Cyclists with limited bag space
If you don’t want to take an opened pack with you, check how many biscuits come in each packet. Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 as ten packets, each containing two biscuits.
Which portion is right for you?
Cyclists who want to take one larger snack
An individually wrapped slice of ontbijtkoek may suit you if you want to choose a larger portion in advance. Albert Heijn lists Peijnenburg plain Ontbijtkoek 10-pack as ten individually wrapped slices weighing 28 g each.
Cyclists who consider when they eat and check the label
If you’re eating shortly before a ride or need to take allergens into account, portion size, ingredients and the label are key. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against choosing a large portion or a product high in fat, protein or fibre just before exercise.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide when you want to eat your snack. Then compare the contents of one packet or slice, and read the nutritional information and allergen details on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion and packaging | Compare the number of biscuits per packet or the weight of a slice; also check that the wrapper is intact. | If I’m putting a snack in my cycling bag, I want to know in advance how much I’m taking without having to open a large pack. For around 45% of consumers, packaging and portion size are the top priorities. |
| When you eat it and what it contains | Check the portion size and the fat and fibre content per 100 g and per portion. | If you want to eat shortly before setting off, look for a portion that suits the timing and what you can tolerate. Around 36% of consumers say that when they eat is their main priority. |
| Allergens and labelling | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement on the packet. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, convenient packaging can’t replace checking the label. For around 19% of consumers, this check is their top priority when buying. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘individually wrapped’ means one biscuit per packet
A packet may contain several biscuits. Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL as two biscuits per packet; Albert Heijn lists Peijnenburg plain as one 28 g slice per pack.
Check both the number of items and the weight of the portion you’ll actually be taking with you.
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Judging only by size just before setting off
A small packet doesn’t tell you everything about what’s inside. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large portions and foods high in fat, protein or fibre may be less comfortable just before exercise.
Compare the nutritional information and try a new snack during an easy training session first, so you can work out what portion and timing suit you.
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Treating a ‘less sugar’ claim as the whole story
A statement about sugars doesn’t tell you by itself how much you’ll eat per portion, or what the other nutritional values and allergens are.
Read the full nutritional information on the current packaging and compare products on the same basis: per 100 g and per portion.
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Checking allergens only on a product page
Different product variants may contain different ingredients and allergens. Jumbo lists wheat and soya for Lotus Biscoff XL; Albert Heijn lists rye and gluten for Peijnenburg plain, and warns that other allergens may be present.
Before eating, check the allergen information on the packet you have with you.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Lotus Biscoff
The speculoos range comes in several pack formats. Jumbo lists the XL 2P x 10 variant as ten packets containing two biscuits each; Albert Heijn also lists a dispenser of individually wrapped biscuits.
- The XL variant gives you a set portion of two biscuits.
- Jumbo lists 19 g of fat per 100 g for this variant, and wheat and soya as allergens. When choosing a snack, especially just before a ride, consider the portion and timing.
Peijnenburg
According to Albert Heijn, the plain Ontbijtkoek 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
- The weight of each slice makes it easy to see how much you’re taking with you.
- Albert Heijn lists rye and gluten, and says that milk and nuts may be present. A whole slice won’t necessarily suit everyone just before a ride.
Goud Gebakken
ALDI lists these Koekhappers as six individually wrapped cakes, available in several varieties.
- The individual wrapping lets you take one cake without opening the whole pack.
- Compare the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the variety you choose.
Biscotto
ALDI lists chocolate biscuits in this range, packaged in pairs.
- A two-biscuit packet may suit you if you want to take that amount with you.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the specific pack before choosing it for a ride.
Biscuit-style snacks on Joybuy
These products are worth considering if you want to take a biscuit-style snack on your bike. For each product, check whether the individual packaging, portion size and ingredients suit when you plan to eat it; a multipack isn’t necessarily individually wrapped by the biscuit.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas biscuits, 8 pieces, 200 g
If you want to take speculaas biscuits with you and decide on your portion in advance, this could be an option. The product name states that the pack contains 8 pieces and weighs 200 g; check how many biscuits are in each individual packet.
If you have allergies, read the latest ingredients and allergen information.
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Lu Scholiertje milk chocolate biscuits, 150 g
If you’re considering chocolate biscuits as a snack to take with you, this could be an option. The pack weighs 150 g; check how many individual portions it contains and the weight of each portion.
If you’re eating just before a ride, compare the fat content per 100 g and per portion, and read the allergen information.
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Oreo raspberry and blueberry sandwich biscuits, 97 g, 2 packets
If you want to take one of the two individual packets with you, this could be an option. The total pack weighs 97 g; check the weight and number of biscuits in each packet if you want to choose a precise portion.
If you have allergies, read the latest label.
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NABATI strawberry wafers, 12 × 27 g
If you want to take a wafer in a portion size you’ve chosen in advance, this could be an option. The product name states 12 × 27 g; check the packaging to see whether each piece is individually wrapped.
Use the nutritional information on the current pack to compare it with other options for your cycling plans, and check the allergens.
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Ulker Halley Mini biscuits, 3 × 77 g
If you’re considering a multipack of biscuits to take with you, this could be an option. The product name states 3 × 77 g; check the packaging to see how many biscuits are in an individual portion.
Before choosing this snack for a ride, check the nutritional information and allergens on the latest label.
Frequently asked questions
Are individually wrapped biscuits automatically suitable for cycling?
No. Individual packets make snacks easier to carry and portions easier to plan, but they don’t tell you whether the snack suits the timing or what it contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against choosing a large portion or a product high in fat, protein or fibre just before exercise, so check the label too.
What should I look for on the label if I need to avoid allergens?
Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packet itself. According to the European Union, pre-packed foods must include information such as allergen and nutritional details; always check the variant you’re actually taking with you.
Can a biscuit replace all my food and drink on a long bike ride?
No. Don’t treat a biscuit as a substitute for your entire eating and drinking plan during prolonged, intense exercise. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also emphasises the importance of drinking enough when exercising; think of a biscuit as just one possible part of what you take with you.
How should I carry individually wrapped biscuits in a cycling bag?
Take packets with their wrappers intact, and check the use-by date and storage instructions on the label. That way, you can keep your chosen portion separate without opening a larger pack.