People who plan what to eat after training
You want to know whether a biscuit fits in with what else you eat and drink after exercise. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a proper main meal after exercise.
Who is this choice relevant to?
People looking for strictly sugar-free options
You check the amount of sugars per 100 g and don’t automatically treat ‘no added sugar’ as an equivalent claim.
People who check ingredients carefully
You check for polyols, warnings and allergens before choosing a biscuit. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that larger amounts of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether sugar-free is a must-have or whether you’re mainly looking for a snack to enjoy after training. Then compare the nutrition information and ingredients for the portion you plan to eat.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| What the sugar claim means | If you’re looking for a sugar-free option, compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with the 0.5 g limit. Treat ‘no added sugar’ as a different claim. | If sugar-free is a must-have for me, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘zero’ alone. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this sugar limit. |
| When you eat after training | Check the protein, carbohydrates and energy per portion, and think about what else you’ll eat and drink. | After exercise, I want to know how the biscuit fits in alongside my meal, not just how much sugar it contains. For around 42% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
| Polyols and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warning on the packaging; check the polyols per 100 g and the portion size. | When choosing a biscuit with sweeteners, I want to be able to judge whether the ingredients and portion suit me. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘zero’ means ‘sugar-free’
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Verkade San Francisco zero contains no added sugar, but does contain 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. That’s above the 0.5 g per 100 g limit for a sugar-free option.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ line per 100 g, even when the front of the pack says ‘zero’.
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Thinking a biscuit is a complete post-exercise meal
A low sugar content doesn’t tell you whether the biscuit meets your other needs after training. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a proper main meal after exercise.
Decide whether you’re going to have a meal, and consider a biscuit as an extra alongside it if you wish.
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Overlooking polyols
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that larger amounts of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort. Albert Heijn lists 14 g of polyols per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker; Jumbo lists 24 g per 100 g for Céréal Choco Delight Puur.
Check the amount of polyols, the portion size and the warning on the packaging.
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Relying on ingredient information you checked before
Allergens vary between products, and recipes can change. A claim such as ‘sugar-free’ tells you nothing about whether the product contains ingredients such as wheat, milk or soya.
If you have an allergy or follow a specific diet, check the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
AH Digestive 0% suiker is worth comparing if sugar-free is your main requirement.
- Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars and 14 g of polyols per 100 g for this product.
- The product contains wheat; also check the rest of the allergen information and the warning about excessive consumption.
Verkade
Verkade San Francisco zero is an option to consider if you’re mainly looking for no added sugar.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the product contains 0% added sugar.
- The same product information lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. Also check the ingredients, including maltitols, and the allergen information.
Céréal
Céréal Choco Delight Puur is a chocolate biscuit whose sugar content per 100 g is worth comparing.
- Jumbo lists 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for Choco Delight Puur.
- Jumbo also lists 24 g of polyols per 100 g. Check the portion size and allergen information before choosing this product.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean the same as sugar-free?
No. For a sugar-free option, check that a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; products with no added sugar may still contain naturally occurring sugars. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information for Verkade San Francisco zero lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
Is a sugar-free chocolate biscuit enough after exercise?
A biscuit isn’t an obvious substitute for a meal after exercise. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a proper main meal after exercise, so consider a biscuit in the context of what else you eat and drink.
Why do some packs carry a warning about a laxative effect?
Products containing polyols may carry this warning if consumed in excess. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that larger amounts of polyols can cause intestinal discomfort, so check the ingredients, warning and portion size.
Should I compare nutrition information per biscuit or per 100 g?
Use both: comparing per 100 g lets you see how the sugar content of different products stacks up, while the nutrition information per portion shows how much you’ll consume. Also check how many biscuits the packaging counts as one portion.