Who is this relevant to?

Sugar-conscious day walker

You want to take a small chocolate biscuit with you, so you compare the sugars per 100 g and per portion. You also check which sweeteners it contains.

Walker mindful of how foods affect them

You don’t want to try a large portion containing polyols or lots of fibre for the first time while you’re out. You’d rather choose something you already know how you’ll feel eating on the move.

Walker planning a longer trip

You consider a biscuit a small snack within your food and drink plan, rather than relying on it to see you through the whole trip.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether having less sugar is your main reason for choosing a different chocolate biscuit. Then compare the portion and ingredients with the conditions of your walk.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Sugar and portion Compare the exact claim with the sugars per 100 g and per portion you’ll take with you. Also check the energy per portion. If I want to take less sugar with me, I need to know what one biscuit contributes; this sugar trade-off is the top priority for around 31% of consumers.
Tolerance Check the ingredients for polyols and read any warnings. Also check the allergens on the packaging. I’d rather not try a new biscuit on a long walk if I’m sensitive to certain ingredients. For around 31% of consumers, tolerance is the top priority.
Length of the walk Match your portion and opportunities to drink to the length and intensity of the walk; don’t treat a biscuit as a substitute for your entire food plan. For a longer walk, I want to know how my snack fits in alongside food and drink. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this kind of planning.
Portability Check the weight of each biscuit and decide in advance how many to pack. I want to take a small amount without putting an open pack in my rucksack; easy portioning is the main concern for around 15% of consumers.

Albert Heijn’s product information lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g and around 8.6 g per biscuit for Verkade San Francisco zero. For Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie, Albert Heijn lists 0 g of sugars and 26 g of polyols per 100 g. These figures make it possible to compare products more closely, but on their own they don’t tell you how comfortable a portion will be to eat while walking.

Common pitfalls

  • Focusing only on a sugar claim

    Products with different sugar claims don’t automatically have the same nutritional value. Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars and 401 kcal per 100 g for Verkade San Francisco zero, and 0 g of sugars and 414 kcal per 100 g for Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie.

    Read the exact claim, then compare the sugars and energy per 100 g and in the portion you plan to take with you.

  • Trying a biscuit with polyols for the first time on a long walk

    Consuming too much of products containing polyols may have a laxative effect. This warning appears, for example, on the Albert Heijn product page for Verkade San Francisco zero.

    Try a new variety in a small portion before taking it on a long walk.

    An unplanned toilet stop can be an inconvenience on the way.

  • Confusing grains or fibre with less sugar

    Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists 4.7 g of fibre per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff 6 Granen, but also 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g. According to the Voedingscentrum, switching to a high-fibre diet can initially cause wind.

    Compare sugars and fibre separately, and don’t try a new variety for the first time on a long walk.

  • Treating a biscuit as your entire food and drink plan

    For a longer or more strenuous walk, you also need to think about the rest of your food and drink. The Voedingscentrum recommends tailoring your plan around exercise to the activity you’ll be doing.

    Before you set off, decide what you’ll take alongside a small snack and where you’ll be able to get a drink.

Brands and retailers to consider

Verkade

Verkade is worth considering if you want to compare San Francisco zero with the brand’s regular chocolate products.

  • Albert Heijn lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g and around 8.6 g per biscuit for San Francisco zero.
  • This variety contains maltitols and carries a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess. For its other product, Choco Wolken, Verkade lists 45.6 g of sugars per 100 g, so assess each variety separately.

Céréal

Céréal offers several chocolate biscuits for anyone who wants to compare the sugar figures on the label.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0 g of sugars and 26 g of polyols per 100 g for Chocolate Chip Cookie. Jumbo lists 0.5 g of sugars and 24 g of polyols per 100 g for Choco Delight Puur.
  • The same product information lists 414 and 427 kcal per 100 g respectively. Check the portion and ingredients too; less sugar doesn’t automatically mean less energy.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff 6 Granen is a biscuit to consider if grains and fibre matter more to you than limiting sugar.

  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists six grains and 4.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The same product contains 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g, so it’s not an obvious choice if you’re specifically looking to limit your sugar intake.

Albert Heijn

Here, Albert Heijn is a retailer with product information for products including Verkade San Francisco zero and Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie, rather than a separate biscuit brand in this comparison.

  • The product pages provide nutritional information and ingredients that let you compare these specific varieties.
  • Check the label on the packaging when you buy, as product information can change.

Jumbo

Here, Jumbo is a retailer with product information for Céréal Choco Delight Puur, rather than a separate biscuit brand in this comparison.

  • The product page lists sugars, polyols and energy per 100 g, among other details.
  • Check the ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging of the product you buy.

Joybuy products for this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘sugar-free’ mean the same as ‘no added sugar’?

No, these claims don’t mean the same thing about the sugars in a product. A biscuit with no added sugar may still contain naturally occurring sugars; Albert Heijn notes this for Verkade San Francisco zero. Read the exact claim alongside the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutritional information.

Is a lower-sugar chocolate biscuit automatically better for a long walk?

No, the sugar content alone doesn’t determine how you should plan food and drink for a long walk. Check the portion and energy too, and tailor the rest of your food and drink to the length and intensity of the walk, as the Voedingscentrum advises.

Why do some packs carry a warning about a laxative effect?

This warning may appear on biscuits containing polyols, such as maltitols. Albert Heijn includes it for Verkade San Francisco zero. Try a product that’s new to you in a small portion first, rather than for the first time on a long walk.

Which allergens should I check in a chocolate biscuit?

Always check the allergens for the exact variety on the packaging. For Verkade San Francisco zero, Albert Heijn’s product information lists gluten, milk and soya, among other allergens; don’t assume the same ingredients list applies to other biscuits.

Is a large portion of high-fibre biscuits a good idea just before setting off?

A large portion just before exercise isn’t what the Voedingscentrum recommends, especially for products high in dietary fibre, fat or protein. Decide in advance how much you want to take with you and consider how you react to that particular biscuit.