Parents who want to keep biscuit treats small
You’re looking for an occasional biscuit and want to know how much you’re actually giving. Check the nutritional values per biscuit and its weight, not just the serving size shown on the packaging.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Parents comparing spritz and digestive biscuits
The name ‘digestive’ doesn’t tell you how a product compares with a spritz biscuit across all nutritional values. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g first, then checking the portion your child will have.
Parents packing something for nursery or school
You want the biscuit to fit the rules at the setting and take account of any allergens your child needs to avoid. The products mentioned contain wheat; information about milk and other allergens varies by product variant.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for an everyday snack or an occasional biscuit. For a biscuit treat, compare the actual portion and check the current packaging and the setting’s rules before packing it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday snack | Distinguish between a regular snack and a biscuit for an occasional treat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread, among other options, as snacks for young children. | If I’m looking for something for every day, I don’t want to end up choosing biscuits as the default. For around 42% of consumers, this everyday choice comes first. |
| Portion for a treat | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and check the weight and nutritional values of the number of biscuits you plan to give. | For an occasional biscuit treat, I want to decide in advance how much my toddler will have. A small portion is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens and rules for packed food | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, and ask about the rules at the nursery or school. | Before I pack anything, I need to know whether it fits the rules for my child and the setting. For around 25% of consumers, this check matters most. |
Common mistakes
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Taking the name ‘digestive’ as nutritional advice
A mention of fibre doesn’t change the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice not to give biscuits as an everyday snack to toddlers.
First decide whether you’re looking for something for everyday use or an occasional biscuit treat; only then compare the biscuits.
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Comparing nutritional values by portion only
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, manufacturers set their own serving sizes. This means values for portions containing different-sized biscuits can give a misleading impression.
Compare sugar, saturated fat and salt per 100 g first, then check the weight of the amount you plan to give.
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Treating a chocolate variant as the same as the plain version
Ingredients and nutritional values can vary between variants. Albert Heijn lists 27 g of sugars and 13 g of saturated fat per 100 g for AH Digestive Puur, among other values; Joybuy lists milk chocolate and soya in the ingredients of Verkade Nobo Spritzed Melkchocolade.
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging for each variant.
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Relying on an allergen label you read previously when packing
Ingredients and allergen information can change. And what you give your child at home doesn’t automatically comply with the rules at their nursery or school.
Check the current packaging and make sure anything you pack meets the rules that apply to your child and the setting.
Brands compared
Verkade
Worth considering when comparing a classic spritz biscuit with a separate chocolate variant.
- Verkade lists 89 kcal per biscuit for Nobo Sprits Original and includes wheat and milk ingredients in its ingredient information.
- Nobo Spritzed Melkchocolade has different ingredients, including milk chocolate and soya lecithins, according to Joybuy’s product information. Don’t use the details for this variant for Nobo Sprits Original.
McVitie's
Worth considering if you want to compare a plain digestive with no chocolate against a spritz biscuit.
- Albert Heijn lists a 14.7 g serving, 483 kcal and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g for McVitie's Digestives Original. A biscuit of that weight contains around 71 kcal.
- Albert Heijn also lists 1.3 g of salt per 100 g. Check the allergens on the packaging; the serving information doesn’t make a digestive an everyday snack.
Albert Heijn
The range includes both spritz and digestive variants, which you can compare individually for ingredients and nutritional values.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Spritsen contain 29% butter and provide around 95 kcal per stated 20 g serving, based on 477 kcal per 100 g.
- AH Digestive Puur is a different type of product from a plain digestive with no chocolate. Albert Heijn lists 30% chocolate in this variant and includes milk, wheat and soya in its allergen information.
Digestives for an occasional treat
This plain digestive is worth considering if you want to measure out an individual biscuit for an occasional treat. Compare the actual portion with that of a spritz biscuit; the product below is not an everyday snack choice.
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McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g
An option if you’d like to give your child one plain digestive from time to time and decide on the amount in advance.
Joybuy lists 483 kcal and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g for this product. Albert Heijn gives the weight of a McVitie's Digestives Original biscuit as 14.7 g; at that weight, one biscuit contains around 71 kcal.
Before serving, check the current information about wheat and milk on the packaging. If you’re packing the biscuit, also check the setting’s allergy rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I give my toddler a spritz or digestive biscuit every day?
Don’t make spritz or digestive biscuits an everyday snack. For young children, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread, among other options, as snacks, and recommends saving biscuits for occasional treats.
How do I decide how much to give for one biscuit treat?
Check the weight and nutritional values of what you’re actually giving. Based on the values per 100 g, one 14.7 g McVitie's Digestives Original contains around 71 kcal, according to Albert Heijn; Verkade lists 89 kcal per Nobo Sprits Original. These details apply to the products and amounts mentioned, not automatically to other variants.
How do I compare spritz and digestive biscuits on the label?
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g first, then calculate the amount you plan to give. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that manufacturers set their own serving sizes, so comparing only the values per stated serving can be misleading.
Can I pack a spritz or digestive biscuit for nursery or school?
Before packing it, check the rules at the nursery or school and the current allergen information on the packaging. The products discussed here contain wheat; information about milk and other allergens depends on the specific product and variant.