If your main aim is to reduce your sugar intake, a small topping of chocolate sprinkles could work with a snack, but it shouldn’t replace a meal or drink around your training. Check the difference between reduced sugar and sugar-free: according to Jumbo, Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 7.7 g of sugars and 40 g of polyols per 100 g. If polyols tend to affect you just before exercise, it may be better to choose a small snack you already know agrees with you.
You want to use chocolate sprinkles as a topping, but need clarity on the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, this claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the nutritional information for the exact product, rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.
If you’re going to exercise soon after eating, portion size and ingredients matter. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems, and that sensitivity varies from person to person. So a new type of chocolate sprinkles containing sweeteners isn’t necessarily a good choice just before exercise.
You want to know whether a snack with chocolate sprinkles fits the time you have before training. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, most people who exercise can get the energy and fluids they need from everyday foods. Consider the sprinkles as part of what you’re eating, and factor your meal and drinks into your choice too.
First decide whether sugar-free is a must-have. Then check whether the snack as a whole suits your training schedule and whether you tolerate the ingredients well.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, solid foods must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the sugar-free claim. | If I’m specifically looking for sugar-free chocolate sprinkles, I don’t want ‘reduced sugar’ to be used as though it means the same thing. Around 45% of consumers prioritise checking the sugar content. |
| Timing and the snack as a whole | Adjust the portion to the time you have before training. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a meal with a drink around 2 to 3 hours beforehand; avoid a large meal close to exercise. | If I’m training soon, I want to avoid making my eating occasion too big or impractical. For around 33% of consumers, planning food and drink is the main concern. |
| Tolerance | Check the sweeteners, warnings and allergens on the pack of the exact product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems. | If I have a sensitive stomach or a relevant allergy, I want to know what’s in the chocolate sprinkles before eating them before exercise. Around 22% of consumers prioritise how well they tolerate them. |
According to Jumbo, Céréal Hagelslag Puur contains 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g. This means it does not meet the maximum of 0.5 g per 100 g set by European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 for the sugar-free claim on solid foods.
Is sugar-free a must-have? Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the label of the product you’re buying.
Jumbo lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, people’s sensitivity to polyols varies.
Just before an important training session, it’s better to choose something you already know how you’ll respond to.
A little chocolate sprinkle topping doesn’t tell you much about the snack as a whole, when you’re eating or what you’re drinking. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends considering meals and drinks when planning around exercise.
Consider the topping alongside the rest of your eating occasion, and bear in mind how long you have before training.
According to Jumbo’s product information, De Ruijter Hagelslag Puur contains milk and soya. Albert Heijn lists lactose, milk and soya for Venz Hagelslag Melk. These details apply to these specific products.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, check the latest packaging for the exact chocolate sprinkles you want to use.
Céréal Hagelslag Puur is an option if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles with less sugar, but not if you need a strictly sugar-free product.
De Ruijter Hagelslag Puur is a standard dark chocolate sprinkle product for anyone looking for that flavour, not a sugar-free option.
Venz Hagelslag Melk is a standard milk chocolate sprinkle product, not a sugar-free option.
ALDI lists Sprinkles as a range of milk and dark chocolate sprinkles.
Lidl lists Mister Choc Hagelslag Puur as dark chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g pack.
No. Jumbo lists 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Hagelslag Puur. Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the sugar-free claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So reduced sugar doesn’t automatically mean sugar-free.
A small amount of chocolate sprinkles as a topping could work, but consider the snack as a whole and how long you have before training. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a meal with a drink around 2 to 3 hours before exercise; a large meal just before exercising may be uncomfortable.
For Céréal Hagelslag Puur, the warning relates to polyols: Jumbo lists 40 g per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems, and that sensitivity varies from person to person.
Not usually, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre: everyday foods can generally provide the energy and fluids you need. Plan what you eat and drink around the duration and timing of your training, rather than assuming chocolate sprinkles or a sports product are the answer.
It depends on the exact product. Jumbo lists milk and soya for De Ruijter Hagelslag Puur; Albert Heijn lists lactose, milk and soya for Venz Hagelslag Melk. If you have an allergy or intolerance, always check the latest packaging for the product you’re buying.
