For a ride lasting less than an hour, the Voedingscentrum generally says you don’t need special sports nutrition, so a low-sugar chocolate biscuit is more of a snack than essential fuel for the ride. If you’re cycling for a long time at a high intensity, focus on the carbohydrates per serving and staying well hydrated, rather than just the sugar claim. If the biscuits contain sweeteners, check the ingredients and allergen information too, and try them before taking them on an important ride.
You cycle for a long time at a high intensity and want something to eat during your ride. The Voedingscentrum says carbohydrates and fluids are more important to consider than simply whether a product is labelled sugar-free.
You’re looking for a biscuit with little or no added sugar to enjoy around a short or leisurely ride. A biscuit can be a snack without necessarily being sports nutrition.
You want to know whether a chocolate biscuit contains polyols such as maltitol, and whether you can tolerate them. Checking the ingredients and allergens before your ride is important to you.
First decide whether you want a snack for a short ride or something to eat during a long, intense ride. Then compare the nutritional information per serving and check the ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel for your ride | For a long, intense ride, check the carbohydrates per serving and plan what you’ll drink too. | If I’m cycling for a long time at a high intensity, I want to know whether my food is suitable for the effort. For around 50% of consumers, fuel during the ride is the top priority. |
| Less added sugar | Read the exact sugar claim and compare the nutritional values per serving, rather than relying on the front of the pack. | For a short, leisurely ride, I’m mainly looking for a biscuit that suits my preference for less added sugar. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and tolerance | Check for polyols such as maltitol, allergen information and any warnings. | I’d rather not try a new biscuit containing sweeteners for the first time during an important ride. Around 25% of consumers prioritise ingredients and tolerance. |
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates you’ll get per serving. The Voedingscentrum says that long, intense rides call for careful planning of food and drink during exercise.
Decide when you want to eat, then compare the carbohydrates per serving on the label.
The Voedingscentrum says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea. Jumbo lists maltitols in Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur.
Try a new product at home or on a less important ride first, so you know how it affects you.
Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, Albert Heijn sells AH Digestive 0% suiker, and Jumbo lists Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur. These product names and claims don’t tell you the same thing about the overall nutritional value.
Compare the exact claim, ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging of each product.
A sugar claim tells you nothing about allergens. The ingredient information for Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur at Jumbo lists wheat, milk and egg, among other ingredients.
Read the allergen information on the packaging before taking a biscuit with you for your ride.
Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a crunchy biscuit with no added sugars.
Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur is a chocolate biscuit. Jumbo lists dark chocolate with sweetener and maltitols among its ingredients.
Albert Heijn sells AH Digestive 0% suiker as its own-brand product.
It depends on the ride and what you want to eat along the way. The Voedingscentrum generally says you don’t need special sports nutrition for less than an hour of exercise. For long, intense rides, the carbohydrates per serving and drinking enough matter more than the sugar claim alone.
If you’re mainly looking for a snack before or after a short, leisurely ride, you can assess the biscuit in that role. If you want something to eat during prolonged, intense exercise, check the carbohydrates per serving and how the product fits into your food and drink plan.
Yes. The Voedingscentrum says that consuming large amounts of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea. Jumbo lists maltitols in Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur, so it’s best to try a new product before an important ride rather than during it.
Yes, a sugar claim tells you nothing about allergens. Jumbo’s ingredient information for Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur lists wheat, milk and egg, among other ingredients. Always check the current allergen information on the packaging.
