Chocolate lover looking to cut down on sugar
You’re looking for a chocolate-flavoured biscuit after exercise and comparing sugar levels per 100 g and per serving. If you choose a variety with sweeteners, check whether the ingredients suit you too.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Someone who prioritises recovery after exercise
After an intense workout, you want to get enough protein. A biscuit can be a snack, but it won’t replace a regular meal; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a main meal after exercise.
Shopper keeping an eye on sweeteners or allergens
Check which polyols are used and look out for warnings about excessive consumption. If you have an allergy or dietary restriction, also read the up-to-date ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you want a chocolate biscuit as a snack or mainly need a meal after exercise. When comparing biscuits, look at the serving size as well as the nutritional values per 100 g. A low sugar figure doesn’t tell you how much energy, fat or protein a serving provides.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and chocolate flavour | Check that it really is a chocolate biscuit. Compare sugars per 100 g and per serving, rather than relying only on the wording on the front of the pack. | I want to keep the chocolate flavour, but I don’t want to rely on a sugar claim alone. For around 36% of consumers, this combination is the main priority. |
| Meals and protein | Decide whether you need a meal after your workout and check the protein content per biscuit serving you’ll actually eat. | After an intense workout, I don’t want my eating occasion to depend on a biscuit that provides little protein per small serving. Recovery is the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Serving size and polyols | Check which polyols the product contains, how much is in a serving and whether the packaging warns against excessive consumption. | If I’m sensitive to polyols, I want to consider my serving size and the possible laxative effect of excessive consumption. Tolerance is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statements on the packaging. | If I have an allergy or dietary restriction, an appealing sugar figure shouldn’t distract me from ingredients I need to avoid. For around 14% of consumers, suitability for their diet comes before taste and sugar content. |
Common mistakes
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Focusing only on the sugar claim
Low sugar doesn’t automatically mean low in energy or fat. According to Damhert’s product information, Coco Chocolat Cookies contain 0.8 g of sugars, but also 537 kcal and 40 g of fat per 100 g.
Compare sugars, energy, fat and protein on the same basis, then consider how many biscuits you actually want to eat.
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Treating a biscuit as a recovery meal
The biscuits discussed provide little protein per small serving. For food after an intense workout, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends a normal main meal.
Choose a meal if it needs to be your post-exercise eating occasion. If you like, have a biscuit as a separate snack, not as a replacement for that meal.
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Overlooking polyols
The biscuits discussed use polyols, among other ingredients. The product information warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.
Check the ingredients and serving information. If you’re sensitive to polyols, bear that in mind when deciding how much to eat.
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Assuming a product’s name tells you whether it suits your diet
A low sugar content says nothing about whether a product is suitable if you have an allergy or dietary restriction. The listed ingredients and potential traces vary from one biscuit to another.
Before buying or eating a product, check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and ‘may contain’ statements.
Relevant brands and product ranges
Damhert
Damhert describes several chocolate biscuits that are low in sugars, including Sprits Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Coco Chocolat Cookies.
- According to Damhert’s product information, Sprits Chocolate and Chocolate Chip Cookies each contain 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; Coco Chocolat Cookies contain 0.8 g per 100 g.
- The varieties also differ in energy and polyol content. Their product information warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.
Verkade
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit with no added sugars, but it isn’t a chocolate biscuit.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists 1.7 g of sugars and 7.3 g of protein per 100 g.
- If you’re specifically looking for chocolate, this biscuit doesn’t have that flavour. The product contains sweeteners; also read the warning about excessive consumption.
Albert Heijn
AH Digestive 0% sugar is a biscuit with sweeteners and no chocolate.
- Albert Heijn’s product page lists 0.3 g of sugars and 14 g of polyols per 100 g.
- It isn’t a substitute for chocolate flavour. The product contains wheat; check the current packaging if you have dietary restrictions.
Lotus
Mini Zero Ontbijtkoek is individually wrapped spiced breakfast cake with no added sugars, not a chocolate biscuit.
- Lotus lists 2.5 g of sugars and 30.1 g of fibre per 100 g for Mini Zero Ontbijtkoek.
- The product category and flavour differ from chocolate biscuits; compare the nutritional values per serving if you’re considering it as an alternative.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can a low-sugar chocolate biscuit be my post-exercise snack?
Yes, if you mainly want a chocolate-flavoured snack, but don’t treat it as a replacement for a meal after an intense workout. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a normal main meal after exercise; the biscuits discussed here provide little protein per small serving.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?
No, they’re different claims. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information for Verkade San Francisco Zero lists both ‘0% added sugar’ and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. So always check the nutritional information rather than relying on the claim alone.
Why do some biscuits carry a warning about a laxative effect?
The warning relates to polyols used as sweeteners. The product information for the varieties discussed mentions a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess. Check the ingredients and consider the serving size and your own tolerance.
How should I store the biscuits after opening?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of your chosen product. Albert Heijn’s product information recommends keeping Verkade San Francisco Zero in a dry, preferably cool place. For AH Digestive 0% sugar, it recommends a cool, dark place and, once opened, a sealed tin.