Gamers who want to snack strictly sugar-free
You want to choose a sweet snack that can genuinely be described as sugar-free. In that case, the amount of sugars per 100 g is what matters, not just a claim on the front of the pack.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Gamers looking for a replacement for a biscuit break
You’re looking for something sweet to eat while gaming, but you also want to assess the portion size, nutritional value, ingredients and any polyols.
Gamers who regularly have a snack between meals
You don’t necessarily need a biscuit alternative. Fruit, vegetable sticks, unsalted nuts and wholemeal bread are other snacks recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether sugar-free is a strict requirement, or whether you’re mainly looking to replace a sweet biscuit break. If you often get hungry while gaming, you could also consider a different kind of snack.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly sugar-free | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a product labelled ‘sugar-free’ must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I really want to snack sugar-free, ‘no added sugars’ isn’t enough for me. Around 45% of consumers prioritise this strict sugar limit. |
| A sweet biscuit break | Compare the portion size and energy per portion; if the biscuits contain polyols, check the ingredients too. | I want to be able to grab something sweet while gaming, even if it isn’t a kano pastry. For around 33% of consumers, an easy biscuit alternative like this is the priority. |
| A regular snack between meals | Also consider fruit, vegetable sticks, unsalted nuts or wholemeal bread. For packaged products, compare the nutritional information. | When I often get hungry between meals, I don’t always want a sweet biscuit. This wider choice of snacks is the priority for around 22% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
These are different claims. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, ‘sugar-free’ means a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml.
For a packaged biscuit, check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.
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Assuming every kano pastry is sugar-free
According to Albert Heijn, AH BASIC Kano’s contain 38 g of sugars per 100 g, and sugar is listed first in the ingredients. That doesn’t necessarily apply to every other recipe.
Check the ingredients and nutrition table for the specific kano pastry you’re planning to buy.
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Treating a sugar-free biscuit as an unlimited snack
Céréal states that its Chocolate Chip Cookies contain 0 g of sugars, 26 g of polyols and 414 kcal per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that a high intake of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea.
Compare the amount you plan to eat with the stated portion size, and check the rest of the nutritional information too.
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Relying only on the front of the pack
A claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar, fat or fibre a product contains overall. That’s why the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also recommends checking the ingredients list and nutrition table.
Compare packaged snacks per 100 g, then consider how much you want to eat in one sitting.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
AH BASIC Kano’s are traditional kano pastries with almond paste, not an example of a sugar-free biscuit.
- Albert Heijn lists the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for this variety.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH BASIC Kano’s contain 38 g of sugars per 100 g, with sugar listed as the first ingredient.
Jumbo
Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter are traditional butter biscuits with almond paste.
- Jumbo describes this variety as a butter biscuit containing 38% almond paste.
- If you’re following a strict sugar limit, check the nutritional information on the pack before considering this kano pastry.
Céréal
Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookies are a sugar-free biscuit alternative, but they aren’t kano pastries with almond paste.
- Céréal states that these biscuits contain 0 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The same product information lists 26 g of polyols and 414 kcal per 100 g, so consider the portion size and other ingredients too.
Joybuy products for different snacking occasions
These products show some alternatives to a traditional kano pastry: a sweet product whose exact type you should check, wholemeal crackers and unsalted peanuts. If you’re choosing strictly sugar-free, always check the nutritional information on the pack you select.
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Klene Sugar-Free Lavender Biscuits, 110 g
If you’re looking for a sweet alternative to a kano pastry, check whether the pack contains biscuits or liquorice, as the product descriptions vary. For a strictly sugar-free choice, check the sugars per 100 g and look at the polyols and portion size too.
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Bolletje Light Whole Grain Crackers, 190 g
These wholemeal crackers are an option if you’d prefer something savoury to a sweet kano pastry. ‘Whole grain’ doesn’t mean a product is sugar-free, so check the sugars per 100 g and, if useful, compare the nutritional values per cracker.
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g'woon Unsalted Peanuts, 250 g
Unsalted peanuts are suited to a savoury snack, rather than replacing the flavour of a kano pastry. Peanuts are an allergen, so if you have an allergy, check the pack. Consider the portion size when comparing snacks.
Frequently asked questions
Are regular kano pastries sugar-free?
Don’t assume they are: according to Albert Heijn, AH BASIC Kano’s contain 38 g of sugars per 100 g, with sugar listed as the first ingredient. Recipes can vary, so check the pack of the product you choose.
What does ‘sugar-free’ mean on a pack?
Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a food labelled ‘sugar-free’ must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. ‘No added sugars’ is a different claim; if you’re following a strict limit, check the nutrition table.
Is a sugar-free biscuit the same as a kano pastry?
No, a sugar-free biscuit isn’t automatically a kano pastry with almond paste. As well as the sugars, compare the ingredients, portion size and nutritional value to see whether it suits the kind of biscuit break you have in mind.
Why do polyols matter in sugar-free biscuits?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that a high intake of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea. So, if a biscuit contains polyols, check the ingredients and consider how much you plan to eat at a time.
What can I have while gaming if I don’t want biscuits every time?
Fruit, vegetable sticks, unsalted nuts and wholemeal bread are other snacks recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Choose what suits your appetite, and check the nutritional information and allergen details on packaged products.