allergens?
No, the gluten-free label says nothing about other allergens. Jumbo lists egg and warnings about other allergens for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas; Albert Heijn lists egg and the possible presence of nuts and sesame for AH Glutenvrij Speculaas. So always read the full information on the current packaging.