When choosing an egg cake multipack for marathon training, consider portion size, ingredients and when you plan to eat it, not just the number of cakes. A pack of 10 or 12 is a good choice if you want to spread your stock out; mini egg cakes are smaller, while you’ll need a specifically gluten-free option if you have to avoid gluten. Check the nutritional information and allergens on each pack: an egg cake is not a complete meal.
If you train several times a week or pack lunchboxes, it’s worth comparing the number of cakes, pack weight, best-before date and storage instructions. Jumbo and ALDI, for example, offer packs in different sizes.
If you want to choose your portion in advance, check the nutritional information per cake and try a new snack during a regular training session. Voedingscentrum distinguishes between a meal before exercise and a snack.
If you need to avoid gluten or other allergens, check the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific product. A gluten-free label doesn’t mean it’s free from milk, egg or soya.
Start with any ingredients you must avoid. Then compare the portion you want to take with you, what you prefer for everyday snacking and how many cakes you need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most relevant for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Compare the number of cakes, net weight, best-before date and storage instructions. | If I’m buying for several training days or lunchboxes, I want to know how many individual cakes I can portion out. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Portion around training | Check the nutritional information per portion and try a new cake during a regular training session. | If I’m planning when to eat, I want to choose a portion I already know, rather than trying something new on an important running day. Around 31% of consumers give portion planning top priority. |
| Everyday product choice | Compare regular and wholemeal varieties by ingredients, fibre, carbohydrates and sugars per 100 g and per portion. | If I’m also looking for a wholemeal option for everyday snacking, I want to know exactly what I’m buying from the information on the pack. This everyday choice is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label for the exact product, including allergens present and any warnings about traces. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, choosing the right product comes before pack size. This check is the first thing around 15% of consumers look for when buying. |
An individual cake is not the same as a meal. Voedingscentrum discusses a meal before exercise separately from a snack.
Plan meals and drinks separately from any egg cakes you want to have as a snack.
Regular, wholemeal and crisp egg cakes with a coating may have different ingredients and portion sizes. The nutritional information for one variety won’t automatically apply to another.
Compare the current labels on a like-for-like basis: per 100 g and per portion.
Jumbo lists a gluten-free pack from Gluten Free Bakery Holland containing 2 cakes with a combined weight of 100 g. That’s a different pack size from one containing 10 or 12 cakes.
Check how many individual portions you need, without compromising on any ingredient requirements.
Albert Heijn warns that product information, including ingredients and allergens, can change. So the information on a pack you bought before may not apply to a new one.
Check the label on the pack you’re actually using every time you buy.
Worth considering if you want to compare different egg cake pack sizes within one range.
A useful point of comparison for regular, wholemeal and free-range egg cakes.
An option to compare if you’re looking for a pack with more individual egg cakes.
A useful point of comparison if you’re looking for a pack of 12 egg cakes.
Worth considering if you’d rather take a crisp, individually wrapped egg cake with you than a soft one.
Worth considering if you’re specifically looking for an egg cake labelled gluten-free.
No, an egg cake isn’t a complete meal. Voedingscentrum recommends having a meal around 2 to 3 hours before exercise, along with around 500 ml of fluid; plan any snack separately.
No, whether eating while running is practical depends on the person and the circumstances. Voedingscentrum notes that eating while running can often be difficult, so try a new snack during a regular training session first.
Jumbo lists 18,3 g of carbohydrates and 9,3 g of sugars per 30 g portion for its standard egg cakes. For a different variety or portion size, use the nutritional information on that pack.
Not necessarily: Gluten Free Bakery Holland’s gluten-free egg cakes list egg, milk and soya, and may contain traces of nuts and sesame. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, always check the current label for the exact product.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. Jumbo recommends storing its standard egg cakes in a cool, dark, dry place; for Gluten Free Bakery Holland’s gluten-free egg cakes, the product information recommends a cool, dry place and a sealed pack.
