People who keep an eye on sugar
If you fancy a sweet snack after exercise, compare the sugars per 100 g and per portion. A claim such as ‘less sugar’ doesn’t tell you how much sugar you’ll actually eat.
Who is this relevant for?
People who also check protein
If you’re looking for something to eat after a workout, don’t just check the carbohydrates in a biscuit. The Voedingscentrum also highlights protein as something to consider after exercise.
Shoppers who check ingredients carefully
If polyols or allergens matter to you, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging. Some of the products reviewed warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re mainly looking for less sugar or a snack that fits in with what else you eat after exercise. Then check the portion size and ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Compare the sugars per 100 g and per portion. If the claim says ‘less sugar’, check what the product is being compared with too. | I want to take a sweet biscuit with me, but limit how much sugar I eat. Around 36% of consumers put reducing sugar first. |
| Food after exercise | Check the carbohydrates and protein, and take into account what else you eat and drink. | After exercise, I want my snack to fit in with the rest of what I eat and drink. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Fibre and portion size | Check the fibre per portion and see how the pack is divided up. | When I’m out and about, I want to be able to grab a single portion easily and compare the fibre content too. Portability and fibre are the main considerations for around 21% of consumers. |
| Polyols and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, particularly for products containing sweeteners. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the biscuit before I buy it. Around 14% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing based only on ‘0% sugar’
A low sugar figure alone tells you little about the rest of the nutritional information. Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% suiker as containing 0.3 g of sugars, but also 465 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and for the portion you’ll actually eat.
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Assuming ‘less sugar’ means ‘low in sugars’
According to the product information from Albert Heijn, Sultana Fruitbiscuit banaan contains at least 30% less sugar than the regular Fruitbiscuit, but still has 23 g of sugars per 100 g.
Check both the product used for comparison and the actual amount of sugars.
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Overlooking polyols
The product information for Céréal sesame and vanilla biscuits lists 17 g of polyols per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check which sweeteners and polyols the product contains. Keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
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Thinking of a biscuit as a complete post-workout snack
A lower-sugar biscuit won’t necessarily provide enough protein too. The Voedingscentrum highlights both carbohydrates and protein as things to consider after exercise.
Check the protein content and consider how the biscuit fits in with what else you eat and drink.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
The own-label products reviewed show the difference between a biscuit with a very low sugar content and a cookie bar with a relative reduction in sugar.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Kruidkoekreep zero contains 4.9 g of sugars and 16 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The options reviewed contain sweeteners or polyols, so check the portion size and the rest of the nutritional information too.
Sultana
The Fruitbiscuit banaan reviewed is a portioned fruit biscuit with a sugar-reduction claim.
- According to the product information from Albert Heijn, this variety contains at least 30% less sugar than Fruitbiscuit.
- The same product information lists 23 g of sugars per 100 g. If you have allergies, check the latest packaging.
Céréal
The sesame and vanilla biscuit reviewed is aimed at shoppers looking for a biscuit without sugars.
- The product information from Jumbo lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g.
- It also lists 17 g of polyols per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Peijnenburg
The wholegrain breakfast cake without added sugars reviewed is a different type of product from a biscuit.
- The product information from Jumbo lists 40% wholegrain rye flour, chicory root fibre and xylitol.
- Compare the nutritional information for the portion you want before choosing this breakfast cake as a snack. Keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy, caramelised biscuit. It’s a flavour benchmark, not an example of a biscuit with a substantiated less-sugar claim.
- A useful comparison if you want to weigh up a regular biscuit against lower-sugar options.
- If reducing sugar is essential, check the claim and nutritional information for the specific product.
Cookie bars on Joybuy
This cookie bar may suit you if you’re looking for a post-workout snack with a less-sugar claim. Check the stated sugar content and the rest of the nutritional information before choosing.
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g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, 6 stuks
A cookie bar for anyone looking for a less-sugar claim, but not necessarily a product with no sugars. The product description lists, per 100 g, 22.8 g of sugars, 62 g of carbohydrates, 9 g of fibre and 3.7 g of protein. If you have an allergy, check the latest packaging: the description mentions rye and the possible presence of other allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lower-sugar biscuit enough after exercise?
Not necessarily. The Voedingscentrum highlights both carbohydrates and protein after exercise, so check the biscuit’s nutritional information and consider what else you eat and drink.
What do ‘less sugar’, ‘no added sugars’ and ‘sugar-free’ mean for my choice?
These claims don’t mean the same thing. ‘Less sugar’ compares a product with another product; ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t rule out sugars that are naturally present. Even with a ‘sugar-free’ claim, check the nutritional information and ingredients, including any sweeteners or polyols.
What should I look out for in biscuits containing polyols?
Check which polyols the biscuit contains and how much you eat. The product information reviewed warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The packaging provides the information for the specific variety you buy.
Can I rely on a ‘less sugar’ claim if I have an allergy?
No. That claim says nothing about allergens. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the latest packaging for the specific product.