Cyclists who want to take small portions
For a relaxed ride or a break, you might want to pack a small amount of biscuits. Check how many grams you’re actually taking: a small biscuit isn’t the same as a measured portion.
Who are mini spritz biscuits suitable for?
Cyclists who plan their carbohydrate intake
For longer endurance exercise, the amount of carbohydrate in all the food and drink you have during the ride matters. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 30 to 60 g of rapidly absorbed carbohydrates per hour for exercise lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, as an amount that may help improve performance. So compare biscuits by the portion you’ll take, not just per 100 g.
Cyclists who check ingredients and nutritional information
If particular ingredients or allergens matter to you, always check the current packaging. Recipes vary from product to product; as well as the allergens, read the nutritional information, including the sugars and saturated fat per portion.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for a small treat for the journey or planning your carbohydrate intake for a longer ride. Then compare the portion you’ll actually pack with the information on the packaging.
Mini spritz biscuits
Suitable for: a relaxed or short ride when you want to pack a small amount of biscuits in advance.
Consider: their small size doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates your portion provides; Jumbo listed 25,8 g of carbohydrates and 10,0 g of fat per 40 g for Sprits Staafjes Mini.
Other sources of carbohydrates
Suitable for: longer endurance exercise when you plan in advance what you’ll eat and drink along the way.
Consider: sports drinks, bars and gels aren’t automatically necessary, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre; bread or fruit, for example, could also be part of your choice.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates during the ride | Compare the carbohydrates per portion you’ll take and include other food and drink in your plans. | On a longer ride, I want to know how much my snack contributes to the carbohydrates in what I eat and drink along the way. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Portion and packaging | Check the weight or number of biscuits you’re packing, the packaging and the product’s current availability. | For a break, I’d rather take a small amount of biscuits than a whole pack. This is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and nutritional information | Read the current ingredients, allergen and nutritional information; compare the sugars and saturated fat per portion. | If certain ingredients are a concern for me, I want to know what’s in this particular spritz biscuit. Around 20% of consumers are expected to give this check the highest priority. |
Common mistakes when choosing cycling snacks
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Assuming a mini biscuit is a complete sports portion
A small size makes a portion easy to keep track of, but doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates you’ll get from it.
Check the carbohydrates in the amount you’re actually packing, and take into account everything else you’ll eat and drink during the ride.
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Only checking the carbohydrates
For Sprits Staafjes Mini, Jumbo listed 10,0 g of fat per 40 g, including 6,8 g of saturated fat, alongside 25,8 g of carbohydrates. Ingredients and allergens may also affect your choice.
Read the current ingredients and allergen list, and compare the nutritional information per portion.
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Assuming a product page means an item is available
Jumbo stated that Sprits Staafjes Mini 125 g was no longer part of its online range.
Check whether the specific size is currently available before relying on it for a bike ride.
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Automatically treating a cycling snack as an everyday snack
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many snacks are high in sugars, salt or saturated fat. What works for a biscuit during a ride isn’t necessarily the same as what you’d choose for an everyday snack.
For everyday snacks, compare the ingredients and nutritional information of other options too, such as fruit, bread or nuts.
Spritz biscuit brands to consider
With these products, note the difference between a mini size and a regular pack of spritz biscuits; the nutritional information given is specific to each product.
Jumbo
Jumbo Sprits Staafjes Mini 125 g is an example of spritz biscuits in a mini size.
- Jumbo listed 25,8 g of carbohydrates, 10,0 g of fat and 6,8 g of saturated fat per 40 g portion.
- Jumbo said this product was no longer part of its online range. Check current availability if you’re looking for this size.
Verkade
Verkade offers Nobo Sprits Original and a milk chocolate version as regular spritz biscuit options.
- For its milk chocolate version, Verkade lists ingredients including wheat flour, milk chocolate and milk products.
- Don’t assume these products come in mini portions; decide how much to pack yourself and check the current allergen information.
PLUS
PLUS Roomboterspritsen come in a 175 g pack and are a regular biscuit option, not a pre-measured portion for a bike ride.
- PLUS lists 57,7 g of carbohydrates, 29,1 g of fat and 17,2 g of saturated fat per 100 g, as well as a Nutri-Score E.
- PLUS says the product contains wheat, gluten, egg, milk and lactose, and may contain nuts. Check the packaging before taking it with you.
Lidl
Lidl describes its butter spritz biscuits as crisp biscuits in a 400 g pack.
- The 400 g pack makes it clear how much the full pack contains.
- If you want to take a small amount, you’ll need to decide on your own portion; check the nutritional and allergen information on the current packaging.
Spritz biscuits on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are mini spritz biscuits suitable as sports nutrition for cycling?
Mini spritz biscuits can be part of what you eat along the way, but they’re not automatically a suitable sports portion. For endurance exercise lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 30 to 60 g of rapidly absorbed carbohydrates per hour, as an amount that may help improve performance. Jumbo listed 25,8 g of carbohydrates and 10,0 g of fat per 40 g of its Sprits Staafjes Mini, so consider your actual portion and what else you’ll eat and drink.
Do I need sports bars or gels on every bike ride?
No, sports bars and gels aren’t necessary for every bike ride. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre mentions them as a practical option, particularly when it’s difficult to eat ordinary food along the way; bread or fruit can also provide carbohydrates. Choose what suits the length of your ride and what you can take and eat along the way.
Which allergens should I check in spritz biscuits?
Check the allergen information for the specific product on its current packaging. For Sprits Staafjes Mini, Jumbo listed wheat and milk, with a possible presence of almonds; for its Roomboterspritsen, PLUS lists wheat, gluten, egg, milk and lactose, with a possible presence of nuts. Don’t assume this information applies to other spritz biscuits.