People who want a light bite shortly before training
If you don’t want a large meal just before training, you could add sprinkles to a small snack. The Voedingscentrum recommends timing your meals around your exercise.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People at home who want to dispense dry sprinkles
If you sprinkle them on bread, yoghurt, quark or porridge, the opening of the packaging is particularly important. Van Beekum Specerijen describes a shaker with a wider opening for sprinkles.
People with ingredient or allergy requirements
The allergen information differs between the varieties reviewed. So check the label on the exact product you want to use, even when two packs look similar at first glance.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to use dry sprinkles or a smooth topping. Then consider when you’ll be eating and check the information on the packaging you choose.
| What to consider | What should you look for? | Who is this most relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and texture | Check that the opening is suitable for dry sprinkles. If you’re using a reusable shaker, also find out how to clean and dry it. | I want to sprinkle dry flakes over my snack without choosing packaging designed for sauce. For around 42% of consumers, packaging is the main consideration. |
| Portion and timing | Work out how long it is until your training session and choose the portion for your whole snack accordingly. The Voedingscentrum recommends eating a regular meal around 2 to 3 hours beforehand. | If I’m training soon, I want a light bite rather than another large meal. Around 33% of consumers prioritise portion size and timing. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details for the specific variety on the current label. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label determines which sprinkles I can consider. For around 25% of consumers, this check comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a squeeze bottle for sauce to dispense dry sprinkles
HANOS describes its squeeze bottle as packaging for a smooth speculoos topping. Van Beekum Specerijen, on the other hand, recommends a wider shaker opening for sprinkles. A smooth topping is also a different product from dry chocolate sprinkles.
Choose packaging to suit the texture of what’s inside: a suitable shaker opening for dry sprinkles, and a squeeze bottle for a topping that can flow through the nozzle.
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Thinking of sprinkles as a complete pre-exercise snack
Sprinkles are a topping; what else you eat and how long it is until your training session are also part of the decision. The De Ruijter milk variety described by PLUS contains 70 g of sugars and 5,8 g of protein per 100 g, but those figures don’t describe your whole snack.
First choose the base and portion for your snack, then add sprinkles for flavour if you like.
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Assuming a dark or vegan variety is automatically allergen-free
PLUS describes the dark chocolate sprinkles it reviewed as vegan, but also states that they may contain milk and lactose. Other sprinkles reviewed have different allergen information.
If you have an allergy, read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety, including any warnings about possible traces of allergens.
Brands and varieties to consider
De Ruijter
Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter sprinkles in milk, dark, white and extra-dark varieties, among others. The milk variety described by PLUS comes in a 200 g box.
- PLUS provides ingredient and allergen information for this milk variety.
- According to PLUS, the milk variety contains milk, lactose and soya; check other varieties separately.
Choca
The Choca sprinkles described by PLUS come in a 200 g box and are labelled as cocoa fantasy sprinkles.
- PLUS provides ingredient and allergen information for this variety.
- According to PLUS, this variety contains wheat, cereals containing gluten and soya, and may contain milk.
PLUS
PLUS describes its own dark chocolate sprinkles in a 300 g pack and labels this particular variety as vegan.
- The product information lists ingredients and nutritional details for the dark variety.
- The same product information warns that this variety may contain milk and lactose.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists its own milk and dark chocolate sprinkles, both in 300 g packs.
- The two varieties offer a choice between milk and dark chocolate in the same pack size.
- Check the ingredients and allergen information on the label of the variety you choose.
KIEKEBOE (ALDI)
ALDI lists KIEKEBOE milk or dark chocolate sprinkles in a 300 g pack.
- The range information distinguishes between milk and dark varieties.
- Check the label on the pack you choose for ingredient and allergen information.
Sprinkles and toppings on Joybuy
These products are worth considering as dry toppings for a snack. Check exactly what kind of sprinkles or decoration each product contains and whether the packaging makes them easy to dispense. Choose a shaker or squeeze bottle separately.
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Venz Milk Chocolate Sprinkles 400 g
Consider these chocolate sprinkles as a topping for a snack you already enjoy. Check that the shape of the sprinkles and the opening of the pack suit the way you want to dispense them.
If you have an allergy, your choice should be guided by the current allergen information on the packaging.
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g'woon milk chocolate flakes 300 g
These milk chocolate flakes are a dry topping option, for example on bread. Check whether the pack is easy for you to sprinkle from, and if you have an allergy, check the current label.
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Sprinkles Choca Flakes 200 g
Use these flakes as a dry topping on bread or yoghurt if you like. Check the shaker opening if you want to dispense them straight from the pack, and read the current label if you have an allergy.
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De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure 390 g
Consider these dark chocolate sprinkles as a topping for your snack. Before buying, check that the product is the type of sprinkles you’re looking for. Also consider the dispensing opening and, if you have an allergy, check the current label.
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Venz Tiger Flakes 200 g
Consider this mix as a topping if you’re looking for more than just chocolate sprinkles. Check the ingredients, the dispensing opening and, if you have an allergy, the current allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Can I dispense dry chocolate sprinkles from a squeeze bottle?
Don’t assume that a squeeze bottle for smooth toppings will also work for dry sprinkles. HANOS describes a squeeze bottle for smooth speculoos topping, while Van Beekum Specerijen recommends a wider opening for sprinkles in a shaker. For dry sprinkles, look for a suitable shaker opening or use the original packaging.
What should I look for when choosing the size of a shaker?
Consider not just the capacity, but also the opening and how much space the shaker takes up. The 1,000 ml shaker described by Van Beekum Specerijen has a wider opening for sprinkles; a capacity in millilitres doesn’t tell you how many grams of sprinkles it will hold.
Are sprinkles suitable as a snack just before exercise?
Sprinkles can be part of a light snack as a topping. Also consider the base of your snack, the portion and when you’ll be eating. The Voedingscentrum recommends eating a regular meal around 2 to 3 hours before exercise.
Do I need sports bars or gels as well as a snack with sprinkles?
According to the Voedingscentrum, most people who exercise don’t need sports bars or gels. Tailor what you eat and drink to your level of activity rather than seeing sprinkles or a sports product on its own as a complete solution.
Should I check the label for allergens for each variety?
Yes, especially if you need to avoid an allergen: the varieties reviewed have different allergen information. PLUS lists milk, lactose and soya for De Ruijter milk sprinkles; wheat and soya, among other ingredients, for Choca, which may also contain milk; and possible traces of milk and lactose for its own dark variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the mandatory labelling of 14 allergens.